Childhood Constipation: What should you do to help?

Does your child struggle with constipation? Childhood constipation is quite common and effects approximately 30% of children. Constipation may cause excessive straining, discomfort on defecation, abdominal pain, bloating and infrequent bowel actions. Constipation can be exacerbated by a poor diet, food intolerances, during toilet training or during a time of change or stress in a child’s life such as starting school.  

Diagnosis should include a medical assessment with your child’s GP or paediatrician.  

Treatment 

The treatment of childhood constipation is often complex as the condition is influenced by a wide variety of factors. There are a range of ways treat childhood constipation including: 

Fluids: It is important to ensure your child is meeting their daily fluid requirements as dehydration can worsen constipation.  

Adequate Fibre: alongside fluids, meeting fibre requirements is essential to help keep bowels moving and prevent constipation.  

Exercise: Regular activity and exercise can help with movement of food through the intestines. 

Age-appropriate solids: the introduction of solid foods is recommended around the age of 6 months but not before 4 months. A paediatric dietitian or your child’s GP can provide more information on age appropriate solids, introducing allergens and what kinds of foods your child needs at what age.  

Laxatives: in some cases where there is an accumulation of faecal material laxatives or stool softeners may be used to help relieve constipation or used on a regular basis to help to soften stools to ensure regular bowel actions. It is important to talk to your health care professional before commencing any laxative regime for your child. 

Regular toileting -habit training, diary, time!! When treating childhood constipation regular toileting can be helpful to create bowel habits and a routine. Keeping a diary of your child’s bowel movements can be useful to take to medical or dietitian appointments if required.  

Working with a paediatric dietitian:  As treatment is complex, working with a paediatric dietitian is a great way to help manage childhood constipation. A dietitian will be able to review your child’s diet and offer specific dietary and behavioural strategies to improve toileting. Additionally, a dietitian will be able to guide you when introducing solids and determine whether or not a laxative may be helpful.  

Here at Balance Nutrition, paediatric dietitian, Laura is highly skilled in managing complex paediatric gastroenterology cases, including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Coeliac Disease and other gastrointestinal issues such as childhood constipation. Laura will help simplify complex nutrition information guiding you through the process step by step.  

To book an appointment with Laura, call us on 07 4566 0765 or visit our website here. 

Written by Olivia Medway, APD

References:

https://www.nrv.gov.au/nutrients/water

https://www.nrv.gov.au/nutrients/dietary-fibre 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation-in-children/symptoms-causes/syc-20354242