• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Real Mom Nutrition

Real Mom Nutrition

A no-judgments zone about feeding a family.

  • About
    • Start Here
    • Work With Me
    • Press
    • Disclosure & Policies
    • Contact
  • New Posts
  • Recipes
    • Most Popular Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
  • Topics
    • Picky Eating
    • Packing Lunches
    • Nutrition Advice + Ideas
    • Feeding Teens
    • Sports Snacks
    • For Moms
    • School Wellness
    • Family Life
  • Freebies
    • Free Picky Eating E-Course
    • Free Lunch Packing E-Course
  • Shop
    • Spring/Summer Meal Plan
    • No-Stress Dinner Planner
    • Let’s Try New Foods E-Book
You are here: Home / Nutrition Advice + Ideas / 7 Myths About Kids & Constipation to Stop Believing

7 Myths About Kids & Constipation to Stop Believing

by Sally Kuzemchak, MS, RDN
  • Share This
A roll of white toilet paper on a metal hook. Image text in bold black font reads "7 myths about kids & constipation"

Constipation in kids is a big problem. Get the facts from pediatric urologist Steve Hodges, MD, so you can help your kids!

So many of you read and shared my post 12 Signs Your Child is Constipated that I knew constipation was a big concern. And no wonder: Constipation is the number-one cause of belly pain in kids! I’m so happy to have a guest post today by the expert in that piece, Steve Hodges, M.D., a pediatric urologist at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the co-author of  It’s No Accident and Bedwetting and Accidents Aren’t Your Fault. He’s here on the blog to bust the most common myths about constipation in kids. I think you’ll be surprised by some of these–and I hope this is as helpful for you as it is for me!


By Steve Hodges, M.D.

7 Myths About Constipation in Kids + The Facts Behind Them

Table of Contents
  • 7 Myths About Constipation in Kids + The Facts Behind Them
    • Myth #1: The key sign of constipation in kids is infrequent pooping.
    • Myth #2: Constipation in kids is basically harmless.
    • Myth #3: It's obvious when a child is constipated.
    • Myth #4: Constipation is always triggered by a poor diet.
    • Myth #5: Prune juice, fiber, and probiotics will fix constipation.
    • Myth #6: Laxatives are addictive for children.
    • Myth #7: For some kids, pooping every few days is fine.

If your child was chronically constipated, would you know it?

You might think, “Of course!” Yet chronic and severe constipation often goes undetected in children. This is a big deal, since constipation is by far the top cause of belly pain, bedwetting, pee accidents, and poop accidents–conditions that are epidemic among children in Westernized countries.

Even when constipation is noticed, it’s often undertreated, so belly pain and accidents (conditions that are totally fixable!) linger unnecessarily. Here are seven persistent myths about constipation that prevent many kids from receiving the treatment they need:

Myth #1: The key sign of constipation in kids is infrequent pooping.

REALITY: The top two signs are 1.) XXL poops and 2.) poop shaped like pellets or logs. Children’s poop should resemble soft-serve ice cream, pudding, hummus — you get the idea! While infrequent pooping is indeed a sign of constipation, many chronically clogged children poop daily, even twice a day, because they never fully empty. So focusing on frequency can be misleading. (Get a free “How’s Your Poop?” download with illustrations that will help you spot constipation.)

Myth #2: Constipation in kids is basically harmless.

REALITY: Occasional clogged pipes are no big deal, but chronic constipation can plague a child into adulthood. When a child withholds, poop piles up in the rectum, an organ not designed as a storage facility. A large, hard mass forms, not only causing discomfort but also, in many cases, stretching the rectum so it presses against and aggravates the bladder. The child may need to pee constantly or urgently, or the bladder may hiccup and spontaneously empty. A rectal clog also can flatten the bladder, making it impossible for the child to hold pee overnight.

Over time, a stretched-out rectum loses tone and sensation, and poop may just drop out without the child even noticing. Chronic constipation is also the major cause of recurrent urinary tract infections in young girls.

You Might Also Like: How to Make a Healthy & Tasty Snack Platter For Kids
You Might Also Like: You Don’t Have to Avoid Processed Foods. Here’s What Matters Instead.

Myth #3: It’s obvious when a child is constipated.

REALITY: Constipation is commonly missed, even by doctors. I X-ray my patients who present with bedwetting or accidents, and more than 90 percent are shown to be severely constipated. Yet only about 5 percent of parents had any inkling, and most of these patients were referred by pediatricians who missed the boat.

It’s common for doctors to feel a child’s belly, ask about pooping frequency, and pronounce the child “not constipated.” But giant masses of poop can hide in the rectums of very young, lean children! On an X-ray, a rectal diameter greater than 3 cm indicates constipation. Most children who wet the bed or have accidents have rectums 6-7 cm wide.

Myth #4: Constipation is always triggered by a poor diet.

REALITY: The same highly processed diet driving childhood obesity also causes constipation — that’s true; however, many children with excellent eating habits end up constipated because they were toilet trained as toddlers or because their schools restrict bathroom access.

Two-year-olds simply don’t have the judgment to respond to their bodies’ urges in a timely manner. My research shows children trained before age 2 have triple the risk of later developing daytime wetting problems, but even older toddlers are prone to holding. I recommend waiting until around age 3 to toilet train. Many elementary schools contribute to the constipation epidemic by rewarding children who don’t use bathroom passes or punishing those who do.

Myth #5: Prune juice, fiber, and probiotics will fix constipation.

REALITY: When I recommend laxatives and enemas, some parents complain I’m “medicalizing” a problem that can be fixed with a healthier diet. But when a child is constipated to the point of having persistent discomfort or accidents, a dietary overhaul isn’t enough. No amount of prune juice can dislodge the large, hard mass of stool stretching the rectum. Probiotics may help a mildly constipated child but won’t resolve chronic constipation.

For children who have accidents, I recommend a regimen that combines enemas with laxatives (enemas are proven to work better than laxatives alone). For chronically constipated children who don’t have accidents, I recommend a daily osmotic laxative such as Miralax. (Is Miralax toxic? I address that here.)

You Might Also Like: What Are Healthy Drinks For Kids?
You Might Also Like: What Every Parent Should Know About Kids & Food Allergies

Myth #6: Laxatives are addictive for children.

REALITY: While stimulant laxatives such as Ex-Lax can be habit-forming (and should only be used under a doctor’s supervision), children will not become dependent on osmotic laxatives (Miralax and lactulose) or enemas.

Myth #7: For some kids, pooping every few days is fine.

REALITY: Children should poop every day — period!

[Tweet “7 Myths About Kids and Constipation:”]

Steve Hodges
How's Your Poop

Get FREE downloads that can help your family, including “7 Crazy Important Rules for Potty Training Success, “How’s Your Poop?”, and “When To X-Ray A Child for Constipation”.

Steve Hodges, M.D., is a pediatric urologist at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He is coauthor of It’s No Accident and a book for children called Bedwetting and Accidents Aren’t Your Fault. Visit his website, Bedwetting And Accidents.

This page contains Amazon Affiliate links. If you purchase a product through these links, your cost will be the same but I will receive a small commission to help with operating costs of this blog. Thanks for your support!
  • Share This
Category: Nutrition Advice + IdeasTag: constipation
Previous Post: What We Ate Wednesday What We Ate Wednesday: Starring Me
Next Post:Refreshing Cucumber Salad Recipe (With Vinegar & Red Onion) Cucumber Salad With Vinegar

Sidebar

Hi! I’m Sally.

I’m a registered dietitian and mom of two, and I believe that every mom can feel successful and confident about feeding her kids, let go of the stress, and enjoy mealtime again. What you'll find on this site...

Free Printable! 5 Things to Say to Your Picky Eater for a More Peaceful Mealtime

Get it!

Popular Posts

How To See Seven UT & AZ National Parks In Six Days

Easy Pepperoni Rolls Recipe Your Family Will Love!

How to Make An Epic ALDI Cheese Board (w/ Free Shopping List!)

The Best No Bake Cookies

The BEST No Bake Cookie Recipe

Veggie Nuggets

Healthy Veggie Nuggets Recipe That Kids LOVE!

Copyright © 2023 · Real Mom Nutrition · All Rights Reserved
Banner image by Michelle Daniel Photography
Disclosure & Privacy Policy