Constipation - St. Louis Children's Hospital

Constipation

Call your child’s regular doctor Call your child’s regular doctor
NOW (night or day) if your child: if your child:
 Cries uncontrollably for more than an hour.
 Is vomiting.
 Has persistent abdominal pain for longer  Has broken skin or torn skin around the
than 1 hour.
anus.
 Has pain with a bowel movement.  Has a swollen abdomen.
 Is straining for more than 10 minutes
 Has blood in the diaper or in stool.
with a bowel movement.
 Does not want to eat or drink.

How Often Will My Child Go?

Another name for a bowel movement is stool. The number of bowel movements a child has is different from
day to day. Some children have 2 or 3 bowel movements a day while others may only have 3 to 4 bowel
movements a week.

The size of a bowel movement depends on how much a child eats.

• Large eaters have larger stools Brief straining or pushing for less
than 10 minutes can happen at
• Hard or dry bowel movements are normal for some any age and does not mean that
children if they are able to go easily. This is usually
because of low fiber in the diet. your child is constipated.

• Breast-fed infants may have soft bowel movements
without pain after every feeding. Formula-fed infants
will have larger bowel movements.

Constipation occurs when stools move too slowly through the colon and fluid is

absorbed by the body.

• This may happen because of stool holding or the passing of painful stools.
• It can also happen while potty training, unavailability of toilets, a change in diet, or stressful events.
• Stool holding and/or soiling often begins during toilet training and is usually not a serious problem. Talk

with your medical provider if you have more questions about stool holding.

This handout is for your general information only. The lists above are guidelines and do not include all symptoms. St. Louis Children’s Hospital
This document is not a substitute for your child being seen by a doctor. Always call your child’s doctor if you have One Children’s Place
any questions or problems. If your child’s condition gets worse, call your child’s doctor or go to the emergency department. St. Louis MO 63110
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Constipation

Things You Can Do to Help

• Eat foods that are high in fiber. These will help prevent constipation.
• Good foods include dried fruits (prunes, apricots, figs), applesauce, pears, sweet potatoes, beans, peas

and broccoli. Whole grain breads and brown rice are also high in fiber.
• Drink plenty of water and other liquids.
• Get exercise every day.
• It may be hard for babies to have a bowel movement lying down. During your baby's bowel movement,

you can help by gently holding the knees against his or her chest.
• Do not put anything into your child's rectum such as an enema or a suppository without talking to your

child's doctor.
• Watch your child’s appetite. Your child may not eat as much as usual or may start throwing up if his or

her constipation is getting worse.

AGE 1 to 3 YEARS AGE 4 to 6 YEARS AGE 7 to 10 YEARS

Food Serving Minimum Dietary Minimum Dietary Minimum Dietary
Group
Size Recommended Fiber Recommended Fiber Recommended Fiber

Serving Content Serving Content Serving Content

Fruit ½-1 2 2 to 4g 2 2 to 4g 2 2 to 4g
small

Vegetable ¼ cup 2 2g 2.5 2.5g 4 4g

Grains 1 slice 2 4g 4 8g 4 8g
bread/
1 cup
dry
cereal

TOTALS 8-10g 12.5-14.5g 14-16g

This handout is for your general information only. The lists above are guidelines and do not include all symptoms. St. Louis Children’s Hospital
This document is not a substitute for your child being seen by a doctor. Always call your child’s doctor if you have One Children’s Place
any questions or problems. If your child’s condition gets worse, call your child’s doctor or go to the emergency department. St. Louis MO 63110
R5034 07-2012
2 of 3

Constipation

Medicine Used to Treat Constipation:
Note: Always talk with your child’s medical provider before giving any medicine for constipation.
Your child’s medical provider can direct you to the best choice for your child and for how much to
give.

Medicine name How long it can take to work

Miralax® 4 to 8 hours
Mineral Oil 6 to 8 hours
Milk of Magnesia® 1 to 4 hours
Lactulose 24 to 48 hours
Senna 6 to 12 hours
Bisacodyl Suppository 15 to 30 minutes
Fleet’s® Enema 15 to 30 minutes

For General Health Information:

Call or visit the Family Resource Center (a free health information library) located on the 3rd floor of St. Louis
Children’s Hospital. Call 314.454.2350. Email at [email protected]

This handout is for your general information only. The lists above are guidelines and do not include all symptoms. St. Louis Children’s Hospital
This document is not a substitute for your child being seen by a doctor. Always call your child’s doctor if you have One Children’s Place
any questions or problems. If your child’s condition gets worse, call your child’s doctor or go to the emergency department. St. Louis MO 63110
R5034 07-2012
3 of 3