Poop happens. And when it doesn’t, it’s called constipation.

Constipation is when you have trouble pooping or have fewer bowel movements than normal. It’s a common condition that affects up to 30% of kids. This change in bowel movements is most common when babies are transitioning to solid foods, during the toddler years, when kids are potty training and the start of school.

A little knowledge goes along way. When you know more about constipation, why it happens and how to prevent it, you can help keep your kids regulated and feeling their best. Pediatric gastroenterologist Christine Waasdorp Hurtado, MD, shares signs to look for, prevention, treatment and more.

Constipation signs and symptoms

When kids are constipated, the signs aren’t always obvious and can be unexpected. Here are common things, both behaviorally and physically, Dr. Waasdorp Hurtado says to watch for:

• A child may have fewer than three bowel movements per week.
• They may have stomach pain and bloating.
• Their poop may be dry and hard.
• Bowel movements may be painful.
• They may have smearing accidents when stool is spread on underwear of skin
• They may start to cross their legs, rock and twist to keep from passing poop.
• Their appetite may be different than usual.

If you can, try to catch it early.

“If it’s not identified early, they could develop obstipation, or too much poop in the rectal area. If stool stays in the rectum and colon for too long, it gets harder and passing it can result in abdominal pain, pain with stooling and anal tearing with blood in poop.  

How often should my child poop? 

Every child poops an amount that’s “typical” for them, based on their age, diet, hydration and other factors.

Infants

• Infants can poop anywhere from 5 to 40 times per week.

Ages 1 to 3 years

• Toddlers can poop 7 to 14 times per week or once or twice per day.

Ages 4 and up

• Kids ages 4 and up poop as often as adults — typically 3 to 14 times per week.
• This means they may poop every other day or twice a day.

Reasons for changes in bowel movements 

Dr. Waasdorp Hurtado says it’s important to understand how certain events, such as travel and changes in food, can affect a child’s bowel movements. Three of the most common milestones that cause this change are introducing pureed foods, potty training and returning to school.

“Parents should put these events into perspective,” Dr. Waasdorp Hurtado says. “Has there been an event that could explain the change in poop?”

By recognizing these triggers, parents can help prevent constipation or address it more effectively if it occurs.

Are some kids more likely to develop constipation?

While anyone can develop constipation, the condition is more likely in kids who have autism. Oftentimes, their diets are limited due to selectivity and sensory challenges. And because pooping heavily engages the senses and could cause some children with autism distress, they are more likely to hold it in.  

When is constipation an emergency?

If a child has gone two weeks without a bowel movement, their abdomen is swollen and they aren’t eating or drinking like normal, it may be time to go to the emergency room.

While 90% of constipation is functional — meaning there’s no other underlying physical or medical cause — sometimes constipation can be a sign of something more, such as thyroid problems or celiac disease. If your child is experiencing frequent constipation, talk to their doctor.

How to treat constipation with at-home remedies, diet changes and more 

Dr. Waasdorp Hurtado’s top tip to prevent and relieve constipation is simple: more water and fiber. Too little water and fiber leads to hard, painful poop. And that makes kids want to hold it, which only worsens the problem.

Fiber passes nearly intact through the digestive tract. Some types of fiber (soluble) attract water, softening poop and making it easier to pass. Others (non-soluble) add “bulk” to poop, helping it move more easily and smoothly through the intestine.

Water is just as important as fiber. Water keeps food moving through the intestines and softens poops. The colon’s job is to absorb water. If your body doesn’t have enough water, the colon absorbs what it can from food, making poop harder to pass.  

Increasing fiber intake with high-fiber fruits

In addition to drinking more water, eating high-fiber fruits can prevent and treat constipation. While all plants have fiber, some have more than others. Fruits that start with the letter “p,” coincidentally, tend to help the most: peaches, plums, pears, pineapple, papaya and — the granddaddy of them all — prunes.

“It really is true. Prune juice is the best,” Dr. Waasdorp Hurtado says.

Besides having a ton of fiber, prunes contain sorbitol, a natural laxative that works by drawing water into the large intestine. Chia seeds are also effective in relieving constipation.

These fruits are tasty and healthy on their own, of course, but if you need help getting your kids to eat them, try these combinations:

Breakfast

• Top sliced peaches with Greek yogurt and honey.
• Add chopped prunes to whole-grain, fiber-rich breakfast cereal.

Smoothies

• Make a tropical smoothie by blending pieces of peeled papaya and pineapple; add Greek yogurt and a little orange juice and puree until smooth.
• Make a green smoothie with peeled pear, pineapple, spinach, and water or milk.

Snacks

• Spread nut butter or sunflower butter on pear slices; cut prunes into small pieces and put them on top for a variation of “ants on a log.”
• Add prunes, dried papaya and dried pineapple to a can of mixed nuts for instant trail mix.

Fruit salad

• Peel and cut the plums, peaches, pineapple, papaya and pears into small pieces. Put them in a large bowl. Squeeze some lemon juice and drizzle some honey over the top. For added flavor, sprinkle in fresh, chopped basil.

Stool softener for kids: Fiber supplements and laxatives

While Dr. Waasdorp Hurtado recommends getting fiber from food, it’s OK to use fiber supplements, especially if your child is selective about food.

A good rule of thumb for fiber intake in grams is to take years in age and add five — so a 5-year-old should get 10 grams each day. Just one medium apple contains nearly half that amount. Don’t give your child more than 25 to 30 grams, the typical adult dose. Too much fiber can make kids gassy.

In complex cases, doctors recommend nonstimulant laxatives such as MiraLAX, which is basically a supercharged fiber boost. For most constipation, though, adding fruits or vegetables will help significantly. You can also try incorporating whole grains into your child’s diet, including whole wheat and corn, to add more fiber.

How to talk to your kids about poop and constipation

Talking about bowel movements can feel taboo in some settings. But as a parent or caregiver, it’s important to normalize conversations, when appropriate, about poop and constipation with your child. This helps keep communication open and makes your child feel more comfortable speaking up if they’re having trouble in the bathroom.

What should I say to my child if they don’t want to poop?

Depending on the child’s age, try to understand and identify what they are avoiding. For example, maybe they don’t feel safe in a public restroom. Or maybe the toilet is too high and it makes it hard and uncomfortable to poop.

“If you can identify the cause, you can address it,” Dr. Waasdorp Hurtado says. “And once they’ve had a painful poop, it often triggers withholding.”

She suggests trying to make pooping a more positive experience.

For younger kids who are potty training, families can make it fun by having them blow on a pinwheel because it relaxes the pelvic floor. If you don’t have a pinwheel, you can have your child pretend to blow out birthday candles. Try not to force your kid to sit on the toilet for a long period of time. This makes the experience negative, which can make them withhold more. It’s important to stay calm and supportive if your child is withholding. Don’t pressure them to go. Instead, be patient and reassure them that it’s going to be okay.

Healthy poop and healthy habits

For kids up to 18 months, poop should look like a fancy mustard with seeds. It should be soft and come out easily. A Playdoh-like texture or more formed bowel movements aren’t typical for an infant or toddler. For more information on baby poop, check out our baby poop guide.

As kids start to eat more solid foods, they begin to form soft poop. It should be like a soft formed log. It should not be large because that may indicate hard-to-pass stool.

For older kids, it can be helpful to pull up a resource such as the . This can help you identify characteristics of their typical bowel movements. What may be “normal” to them may not be ideal medically.

“Even though we make it such a private thing, it can be really helpful to talk about it,” Dr. Waasdorp Hurtado says. Ask them, ‘What does yours looks like?’ Make it a normal part of the day.

How long should a child sit on a toilet? 

While we want to encourage kids to poop, kids should only sit on the toilet for one minute per year of age, with a maximum of 10 minutes. Sitting longer than 10 minutes increases the risk of hemorrhoids — swollen veins that form inside or outside the bottom.

Helping kids build healthy bathroom habits is a simple but important part to their overall well-being. By limiting toilet time, offering food with the right nutrients and fiber, and encouraging good hydration, you can make sure poop happens on a regular basis.