Constipation

How can you tell if a child is constipated?

Children should pass soft poo every day, or at least every other day.
Passing types 1 - 3 means poo is sitting in a traffic jam.
Pooing fewer than 4 times a week also means poo is in a traffic jam.
Pooing more than 3 times a day can be a sign that the bowel is full, and is leaking out a bit at a time.
Soiling - it might be hard bits, soft stuff or even liquid bypassing the traffic jam, called overflow. The child won’t have any control over this.
Big poos, or lots of poo all at once.
Tummy ache or pain when they poo.
Distended/swollen tummy.
Really smelly poo/wind, or bad breath.
They might not feel like eating, or even feel sick.
The full bowel might press on the bladder and cause frequent small wees/urgency/day or night time wetting/Urinary tract infections.

Having just 2 of the above symptoms means constipation.

Review your child’s diet and fluid intake- link to tier one information
Ensure regular toileting, consider a toileting or fluid reminder watch Shop - ERIC and Poo Goes to Pooland App
Complete fluid and stool charts and take along to the GP - link to download fluid and stool chart
Consider if your child is withholding stools and experiencing soiling
Constipation in children: symptoms, causes and relief - ERIC
Speak to your child’s school to see if they are promoting regular toileting and fluid intake
Request an abdominal examination via your GP
The GP to discuss prescribing a macrogol and if a disimpaction needs to be commenced
GP to review whilst commencing macrogol and to refer after 3-6 months of being on the macrogol
Parents to discuss with Health Professional or Education staff.