Constipation Solutions For Kids

Which poo Is Your Child?

When it comes to your child’s bowel movements, it’s not just frequency that matters—it’s also the type. Types 1 and 2 on the Bristol Stool Chart indicate constipation, meaning your child is likely struggling to pass stools. Types 3 and 4 are ideal, as they’re smooth and easy to pass. Type 5 suggests your child is heading towards diarrhea, and Types 6 and 7 mean they already have it.

Why Constipation Matters

Pooping is a major way the body detoxifies. If your child isn’t going regularly, toxins stay trapped in the body, often making skin rashes and itching worse. The connection between constipation and worsening skin symptoms is not a coincidence.

Common Constipation Symptoms in babies and children

  • Fewer than 1-3 bowel movements a day

  • Hard, dry, or lumpy stools, or bowel movements that are incomplete

  • Difficulty or pain while pooping

  • Bloating, stomach discomfort, or nausea

  • Large, wide stools

  • Being fussy and spitting up often

  • Arching their back

  • Blood in stools or on toilet paper

  • Traces of liquid or stool in underwear (possible fecal impaction)

what causes Constipation

  • Diet: Processed and junk foods, dairy, gluten, low fiber, or high-protein/high-fat diets

  • Dehydration: Not drinking enough water

  • Lifestyle: Stress, lack of sleep, physical inactivity, travel, stool holding

  • Medications: Antacids, acid blockers, anticonvulsants, ADHD medications, antibiotics, antihistamines, iron and calcium supplements, pain medications, antidepressants

  • Gut Health: Issues with motility, IBS, SIBO, Candida, parasites, digestive problems (low enzymes, stomach acid, or bile), or other imbalances and infections

Steps to Relieve Constipation

  • Hydration: Aim for 1 glass of water per year of age daily. Under 1 year old and once eating solids, sips of water

    • Unsweetened fruit juice (grape, pear, apple, cherry, prune, aloe)

  • Fiber-rich foods: Introduce more fruits, veggies, chia and flaxseed, gluten free steel-cut oats, and whole gluten free grains

  • Avoid: Dairy, gluten, processed foods, high-sugar snacks, and diets void of or low in fiber

  • Exercise: Encourage regular physical activity

  • Castor oil packs: A gentle, natural remedy for relief

  • Smoothies: Add fiber-rich ingredients like unsweetened prune juice, pears, spinach, blueberries, and chia or flaxseeds to make constipation smoothies

  • Constipation “nut butter”:

    • Ingredients

      • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce

      • 1 cup chia or hemp seeds

      • 3/4 cup unsweetened prune juice

    • Instructions

      • Mix ingredients together, they will turn into a pasty consistency, like nut butter

      • Keep refrigerated

      • Eat one or two tsp each day, and follow it with a glass of water

      • Maintain, it might take a few days to see results

  • Supplements: Magnesium citrate, or high dose vitamin C (talk to a practitioner for appropriate dosing)

  • Lifestyle: Address sleep issues, manage stress, encourage your child to go when they have to, stop toilet training if your child is constipated and start again when it’s resolved

When Diet And Lifestyle Aren’t Enough: Contact your doctor and Get professional support

Why Diarrhea Matters

If your child’s bowel movements are frequent and watery, they may have diarrhea. This can be an indication of gut inflammation, and when chronic, can prevent your child from absorbing nutrients from foods they eat.

Common Diarrhea Symptoms

  • Stomach cramps

  • Stomach pain

  • Bloating

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Fever

  • Blood in the stool

  • Mucus in the stool

  • Urgent need to go

Steps to relieve diarrhea

  • Clear liquid diet: Water, herbal teas, apple juice, clear broths, plain gelatin

  • Diet dos: Small and more frequent meals, applesauce, apples, peaches, oranges, strawberries, bananas, peas, carrots, green beans, yogurt, potatoes and sweet potatoes without the skin, lean beef, pork, turkey, chicken, well-cooked eggs, and tofu

  • Diet dont’s: Very cold foods, and liquids, and carbonated drinks, fatty, greasy, rich foods, foods that cause gas like chewing gum, dairy products

  • Lifestyle: Address sleep issues, and manage stress

When Diet And Lifestyle Aren’t Enough: Get professional support

  • If your child has diarrhea that lasts for more than 24 hours, or if they have pain and cramping, call your doctor.

What your baby’s poo is telling you

As babies grow, their poop changes, reflecting their diet and health.

Texture

  • Newborn baby poop: Your baby’s poop as a newborn will be thick and tar-like. This should change to a looser and yellow poop within a few days after birth. If it doesn’t, call your pediatrician, it might mean he or she isn’t getting enough milk.

  • Breastfed baby poop: Breastfed babies have looser stools, this is normal and isn’t necessarily a sign of diarrhea.

  • Formula-fed baby poop: Babies that are formula fed tend to have poops that are firmer compared to breastfed babies. The color may also be more tan to brown, with some yellow and green.

  • Introducing solids: When you introduce solids, you can expect your baby’s poop to start looking more like adult poop.

Consistency

  • Constipation: Hard, dark brown, pebble-like stools that are difficult to pass suggest constipation in your baby

  • Diarrhea: Infants naturally have looser stools, but frequent, watery stools after each feeding may indicate diarrhea

  • Mucus or Frothy Poop: This could result from swallowing drool during teething. If not teething, or if the poop is frothy, consult your doctor

  • Blood: Blood in stool may result from constipation-related straining, a possible infection, or consuming dairy. Contact your doctor

  • Food Pieces: Undigested food in poop can be normal after starting solids but may also indicate insufficient chewing

Frequency

  • Newborns: May have infrequent poops initially, which can be normal

  • Breastfed babies: May poop less often until 3-6 weeks old, while formula-fed babies should poop at least once daily—anything less could signal constipation.

  • After starting solids: Babies should have daily bowel movements; if not, it may indicate constipation

If your baby’s bowel habits are a concern, contact your Doctor.

Always contact your doctor with concerns about your child’s health. The information provided is not medical advice and it is critical to work with a qualified health professional to safely and effectively address your child’s health issues.

References

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  • doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10835-8.

  • doi: 10.1038/ajg.2009.655.

  • doi: 10.3904/kjim.2012.27.3.262.

  • doi.org/10.1089/act.2018.29190.jcb.

  • https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003125.htm.

  • https://www.unitypoint.org/blankchildrens/article.aspx?id=40567710-74c7-4ef2-a040-847be9fbd35a.

  • https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/baby-poop-color#frequency.