Constipation can be caused by a poor diet, illness or disorder. In most cases they disappear after a few days, but they can last longer.

Diagnosis of constipation

Constipation occurs when a child defecates less than 3 times a week. Constipation manifests itself:

• pain when passing stools,
• hard and solid stools,
• difficulty having a bowel movement,
• abdominal pain,
• lack of appetite,
• passing stools of large diameter or volume on one occasion.

Causes of constipation

Constipation in infants and young children has many possible causes. Sometimes they do not have an obvious cause.

The most common causes of constipation are:

• insufficient fibre - which is, for example, in fruit, vegetables and whole grain cereal products,
• drinking too little fluid,
• inadequate potty training - for example, pressure from a carer.

How to deal with constipation in children?

Changes in your child's diet and potty training can help to manage constipation. However, it sometimes takes several weeks before symptoms resolve.

If your baby is fed on a milk mixture, introduce extra drinking between feeds, lay your baby on his back and try to gently move his legs by doing what is called a 'bicycle', carefully massaging your baby's tummy to stimulate the bowels. In addition, give plenty of fluids and encourage them to eat fruit (for older babies).

However, do not force the child to eat, as this can cause him additional stress.

Some children feel anxious or stressed about using the toilet. This usually happens when they are learning to use the potty and when their usual way of using the toilet has changed (e.g. after moving house or starting nursery school).

Do not underestimate constipation in your child. Do not delay visiting the doctor, as constipation may be the cause of a gastrointestinal disease or food allergy, among other things.