{"id":1877,"date":"2025-02-02T06:00:13","date_gmt":"2025-02-02T14:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/?p=1877"},"modified":"2025-01-24T15:39:43","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T23:39:43","slug":"constipation-in-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/constipation-in-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Constipation in Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

What goes up must come down. You clean your house, but it will never stay clean for long. And what goes in makes what comes out. These are laws of nature \u2013 and I\u2019ll get back to that last one in a moment.<\/p>\n

Constipation is a problem for many kids!<\/h3>\n

They have infrequent, (or fewer than 3) hard poops in a week, that are either small, ball shaped, or large enough to plug a toilet. These hard poops can cause abdominal pain and hurt coming out. Sometimes a child can be so backed up they actually have a small amount of liquid stool that overflows and causes soiling or incontinence in their underwear.<\/p>\n

There are 2 main causes of constipation.<\/h3>\n

First, your child may be holding their stool \u2013 or choosing to not go. This can happen because they don\u2019t want to stop doing what they\u2019re enjoying \u2013 like playing. They may also feel embarrassed to use the bathroom in a public place.\u00a0Or they\u2019ve learned that having a bowel movement can hurt. But how did they get hard painful stools in the first place?<\/p>\n

For the most part, diet causes constipation or \u2013 \u201cwhat goes in makes what comes out.\u201d<\/h3>\n

Eating a high-fiber diet and drinking lots of water can help prevent constipation. Children should have a daily intake of fiber that at least\u00a0equals their age plus\u00a05 grams of fiber. For example, if your child is 4 they should get at least 9 grams of fiber\u00a0a day.<\/p>\n

Fiber is found in fruit, veggies, and grains. Lots of low-fiber foods are sweet \u2013 like cookies, and ice cream \u2013 and if given the choice, kids will choose those less healthy options. So it can take some work to increase their fiber intake!<\/p>\n

Try going to the store alone and looking at what you usually buy to see if there\u2019s a higher fiber alternative: brown rice instead of white, whole-wheat or corn tortillas instead of white-flour ones, whole wheat pasta, or double-fiber bread instead of white. Then, at every meal offer a fruit, and at each lunch and dinner offer veggies.\u00a0Ifyou have a picky eater, keep offering them healthy choices.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a daily menu that includes plenty of\u00a0fiber:<\/h3>\n[vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Meal<\/strong>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]Fiber Source<\/strong>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Breakfast[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]\u00bd cup Fiber One cereal, Banana\u00a0[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Snack[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]Apple [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Lunch[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]Turkey sandwich on 2 slices whole-wheat bread [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Snack[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]Orange[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Dinner[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]Lean meat, 1 cup brown rice, 1 cup broccoli[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’]\n

Daily Total: 33.3 grams of fiber<\/strong><\/p>\n

Choose fruits and vegetables based on your child\u2019s favorites and age. Here\u2019s the fiber content in some common foods:<\/p>\n[vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Food<\/strong>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]Fiber Content<\/strong>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Fiber One cereal\u00a0[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]14 grams of fiber in \u00bd cup\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Oatmeal\u00a0[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]5.3 grams\/cup cooked\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Apple, medium-sized\u00a0[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]3.5 grams\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Banana[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]2.5 grams\u00a0[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Orange[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]2.6 grams[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Strawberries [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]3.0 grams\/cup\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Prunes\u00a0[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]11.9 grams in 11 prunes\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Strawberries [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]3.0 grams\/cup\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Broccoli\u00a0 [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]5.0 grams\/stalk\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Carrots [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]4.6 grams\/cup\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Cauliflower [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]2.1 grams\/cup\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Green beans\u00a0[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]3.4 grams\/cup\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Peas [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]7.2 grams\/cup\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Potato with skin\u00a0 [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]2.3 grams\/medium potato\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Spinach [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]4.1 grams raw; 8.0 grams chopped [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Lettuce [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]1.0 gram \/ \u00bd cup\u00a0[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Kidney beans, cooked\u00a0 [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]7.4 grams \/ \u00bd cup\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Baked beans\u00a0 [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]18.6 grams\/cup\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Bran muffin\u00a0 [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]6.3 grams\/muffin\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Whole-wheat bread\u00a0 [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]1.66 grams\/slice\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]White bread\u00a0 [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]0.55 gram\/slice\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Brown rice\u00a0 [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]2.4 grams\/cup cooked\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]White rice\u00a0 [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]0.6 gram\/cup cooked\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Oat bran\u00a0 [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]8.3 grams\/oz\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Wheat bran\u00a0 [\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″]12.4 grams\/oz\u00a0 [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_separator type=’full_width’ position=’left’ color=’#cccccc’ border_style=’solid’ thickness=’1px’ up=’4px’ down=’4px’]\n

Other things that can help prevent constipation:<\/h3>\n