Why your child’s constipation may be unrelated to their fiber intake

Navigating potty training, picky eating and sleep routines are just a few of the challenges parents face. When you notice your child has constipation, you may not know the root cause. Do they need to eat more fiber? Should you revisit their potty training?

“Both adults and children can experience constipation if they don’t eat enough fiber or drink enough water,” says Dr. Cristina Senger, a pediatrician at Aurora Health Care. “The biggest difference is that young children can also experience constipation due to behavioral reasons tied to potty training.”

Behaviors that cause constipation

Potty training is a behavior that takes time to learn. Some children might be off to a great start with potty training but then experience a setback that makes them scared or uninterested in using the bathroom. Parents may think this is constipation, but, in reality, their child is intentionally holding in their stool.

“This is referred to as stool withholding which can occur for many reasons,” says Dr. Senger. “They may withhold their stool after experiencing a painful bowel movement in an attempt to prevent it from happening again. Other times it might be because a child has anxiety around using the bathroom or doesn’t want anything to disrupt their playtime.”

A child may opt to hold in their stool if the toilet available is unfamiliar to them, such as a public restroom. They may also develop anxiety surrounding toilet use if their parent shows frustration during the potty-training process.

“It’s important to address the cause of stool withholding because it can cause abdominal discomfort, painful, hardened bowel movements and sometimes even fecal impaction,” Dr. Senger says.

How to help your child overcome stool withholding

To help your child avoid stool withholding, it’s best to focus on making their stool as easy to pass as possible.

“Increasing your child’s fiber and water intake can help stools pass more comfortably,” Dr. Senger advises. “It’s important to introduce more fiber into their diet slowly to avoid abdominal discomfort. Your child’s pediatrician can also help assess whether a laxative may benefit your child. Many laxatives are sold over the counter, but it’s still important to work with their doctor so they can determine whether the constipation is related to an underlying health condition.”

Establishing dedicated bathroom times can also help a child overcome anxiety around using the toilet. Some children also respond well to reward systems. Not only is this encouraging for the child, but it also helps them become interested in using the toilet — especially if toys are distracting them from using the bathroom.

Your child’s pediatrician can help you navigate all of the developmental stages and offer recommendations based on your child’s unique health needs.

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