Paediatrics@home

Constipation

Your child has been diagnosed with constipation.

We know this can be a stressful time with lots of information from healthcare providers. It can be difficult to absorb everything.

We hope the following pages will be helpful in providing you with the education and resources you need to support your child from home.

What is Constipation?

There is no one definition for constipation but it generally refers to having hard, dry and difficulty-to-pass bowel movements infrequently.

Click continue to learn about common symptoms.

Other Resources: Caring for Kids - Healthy bowel habits for children CHEO - Constipation

Symptoms of Constipation

The symptoms of constipation can include:

  • hard, dry, difficult to pass stool
  • infrequent bowel movements
  • abdominal pain
  • nausea and/or vomiting
  • diarrhea (called 'overflow' diarrhea)
  • bright red blood on the surface of hard stool
  • decreased appetite/intake
  • weight loss

What to do at home

Click below for information on ways to help at home.

Track your child's symptoms

Keep track of your child's constipation and document details such as:

  • frequency of bowel movements
  • stool type (using the Bristol Stool Chart)
  • anything that you think makes your child more constipated
  • anything that helps keep your child having regular bowel movements

It is also important to pay attention to other symptoms such as abdominal pain or blood in the stool. Track symptoms as they appear and document any details you feel are important. Bring this information to your next visit with your healthcare provider.

Fluids and Fibre

Try to ensure that your child is getting enough fluids and fibre in their diet.

  • aim for at least 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day (note: a serving is about the size of your child's palm)
  • choose whole grain options whenever possible
  • encourage your child to drink plenty of water and limit juice to less than 1 cup (250 mL or 8 oz) a day

It is also important to avoid constipating foods. These can differ for everyone but commonly these refer to foods like white bread, white rice, and white pasta. Caring for Kids - Healthy eating for children

Toileting

Teach your child that it is normal and healthy to have regular bowel movements, on average once or twice a day.

Children who are toilet-trained should be encouraged not to hold their stool whenever possible. If your child is not yet toilet-trained, do not rush this process. Caring for Kids - Toilet learning

Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is important for stimulating bowel function and helping keep bowel movements regular. Aim for at least an hour of moderate physical activity every day.

Medical Therapy

If you have been seen by a medical professional, they may have treated your child with medications. Click below to learn more about these medications.

A. PEG 3350

PEG 3350 (common brand names: Restoralax, Lax-A-Day, MiraLAX) is a stool softener that is commonly prescribed to help manage constipation in kids.

The following is an excellent resource from CHEO (Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario) that offers guidance on dosing along with other useful information: CHEO - What you need to know: Constipation

B. Enemas

Rectal enemas are liquid solutions that can be inserted into the rectum through the anus to soften stool and stimulate a bowel movement. They are typically a combination of water and a mild laxative. The solution is held in the rectum for 5-15 minutes and then expelled with a bowel movement.

When to seek medical attention

Here are some signs that, if present, should lead you to seek immediate medical attention for your child:

  • severe abdominal pain
  • blood in stool
  • unable to pass gas
  • green vomit
  • belly that is very distended or rigid/hard or very tender to touch
  • excessively sleepy, lethargic, or not responsive child
  • poor intake leading to dehydration (dry mouth, sunken eyes, no tears, dark urine, no urine for more than 8-12 hours) or inability to keep down medications

Follow Up

Please follow up with your primary care provider unless instructed otherwise. Of course, if you feel your child needs immediate medical attention, please do not hesitate to call 911 or bring them to your closest emergency department.

We hope this has been useful. Thank you for using Paediatrics@home!