Constipation in Children

Constipation is a commonly encountered problem in children. Constipation in children can be due to the same reasons as in adults - diet, fluid intake, illness or medication, but there can also be some emotional reasons surrounding starting potty training or starting school for the first time. The main thing is not to worry and sort the problem out as quickly as possible.

When a child complains it is painful to go to the toilet, it must be taken seriously. The child will subconsciously hold back the stool to prevent a painful evacuation. As they accumulate in the rectum, only watery stools manage to get through, often by accident - the child may appear to have diarrhoea but it is actually caused by "overflow" constipation. This could leave the remaining stools even drier, harder and more painful to pass.

For whatever reason, a child may refuse to go to the toilet, or lie about having already been. Of course, the longer children leave going to the toilet, the more painful it can be when they finally do go, it can even put them off going again. Children pick up parents' anxiety, so it is important not to appear worried.

• Drink more water
• Eat fibre rich foods - every parent knows how picky children can be about what they eat, so sneaking high fibre foods into their diet requires some ingenuity. That said, you should try not to make a behavioural issue out of eating - food should remain a pleasure
• Do more exercise
• Cut down on high fat and high sugar content foods
• Encourage regular bowel habit - setting aside a specific time of day to go to the toilet, such as after breakfast or evening meal, will teach your child not to put off bowel movements and may help to establish regular habits. A footstool can put the toilet at a comfortable height, while putting out storybooks or comics may help them relax and take their time

• Breakfast - Breakfast cereals containing whole-wheat or bran, Porridge, Toast made with wholemeal bread
• Lunch/Dinner - Sandwiches made with brown bread, Baked beans on brown bread toast, Baked beans with jacket potato, Chilli with brown rice, Wholewheat pasta
• Snacks - Fruit with skins (e.g. apples, pears, grapes, plums), Oat bars, Bananas, Cherry tomatoes, Dried fruits like raisins, apricot

It's important to explain to your child why you're changing their diet or giving them a constipation remedy, and to tell them when the remedy might start to work. Most children won't talk about their bowel habits or their constipation, even to close friends. And many parents also keep the subject to themselves. But it's crucial children don't feel constipation is their fault.

Your GP, health advisor, nurse or pharmacist can offer support and will try to reassure you that the problem is very common and that there are practical solutions.