Question:
My child hasn't had a bowel movement in two days and the stool was hard when it is passed. Could he be constipated?
Definition:
We consider constipation to be when child is having infrequent bowel movements, when it is painful to pass stool, and/or when there is an inability to pass stool after prolong straining. The normal bowel frequency is highly variable. Frequently a child will go up to 4 days without a bowel movement.
Treatment:
Infants (younger than 1 year of age):
Add 1 teaspoon of dark karo syrup to bottle at least twice a day may provide relief. If your infant is breast-fed and you pump breast milk you may add dark karo syrup accordingly. The next step if infant is older than 4 months is to add baby food with a high fiber content (cereals, peas, peaches, pears, prunes). You can also offer two ounces of fruit juice.
Children (older than 1 year of age):
Encourage fruits and vegetable at least three times a day and increase water intake. Fruits that are high in fiber (prunes, peaches, pears, apples, beans, peas, broccoli) are particularly helpful. Add a daily source of bran to the diet (bran muffins, shredded wheat, graham crackers, oatmeal, high-fiber cookies, brown rice, whole wheat bread, popcorn if child is older than 4 years old). Moreover, a decrease in more constipating foods such as milk, ice cream, cheese, yogurt may be helpful. If changes in diet do not seem to improve constipation, you can add 1 teaspoon clear (generic) mineral oil to fluid once a day.
*** We do NOT recommend rectal stimulation unless authorized by our office
When to Call:
- Newborn: if no bowel movement in 4-5 days
- Infant or child: if no bowel movement in 7 days
- If there is blood in the stool or tarry black stools
- If home care doesn't seem to be working
