Constipation in children 

Nutrition therapy for constipation 

Constipation in children or babies can mean any, or all, of the following:

• Difficulty or straining when passing stools.

• Pain when passing stools, sometimes with a tiny amount of blood in the nappy or on the toilet paper, due to a small tear in the skin of the back passage (anus).

• Passing stools less often than normal. Generally, this is less than three complete (proper) stools per week.

• Stools that are hard and perhaps very large, or pellet-like and small, like rabbit droppings.

As well as less frequent, hard (and perhaps painful) stools, constipation can cause:

• Tummy ache (abdominal pain).

• Poor appetite.

• Feeling 'off colour' (general malaise).

• Behavioural changes, such as being more irritable or unhappy.

• Fidgeting, restlessness and other signs that the child needs to go to the toilet.

• Feeling sick (nausea).

Severe constipation can cause impaction, where a very large stool is stuck in the lower gut, usually just above the anus, in the section called the rectum. This can cause further symptoms. In particular, this can cause a child to soil their pants regularly with very soft faeces, or with faecal-stained mucus. This is often mistaken by parents as diarrhoea. 

​

A Dietitian can help solve your childs constipation by 

• Ensuring a nutritionally balanced dieet 

• Ensuring enough fiber 

• Recommending appropriate supplementation 

• Assessing fluids 

• Meal planning 

• Assesement for any food allergies or intolerances