Constipation is a common complaint amongst pediatric patients.
Constipation can include: two or fewer bowel movements per week, painful stooling, large and/or hard stools, straining while having a bowel movement and abdominal pain. Below is information about constipation for children of varied ages.
- Infants
- 1 month and older
- Exclusively breastfed infants can go up to 7 days without a bowel movement; you do not need to worry as long as stool is soft, non-bloody, and infant does not seem uncomfortable.
- Formula fed infants can go up to 4 days without a bowel movement; you do not need to worry as long as stool is soft, non-blood, and infant does not seem uncomfortable.
- To treat constipation in infants older than 1 month you can try the following
- 1 teaspoon benefiber (unflavored) mixed in bottle 3 times a day
- 1 tablespoon Karo Syrup (light or dark) mixed in bottle 2 times a day
- Juice: if your infant is less than 4 months old, you can give 1-2oz of diluted prune juice in bottle once a day. If your infant is older than 4 months, you can give 2-4oz of full strength juice once a day.
- 1 month and older
- Children age 1+
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- Children 1 year and up should have at least one bowel movement per day.
- The transition to whole milk is often a cause of constipation in this age, so limit milk to 24 oz per day.
- Increase water and fiber in the diet.
- You can add an over the counter probiotic and/or fiber supplement to their daily diet.
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- When to call your primary care provider
- Blood in your child’s stool
- Persistent abdominal pain despite having a bowel movement
- If you have tried the above remedies to treat constipation at home
- Constipation has been ongoing for more than 2 weeks
- Your provider may prescribe a prescription medication or OTC medication for you to try
