Constipation means having fewer bowel movements (poops) than usual, or having dry, hard, or difficult-to-pass poops. "Chronic" means your child has been constipated for a long time. When someone has chronic constipation, the poop fills up and stretches out the colon and rectum (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 prescribed medicines for the clean-out as directed. 
• After the clean-out, it's important to continue treatment:
  • Make sure your child takes prescribed 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.
  • Have your child or teen add fiber to their diet. High-fiber foods include bran cereals, apples, pears, prunes, strawberries, beans (such as pinto, kidney, black, or lima), chia seeds, and sweet potatoes. 
  • Stress how important it is to drink plenty of water. Drinking juices (like prune, pear, or apple) may help too.
  • Encourage your child to exercise regularly. Regular exercise can help people with constipation.
  • Suggest that your child or teen sit on the toilet for 5 to 10 minutes once or twice a day. Sitting on the toilet and trying to have a bowel movement regularly is very important. It helps your child get back the feeling and control of pooping normally.
  • Be aware of any stress your child or teen has. Stress can affect the digestive system.
• Talk to the health care provider before giving your child any supplements or herbs. 
• Older kids and teens often feel embarrassed about constipation. Offer your support while giving your child as much control and privacy as you can.

Your child:

• continues to have hard poops or doesn't poop within 2 days after making the suggested changes
• has new or worsening belly pain
• has diarrhea (watery poop)
• starts vomiting (throwing up)
• has a swollen belly
• soils their underpants
• 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 does fiber help constipation? Fiber, also known as roughage, can't be digested, so it cleans out the intestines. Fiber from a person's diet increases the size of the poop and softens it. This makes it easier for poop to pass. Fiber works best when it can absorb water, so it's important to drink lots of water.