Children can become constipated for short periods of time for various reasons. Stress, change in diet, loss of sleep, change in environment, introduction of new foods or passing illnesses all can trigger an episode of constipation that lasts for a day or two. When persistent, chronic or recurrent constipation occurs, you should do detective work to identify the possible causes. The approach that best treats the problem can depend on the triggering cause.
Symptoms
Ideally, children should pass one or two soft stools a day. Many children are not that regular. Still, you should consider your child constipated if she has fewer than three bowel movements a week; her stools are dry, hard and unusually large; or the stools are painful or difficult to pass, according to Family Doctor.
Hydration
Some children fail to drink enough fluids to soften their stools and to create sufficient mucous to lubricate their digestive tracts. Children should drink 32 to 48 oz. of fluid each day, and adolescents should drink 48 to 64 oz. each day, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Increase this amount if the weather is hot or if your child is active.
Fiber
Dietary fiber is an indigestible part of food that absorbs water while it passes through the colon, softening the stool and easing defecation. If fiber is insufficient, the colon could absorb the water from food and dry out the stool, making it harder to pass. Feed your child foods with fiber to aid digestion and excretion. High-fiber foods include bran cereals, whole-wheat and whole-grain products, fruits, dried fruits, vegetables and dried peas, beans and other legumes.
Milk and Diary
Cow's milk and dairy products, such as ice cream, cheese and yogurt, can cause constipation in children, according to the Mayo Clinic and Kid's Health. Milk is also an important source of nutrients, so don't eliminate it from your child's diet without medical supervision. In consultation with your child's pediatrician, you might reduce your child's consumption of dairy to two or three servings per day. If this doesn't help, try switching to soy milk. Use vitamins and other food sources to replace the calcium, protein and vitamin D that otherwise would come from milk products.
Celiac Disease
Children with celiac disease have adverse responses to foods that contain gluten, a protein in wheat, barley and rye. Baked goods, breads, cereals and many processed foods contain gluten, and they can trigger responses that can include constipation, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, gas, weight loss, tiredness, paleness and rashes. Diagnosing celiac disease can be challenging. Seek professional guidance from your child's pediatrician. If a medical evaluation determines that your child might have celiac disease, then eliminate wheat, barley and rye products from your child's diet.
Elimination and Challenge Diet
Often, the most effective way to diagnose celiac disease, dairy sensitivity or other food sensitivities is to remove a food from the diet, then observe changes in your child's bowel status. Once constipation symptoms have improved or disappeared, reintroduce the potentially offending foods one at a time. If constipation returns, then this food should be eliminated from your child's diet.
Other Factors
Many other factors can trigger constipation. Diabetes, hypothyroidism and kidney failure as well as some medications, such as antidepressants, antacids and painkillers, can cause constipation. Eliminating the medication or resolving the underlying medical condition, along with implementing other recommended dietary changes, can improve the constipation.
