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Every infant is different and not all infants poop everyday. In fact, is normal for some infants to poop only once or twice a week. The most kids could have 3 bowel movements a day or 3 times a week. If your infant and child is comfortable and passes soft stool then he/she is not constipated, even if he/she only poops once a week. |
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Causes |
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In many children, no cause for the constipation can be found.
Daily Routine
Not eat enough vegetables, fruits, and fiber
Not drink enough fluids
Poor physical activities can decrease bowel activities
Poop Behavior
Early or stressful toilet training can make child afraid of the toilet or rebel and hold stools.
Hold when the urge occurs, which could relate to forget to take a break from play or toilet phobia due to painful pooping experience.
Stress can change pooping habits.
Medications as cold medicines, antacids, antidepressants and various other drugs
Check drug information Medline
Underlying conditions : Rarely, constipation is due to underlying conditions, such as Hirschsprung's disease, hypothyroidism, or birth defects. |
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Symptoms Does my baby/child have constipation? |
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Bowel movements are hard and dry, difficult or hurt to poop.
No bowel movement for several days then has hard and dry stool.
Extreme straining during a bowel movement and holding poop
Cramping abdominal pain
Pain at anus with bright red blood on the surface of hard stool (anal fissure-an opening at anus)
Liquid or clay like stool leaks out of the anus (soiling); a sign that stool is backed up in the rectum |
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Prevention and Management |
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Enhance good habits
Eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains as breads, cereals, and beans, which are high in fiber
Drink more water and other liquids
Get more physical activities to move bowels
Build good pooping behavior
Avoid early or stressful toilet training;
Make sure there are free accesses for kids to go to toilets (at home, childcare centers, and schools)
Have a routine for poop is essential: 5 minutes 2-3 times per day
Develop habit of going and don’t hold it
Disimpaction: Sometimes a child may need a glycerin suppository (OTC), an enema to remove the large amount of stool (Check with physicians).
Maintenance: Sometimes a child may need medications for constipation such as bulk forming, lubricate, stool softener, osmotic, or stimulant laxatives (check with physicians).
Constipation- medications TP |
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Treatment of Infants |
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Juices containing sorbitol: prune, pear, and apple
Stool softer: Barley malt extract, corn syrup, lactulose or sorbitol
Glycerin suppositories as recommended by physicians
Avoid Enemas
Mineral oil and stimulant laxatives: not recommended
Infant-constipation Mayo
High-fiber-foods
Grains, cereal & pasta whole-grain cereal, bread, whole-wheat or mixed-grain, oatmeal…
Legumes, nuts & beans: almonds, black beans, kidney beans, lima beans, lentils…
Fruits apple, peach, berries, tangerine, orange, pear, raisins, strawberries…
Vegetables broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, spinach, turnip, zucchini… |
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Call or See Doctor If |
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The constipation is accompanied by vomiting or noticeable irritability
Constipation last 3 weeks or more
Extreme straining during a bowel movement and reluctance to use the toilet
The child is in pain
Bloody stool
Affects normal activities
Liquid or clay like stool leaks out of the anus
Before you plan to take or give your child over-the-counter medication for constipation
If you consider the medicines you take may cause constipation Check medication information Medline |
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