Constipation means having fewer bowel movements (poops) than usual, or having dry, hard, or difficult-to-pass poops. "Chronic" constipation means your child has been constipated for a long time, and the poop filled up and stretched out parts of the intestines. This makes it hard for the intestines to work normally. Treatment begins with "cleaning out" the intestines and starting medicines to help poop pass easily.

• Give the prescribed medicines for the clean-out as directed by the health care provider. 
• After the clean-out, it's important to continue treatment: 
  • Give your child the stool softeners and laxatives for as long as directed by the health care provider. Your child might need to take the medicines for months to keep the poop soft. After the intestines are working normally, your child can stop taking the medicines slowly, over a few weeks to months.
  • Help your child add fiber to the diet. High-fiber foods include bran cereal, pears, strawberries, beans (such as pinto, kidney, black, or lima), and sweet potatoes.
  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of water. Drinking juices (like prune, pear, or apple) may help too.
  • Make any other diet changes your health care provider recommended.
  • Encourage your child to sit on the toilet for 5 to 10 minutes once or twice a day. (If needed, offer a small reward like a sticker.) Sitting on the toilet and trying to poop regularly helps your child get back the feeling and control of pooping normally. 
• Talk to the health care provider before giving your child any supplements or herbs. 
• If your child is toilet training, you may need to take a break. You can try again after your child is no longer constipated.
• If your child tries to hold in poop, teach them that it's important to go to the toilet as soon as they feel the need. This way, poop won't build up in the intestines.

Your child:

• continues to have hard poops or doesn't poop within about 2 days after making the changes 
• has new or worsening belly pain
• has diarrhea (watery poop)
• begins throwing up
• has a swollen belly
• has a lot of blood on the toilet paper, in the toilet, or on the poop
• gets better, then gets constipated again

• Your child develops severe belly pain.

What is disimpaction? Disimpaction is when poop is cleaned out of the intestines. The clean-out happens by giving your child one or more of the following:

• stool softeners (medicine taken by mouth to soften the poop)
• laxatives (medicine taken by mouth to help "push" out the poop)
• an enema (liquid medicine put into the rectum to soften the poop)

How did my child's constipation happen? Kids can get constipation from not having enough fiber in their diet. Sometimes kids get constipated from holding in poop during toilet training or when at school. Even stress or a big change at home can lead to constipation.