Constipation

Review common causes of constipation and how you can prevent and treat your child's constipation with simple changes to your child's diet.

Submit your parenting tips for coping with common issues and problems related to parenting a child with constipation. What works for you?

Constipation is very common in children and it is usually caused by not drinking enough fluids, not eating enough fiber, or having a diet high in constipating foods (milk, cheese, banannas, etc.).

Constipation, the passage of hard, painful and infrequent stools, is common in children. Learn how to prevent and treat constipation by increasing fluids and fiber in their diet, avoiding constipating foods and using stool softeners.

Fiber is an important part of a healthy diet and most experts recommend that both children and adults eat a high fiber diet. Learn how much fiber your kids should be getting in their diet each day and about finding foods high in fiber.

My daughter only has a bowel movement once or twice a week. Is she constipated?

Review natural treatments to treat a child with constipation.

Review what to do about a 7 week old infant who needs a suppository to have a bowel movement and how to treat constipation in this baby who is breastfeeding and being supplemented with formula.

Review a 'problem' of a breastfed infant who is only having bowel movements every five or six days.

Review common treatments for children with constipation, including the use of laxatives and stool softeners.

Learn what to do about a constipated preschooler who eats a lot of junk food and cheese and is afraid to go to the bathroom.

Fiber is an important part of a healthy diet and most experts recommend a high fiber diet.

Review the case of an infant with difficulty passing stools and possible Hirschsprung's Disease.

Children with Hirschsprung's disease lack the nerve cells that enable intestinal muscles to move stool through the large intestine (colon) causing a delay in passing meconium in newborns and chronic constipation. Learn about tests used to diagnose this condition and surgical treatment options.

Learn what to do when your potty trained child regresses, for example by having accidents or bowel movements on the floor.

A guideline to treating constipation from The American Gastroenterological Association.

Learn about treating kids who are constipated.

Constipation is a common problem for infants and children, and accounts for almost 3 percent of visits to a pediatrician. Learn about common constipation treatments, including stool softeners, and dietary treatments, such as choosing more low-fat foods that are high in fiber.

Since there are many other things that can cause stomach pains, it is important to learn about constipation symptoms to see if your child really has constipation, or if something else causing his pain.