Constipation is a condition in which bowel movements occur less frequently than usual or stools tend to be hard, dry and difficult and painful to pass. Children often develop constipation as a result of stool withholding.
It also becomes larger as more stool enters the rectum. When it does pass, a large, hard stool may cause a fissure, anal tearing or rectal bleeding and additional pain, leading the child to be more afraid of bowel movements. As a result, the child will develop continued stool withholding and even worse constipation. Your granddaughter's primary care doctor can help. Also, take steps to keep stool soft, so the child can easily have a bowel movement when the urge develops. To keep stools soft, monitor the child's diet. More than three to four servings of dairy products a day can sometimes lead to constipation, as can soy products. After a while, the child may be unable to resist the urge to have a bowel movement and will pass a large mass of stool. The child may have to push hard during the bowel movement, which may be painful. Passing the stool relieves the pressure and pain until another mass of stool collects, and the cycle is repeated. Fear of pain may cause the child to try to hold the bowel movement. Other causes of chronic constipation may include: 1  A crack (fissure) around the anus, which can make bowel movements painful and cause the child to resist passing stools. For reasons that can't always be identified, some children often develop constipation that does not get better or go away with treatment (chronic constipation). The most significant factor may be the painful passing of a hard, dry stool. If your child doesn't have normal bowel movements every few days, or is uncomfortable when stools are passed, she may need help in developing proper bowel habits. You can. . . Encourage your child to drink plenty of water and eat more high-fiber foods. Help your child set up a regular toilet routine. Because of this, it is sometimes difficult to tell if your child is truly constipated. One child may go two or three days without a bowel movement and still not be constipated, while another might have relatively frequent bowel movements but have difficulty passing the stool. CONSTIPATION OVERVIEW. Constipation is a common problem in children of all ages. A child with constipation may have bowel movements less frequently than normal, hard bowel movements, or large, difficult, and painful bowel movements. Most children with constipation do not have an identifiable underlying medical problem causing their symptoms. If bowel movements are painful, a child may try to hold his or her stools, making constipation worse. In children who have constipation, formed, soft or liquid stools can leak from the anus (the opening to the rectum) around a mass of stool stuck in the lower bowel and cause soiling. It's possible that your child is going through a phase.. Your child may not have the skills yet to use the toilet. But, if your child keeps soiling after about 3 months of being able to use the toilet to urinate, it's probably time for him or her to learn to use the toilet for bowel movements. 1 Constipation is a condition in which bowel movements occur less frequently than usual or stools tend to be hard, dry and difficult and painful to pass. 2  Children often develop constipation as a result of stool withholding. They may withhold stool because they are stressed about potty training, are embarrassed to use a public bathroom, do not want to interrupt playtime or are fearful of having a painful or unpleasant bowel movement.  Constipation may occur if your child is not eating enough high-fiber foods, drinking enough fluids or getting enough exercise. In many children, a cause for constipation cannot be found. Painful bowel movements may cause a child to begin resisting the urge to have a bowel movement. Not having a bowel movement when the urge occurs can lead to constipation. Your child could be scared of being alone in the bathroom or scared of the toilet. It's possible that your child is going through a phase.. Your child may not have the skills yet to use the toilet. But, if your child keeps soiling after about 3 months of being able to use the toilet to urinate, it's probably time for him or her to learn to use the toilet for bowel movements. For some children it may start with a painful bowel movement. After that, they become fearful of having bowel movements and hold it in. No amount of reasoning can help a young child understand that if he holds it in, the stool will become harder and even more painful to pass. Young children only understand and deal with the fear and the pain of the moment.
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reason children may withhold bowel movements