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Canberra Health Services
Health Information Sheet | Canberra Health Services

Tuckatalk Constipation

What is constipation?

Constipation is when bowel motions (stools or poo) become difficult to pass. Bowel motions may be lumpy, dry or hard and may occur less often or cause straining at the toilet. Constipation may also cause pain and discomfort and may reduce your child’s appetite.

What causes constipation?

Your child may become constipated for many reasons. For example, your child may:

  • Not eat enough fibre-rich food each day
  • Not drink enough fluid each day
  • Drink too much cow’s milk each day (more than 500ml for children over 1 year of age)
  • Have low levels of physical activity
  • Ignore urges to got to the toilet
  • Hold onto bowel motions.

For formula fed babies, making up their formula incorrectly, such as adding too little water or too much formula, can cause constipation.

Bowel habits… what is normal?

  • Different children can have different bowel habits.
  • Constipation is rare in fully breast fed (chest fed) babies and is uncommon in fully formula fed babies
  • Breast fed babies may have more bowel motions each day than formula fed babies.
  • Baby bowel motions may become firmer with the introduction of solid foods.
  • As children get older, they tend to have fewer bowel motions each day and stools may become firmer.

How to help your child develop healthy bowel habits:

  • Provide a variety of high fibre foods each day – see ideas below
  • Form regular eating and drinking habits
  • Start a regular toilet routine from an early age.

How is constipation treated?

Constipation may be treated with diet changes and a regular toilet routine. However sometimes stool softeners or medication may be needed.

Babies (6-12 months of age)

  • Offer fruit, vegetable, legumes (beans, lentils) and whole grain breads and cereals each day. Offer your baby textures they can manage. For example puree, mashed or soft foods.
  • Try fruits that soften bowel motions such as pear, kiwi fruit and prunes.
  • Offer extra drink such as cooled boiled water from 6 months of age.

Children (over 12 months of age)

  • Add extra fibre to your child’s diet and include fruit, vegetable legumes, wholegrain breads and cereals.
  • Limit highly refined bread and cereals like Rice Bubbles®, Corn Flakes® and white bread.
  • Limit cow’s milk to 500ml per day
  • Offer your child more fluids to drink.
  • Try pear or prune juice diluted with water or try mixing it with another fruit juice to improve taste.
  • Increase the amount of physical activity or movement your child does each day.
  • Decrease the amount of time your child uses screen-based activities.
  • Start a regular toilet routine, for example sit on the toilet for a few minutes after mealtime.

At any age – if the above changes are not working ask your GP or pharmacist about stool softeners

What is fibre?

Fibre is found in plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds and legumes. Their role in the body is to improve digestive health and regulate bowel movements.

How much fibre does my child need?

  • 1 to 3 years – 14 grams per day
  • 4 to 8 years – 18 grams per day
  • 9 to 13 years girls – 20 grams per day
  • 9 to 13 years boys – 24 grams per day

Source: Nutrient Reference Values.

For more information: https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/dietary-fibre

What are good sources of fibre?

To help your child eat enough fibre, offer a variety of high fibre food each day.

  • 100g frozen mixed vegetable, cooked – 5.9 grams
  • 100g boiled wholemeal pasta – 5.7 grams
  • 100g baked beans – 4.8 grams
  • 2 slices of wholemeal/grain bread – 3.4 to 4.4 grams
  • 2 Whole wheat cereal biscuits e.g. Weetbix – 3.3 grams
  • 100g cooked rolled oats – 2.9 grams
  • 100g apple, fresh with skin – 2.4 to 3.2 grams
  • 1 tsp chia seeds (5g) – 1.7 grams
  • 2 whole meal biscuits e.g. Vita-WeatsTM – 1.6 grams
  • 20g peanut butter – 1.3 grams

What about bran?

Bran is not recommended for children as it can decrease absorption of important nutrients such

as calcium and iron. It can also cause bloating and wind.

Medicine

Your child may need laxatives or stool softeners. These can help soften your child’s stool so

they can open their bowels. Talk to your General Practitioner (GP) or pharmacist before giving

your child medicine. Your child may need to take these for a long time.

How can I help my child use the toilet?

  • Encourage ‘toilet time’ after a meal. Ask your child to sit on the toilet for a few minutes.
  • Make sure your child has a good toilet posture. Use a foot stool so their feet are flat or use a child size potty.
  • Praise your child for sitting on the toilet or potty.
  • Do not punish your child if they have an accident.
  • Use reward charts for extra encouragement.
  • If needed, talk to your GP and/or a pelvic health physiotherapist

Where can I get more information?

  • Talk to your General Practitioner (GP).
  • Make an appointment with a Canberra Health Services (CHS) Community Dietitian by phoning (02) 5124 9977.

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For more support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and children contact:

canberrahealthservices.act.gov.au