What can I do about my two-year-old's constipation?
My two-year-old is badly constipated. What's causing this and is there anything I can do to help her?
by
The BabyCenter Editorial Team
|
Medically reviewed
by
Dr. Kellie Scott, MD, CCFP, FCFP, Family physician
|
Medically reviewed
by
Dr. Kellie Scott, MD, CCFP, FCFP, Family physician
|
Constipation in a toddler can be caused by:
Boosting your child’s fibre intake will make her bowel movements easier. Offer foods such as whole grain bread and cereal, and fruits and vegetables such as prunes, figs, apricots, plums, peas, broccoli, corn, potatoes and baked beans.
Prunes can be mashed and disguised in your toddler’s food, and she may find fig cookies tastier than plain figs. Give her fruit with the peel left on, and leave potatoes in their skins. However, don’t overload your toddler with high-fibre foods – they shouldn’t form the bulk of her diet until she is at least five. Too much fibre for a toddler could give her diarrhea.
Give your child plenty of fluids to help moisten her stool. Water is best. Don’t give your child fizzy or sugary drinks.
Constipation may make your toddler sluggish and low in energy. But being active will help to ease her constipation. Encourage her to get out and walk alongside the stroller for a short while when you’re out and about. Or play some music and get her to dance with you, or kick a ball around the yard.
If your child is constipated while you are potty training her, think about whether she is too young or too anxious to use the potty. Also consider whether you’re pushing her too soon – maybe you’re anxious to get her potty trained because you’re worried about accidents. Your child can pick up on this and refuse to go to the toilet, making the problem much worse. You may need to put potty training on hold until you see the signs that she’s ready.
If your child’s constipation still doesn’t improve, your doctor may prescribe a mild laxative, stool softener, or suppository to soften her bowel movements.
Until your child’s constipation clears up she may be angry, irritable and lacking in energy, and a source of worry for you and your partner. But with your attention and treatment, she’ll soon establish regular, easy bowel movements again.
Take a look at our poo gallery for a visual guide to what’s normal and what’s not!
Reviewed for Canada by Kellie Scott, MD
This article was written using the following sources:
CKS. 2008. NHS Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Clinical topic – Constipation. www.cks.nhs.uk [Accessed December 2009]
CPS 2007. Healthy bowel habits Canadian Paediatric Society. www.caringforkids.cps.ca [file accessed October 2011]
Draper R. 2009. Constipation in childhood. Patient UK. www.patient.co.uk [Accessed December 2009]
FSA. n.d. Food Standards Agency. Your toddler. www.eatwell.gov.uk [Accessed December 2009]
Loening-Baucke V, Miele E, Staiano A. 2004. Fiber (glucomannan) is beneficial in the treatment of childhood constipation. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov . Pediatrics 113:e259-64
NHS. 2008. Constipation. NHS Choices, Health Encyclopaedia. www.nhs.uk [Accessed December 2009]
- not eating enough fibre
- not drinking enough fluids
- drinking too much milk and not enough water
- lack of exercise and activity
- being anxious about potty training can make your child "hold in" her poo, which can make constipation worse
Boosting your child’s fibre intake will make her bowel movements easier. Offer foods such as whole grain bread and cereal, and fruits and vegetables such as prunes, figs, apricots, plums, peas, broccoli, corn, potatoes and baked beans.
Prunes can be mashed and disguised in your toddler’s food, and she may find fig cookies tastier than plain figs. Give her fruit with the peel left on, and leave potatoes in their skins. However, don’t overload your toddler with high-fibre foods – they shouldn’t form the bulk of her diet until she is at least five. Too much fibre for a toddler could give her diarrhea.
Give your child plenty of fluids to help moisten her stool. Water is best. Don’t give your child fizzy or sugary drinks.
Constipation may make your toddler sluggish and low in energy. But being active will help to ease her constipation. Encourage her to get out and walk alongside the stroller for a short while when you’re out and about. Or play some music and get her to dance with you, or kick a ball around the yard.
If your child is constipated while you are potty training her, think about whether she is too young or too anxious to use the potty. Also consider whether you’re pushing her too soon – maybe you’re anxious to get her potty trained because you’re worried about accidents. Your child can pick up on this and refuse to go to the toilet, making the problem much worse. You may need to put potty training on hold until you see the signs that she’s ready.
If your child’s constipation still doesn’t improve, your doctor may prescribe a mild laxative, stool softener, or suppository to soften her bowel movements.
Until your child’s constipation clears up she may be angry, irritable and lacking in energy, and a source of worry for you and your partner. But with your attention and treatment, she’ll soon establish regular, easy bowel movements again.
Take a look at our poo gallery for a visual guide to what’s normal and what’s not!
Reviewed for Canada by Kellie Scott, MD
References
This article was written using the following sources:
CKS. 2008. NHS Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Clinical topic – Constipation. www.cks.nhs.uk [Accessed December 2009]
CPS 2007. Healthy bowel habits Canadian Paediatric Society. www.caringforkids.cps.ca [file accessed October 2011]
Draper R. 2009. Constipation in childhood. Patient UK. www.patient.co.uk [Accessed December 2009]
FSA. n.d. Food Standards Agency. Your toddler. www.eatwell.gov.uk [Accessed December 2009]
Loening-Baucke V, Miele E, Staiano A. 2004. Fiber (glucomannan) is beneficial in the treatment of childhood constipation. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov . Pediatrics 113:e259-64
NHS. 2008. Constipation. NHS Choices, Health Encyclopaedia. www.nhs.uk [Accessed December 2009]
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