Why do children face occasional constipation ?

Constipation is one of the most common childhood disorders, affecting up to 30% of children worldwide. Children with constipation experience stools that are hard, dry, and difficult or painful to pass.

When it comes to occasional constipation in children, spotting the symptoms early on is extremely important. An easy tip to help you keep track of your child’s digestive health is to keep a diary of how often your child has a bowel movement and what type of stool it is. 

In general, most children have a bowel movement 1 to 2 times per day, but keep in mind that bowel patterns vary from child to child – which is totally normal.

Children

Children can experience constipation due to a number of reasons, some of the most common ones being:

  • Purposely not going to the bathroom and withholding stools – we all know how fun those playdates can get ! 
  • Not going to bathroom because it hurts when they try to go
  • Not getting enough water or fiber in their diet
  • Illness or medication
  • A big change in the child’s routine like starting at a new school, moving to a new home, etc.

Spotting the symptoms of constipation

Spotting the symptoms of constipation in your child is important. Just like any other condition, if it goes unnoticed for too long, it can lead to more serious complications.

Children might have constipation if they have:

Fewer than three bowel movements in a week

Trouble or pain when passing a bowel movement

Stool that is hard, dry, and unusually large

If your child has a hard stool consistency, often suffers from discomfort when try to go to the bathroom or feels bloated and has belly pain, we recommend you consult your healthcare professional.

What could be causing occasional constipation ?

Spotting the symptoms of occasional constipation is very important – but so is understanding what is causing your child to be constipated. Properly identifying the causes can help you tackle the issue and prevent future bouts of constipation from occurring.

How to prevent occasional constipation in children ?

There are a few steps you can take to help your child get relief and develop habits to prevent constipation in the future.

Children tend to imitate adults – so setting the right example and habits can have a long-term effect on their digestive health (and yours !).

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Stay informed

Occasional constipation is a common condition with a wide range of possible causes. We know how unpredictable and frustrating constipation can be, so we are here to help identify the possible causes and teach you how to address them.

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