5 Healthy Habits For Kids Constipation Support

Constipation in kids can be uncomfortable, distressing, and disruptive to their daily lives. It's important to address this issue promptly to ensure that their habits contribute to a healthier life as they grow. While medications are sometimes necessary, sometimes additional relief can result through lifestyle and diet changes, which can help with symptoms from constipation without the need for pharmaceutical interventions. While it’s always essential to consult a healthcare professional for persistent issues, optimizing our kiddo’s daily habits can help with constipation relief in the short-term. In this blog, we will review which habits can affect our kiddo’s digestion and break down what the current research tells us about constipation and kids’ gut health.

Symptoms of Constipation in Kids

According to the Mayo Clinic, on average we can expect kids aged 1 year and up to have one to two bowel movements daily as a part of a healthy poop routine. Symptoms of constipation in toddlers and kids may include:

• Infrequent Stools. A good indicator is passing less than two bowel movements a week.

• Hard Stools. Your little one is passing stools that are hard, dry, or lumpy.

• Difficulty or Pain during Bowel Movements. This means having stools that are difficult or painful to pass.

• Changing positions to avoid or delay having a bowel movement. This may include:

  • standing on tiptoes and then rocking back on his or her heels

  • clenching his or her buttocks

  • doing unusual, dancelike movements

• Soiling. Having stool in his or her underwear that looks like diarrhea.

Healthy Habits: 5 Key Ways to Support Kids' Constipation

Our kiddo’s daily habits create the foundation for their health. Here are five healthy habits that can help kid’s constipation:

1. Maintaining Daily Dietary Fiber Intake: Increasing dietary fiber is one of the most effective natural remedies for constipation in kids [1]. Encourage the consumption of fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables by offering at least one source at every meal. Fiber adds bulk to the stool and helps it move smoother through the digestive system.

Recommended Daily Fiber Intake by Age 

Source: Cleveland Health Clinic

2. Daily Prebiotic Intake: Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria to support a healthier digestion. Check out our blog on the Top Sources of Prebiotic Fiber for Kids for examples of prebiotics to include in your little one’s diet.

3. Physical Activity: Exercise can help stimulate bowel movements and decrease the risk for constipation [4]. In addition, research specifically shows that incorporating pelvic floor muscle exercises can be an effective non-pharmacologic treatment for pediatric functional constipation [3].

4. Natural Food Laxatives: Certain foods have natural laxative properties. Incorporating fruits such as pears, prunes, peaches, and plums, also known as the “4 P’s” for Kid Constipation daily are more natural approaches for maintaining digestive health and supporting kid’s constipation.

5. Hydration: Proper hydration is crucial for softening the stool and preventing constipation. In addition to water, 100% fruit juice without added sugars can also contribute to your kiddo’s daily hydration needs. For an extra health boost, try adding a scoop of Growing Up Prebiotics - every serving adds 3 grams of daily fiber for softer and more comfortable poops without changing the taste or texture [2].

Source: Children’s Hospital of Orange County

References:

[1] Salvatore S, Battigaglia MS, Murone E, Dozio E, Pensabene L, Agosti M. Dietary Fibers in Healthy Children and in Pediatric Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Practical Guide. Nutrients. 2023 May 6;15(9):2208. doi: 10.3390/nu15092208. PMID: 37432354; PMCID: PMC10180776.

[2] Closa-Monasterolo, R., Ferré, N., Castillejo-DeVillasante, G., Luque, V., Gispert-Llauradó, M., Zaragoza-Jordana, M., Theis, S., & Escribano, J. (2016). The use of inulin-type fructans improves stool consistency in constipated children. A randomised clinical trial: pilot study. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 68(5), 587–594. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637486.2016.1263605

[3] Farahmand F, Abedi A, Esmaeili-Dooki MR, Jalilian R, Tabari SM. Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise for Paediatric Functional Constipation. J Clin Diagn Res. 2015 Jun;9(6):SC16-7. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2015/12726.6036. Epub 2015 Jun 1. PMID: 26284199; PMCID: PMC4525569.

[4] Seidenfaden S, Ormarsson OT, Lund SH, Bjornsson ES. Physical activity may decrease the likelihood of children developing constipation. Acta Paediatr. 2018 Jan;107(1):151-155. doi: 10.1111/apa.14067. Epub 2017 Sep 27. PMID: 28898506.