Constipation In Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Children have different bowel habits. Some children have two or three bowel movements (BMs) daily, while others may have only three to four BMs each week. Breast fed children may have soft BMs after every feeding. Formula fed children may have firmer (harder) BMs that occur less often. If your child is having fewer BMs than usual that are hard or painful to push out, he may be constipated. Constipation (kon-sti-PAY-shun) causes a child's BMs to be hard and dry, and a different size than usual. Constipation commonly occurs after a change in a child's diet or during toilet training. Your child may become constipated because he waits too long to go to the bathroom. Constipation is often treated with changes in your child's diet, and is not usually a serious problem.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Keep a list of your child's medicines: Keep a written list of the medicines your child takes, the amounts, and when and why they are taken. Bring the list of your child's medicines or the medicine bottles when you visit your child's caregivers. Ask your child's caregiver for more information about the medicines. Do not give any medicines to your child without first asking your child's caregiver. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements.
  
  
• Give your child's medicine as directed: Always give your child's medicine as directed by his caregivers. Call your child's caregiver if you think your child's medicines are not helping. Call if you feel your child is having side effects. Do not quit giving the medicines to your child until you discuss it with your child's caregiver.
  
  
• Constipation medicine: Your child may need a laxative (LAK-sah-tiv) or stool softener. A laxative is medicine to help empty your child's bowel. A stool softener is medicine that softens the BM and makes it easier to pass. Follow the caregiver's instructions carefully if you are told to give your child medicine for constipation. Do not give your baby an enema. Do not give any constipation medicine to your child unless his caregiver says it is OK.

Ask your child's caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you and your child may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your child's next visit.

How can I treat my baby's constipation? Do one or more of the following for a child less than one year old :

• Increase the amount of liquids your baby drinks. Give your baby apple, pear, or prune juice to drink. Soy formula may also help soften his BMs. Talk to your baby's caregiver. Ask how much water, juice, breast milk and formula your baby should drink while he is constipated.
  
  
• Feed your baby a high fiber diet. For babies over four months old, serve high fiber strained baby foods such as cereal, apricots, or peaches. Other high fiber foods are plums, pears, prunes, beans, peas, or spinach. Cooked carrots and bananas may make the constipation worse. You may feed your baby solid food two to three times a day.
  
  
• Start giving your baby formula again if needed. Some children become constipated after they are taken off their regular infant formula. If your constipated baby has just started drinking cow's milk instead of formula, start giving him formula again. Formula is less constipating than cow's milk. Talk to your baby's caregiver about your baby's constipation. Ask about the best ways to slowly stop formula and start giving cow's milk.
  
  
• Put your baby in a warm bath. Put your baby in a tub with warm water several times a day. This may make it easier for your baby to pass a BM. Never leave your baby alone in the bathtub.
  
  
• Ask your baby's caregiver about using corn syrup or other BM softeners. Ask your baby's caregiver about adding barley malt extract, lactulose, or corn syrup to your baby's drinks. These may help to soften your baby's BM. Ask the caregiver how much of these you should add to your baby's cup or bottle.
  
  
• Tuck your baby's knees to his chest while he is trying to have a BM. It may be hard for babies to have a BM lying down. During your baby's BM, you can help by gently holding his knees against his chest. This is a more natural way to push out a BM.

How can I treat my child's constipation?

• Increase the amount of liquids your child drinks. Water may help keep your child's BMs soft. Ask caregivers how much extra water and other liquids your child should drink every day. Limit the amount of caffeinated liquids that your child drinks. Caffeine may be found in drinks such as coffee, tea, soda pop, and some sports foods and drinks. Read the ingredient labels to learn if foods and drinks have caffeine in them.
  
  
• Feed your child a high fiber diet.
  
  
  • Feed your child fruits and vegetables three times a day. Encourage him to eat raw unpeeled fruits and vegetables, like prunes, figs, dates, or raisins. Peaches, pears, apricots, beans, peas, cauliflower, broccoli, or cabbage are also good for your child to eat. Other high fiber foods are those with bran (bran cereal or muffins), shredded wheat, graham crackers, oatmeal, or brown rice. Whole wheat bread and popcorn are also high fiber foods. Do not give your child food that is hard for him to chew. Cut your young child's food into small pieces to keep him from choking.
    
    
  • Some foods can make your child's constipation worse. Limit the amount of fat, milk, ice cream, cheese, and cooked carrots your child eats.
  
  
• Help your child to do regular exercise each day. Take a walk with your child, or encourage him to exercise. Being active may help him to have more regular BMs.
  
  
• Set up a regular schedule for your child to have a BM. This may be helpful, especially for a young child. For example, help him to sit on the toilet for at least 10 minutes at about the same time each day, preferably after a meal. Do not put pressure on your young child to go to the bathroom. If you see that he needs to go to the bathroom, give him a gentle reminder. Say good things to him or give him a reward when he has a BM, like a special toy to play with or a visit to the park.
  
  
• Give your child a warm bath. Put your child in a bathtub with warm water one or more times a day. This may relax his rectal (rear end) area and make it easier for him to pass a BM. Your child may have small tears near the rectum from trying to have a BM. Sitting in a warm water bathtub may help these tears. Never leave your child alone in the bathtub.
  
  
• Encourage your child to have regular BMs.
  
  
  • Set up a regular schedule for your child to have a BM. This may be helpful, especially for a young child. For example, help him to sit on the toilet for at least 10 minutes at about the same time each day, preferably after a meal. Do not put pressure on your young child to go to the bathroom. If you see that he needs to go to the bathroom, give him a gentle reminder. Say good things to him or give him a reward when he has a BM, like a special toy to play with or a visit to the park.
    
    
  • Tell your child not to wait too long to go to the bathroom if he has the urge to have a BM.
    
    
  • Leaving your child alone when he needs to have a BM may help his constipation. Ask day care providers or teachers to give your child privacy when he uses the bathroom.
    
    
  • Constipation may cause your child to leak BM onto his underwear. This is something that your child cannot control. Soiling may happen when your child is playing and being active. If this happens, calmly clean your child and change his underwear. Ask day care providers or teachers to do the same. Do not let your child stay in the soiled underwear. Let your child's caregiver know that this is happening with your child.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• Your child has not had a BM in two or three days.
  
  
• Your child has BMs that are hard or painful to pass.
  
  
• You see blood in the diaper or BM.
  
  
• Your child's abdomen (belly) is swollen.
  
  
• Your child has nausea (upset stomach).
  
  
• Your child does not want to eat or drink.
  
  
• The rectal area (rear end) has tears which are not healing.
  
  
• You have any questions or concerns about your child's care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• Your child has severe belly or rectal pain.
  
  
• Your child begins vomiting (throwing up).

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Link to Page

Print Page

Email Page