If you’re like many parents, you’re all too familiar with your child’s poops — when they’re green, when they’re runny and when they won’t come out.
Yes, even little ones who eat a healthy diet can come down with a case of baby or toddler constipation (although too little fiber is a typical cause of this potty predicament).
Though your munchkin may not be able to tell you that her tummy aches or her stools are stuck, if she’s straining and passing hard stool balls, you might have a constipation issue on your hands. (Or, if it’s your potty-trained toddler who won’t go number two, she could instead be refusing to poop.)
The good news? Baby and toddler constipation are often easily treatable, and your little one can be regular again before you know it. Check out these guidelines when you’re on poop patrol, and be sure to consult with your pediatrician to confirm your suspicions.
How to tell if your baby or toddler is constipated
It’s easy to worry if your little one hasn’t had a BM in a day or two. But fewer poops than usual aren’t necessarily a sign of constipation in babies or toddlers, provided the poops that do come out look normal and your sweetie seems comfortable. In fact, it’s more about the consistency of your child’s stool than the frequency.
So how can you tell if your baby or toddler is constipated? These are the classic signs to watch for.
Small, hard poops that are hard to pass
Constipation poops look like small, hard, dry pellets. Your child will probably pass them less frequently than normal, and toddlers might grunt or scrunch their faces while they’re trying to go.
Briefly straining, turning red-faced or even crying when trying to poop aren’t necessarily signs of constipation in infants though, since even regular bowel movements can be tough for babies to pass.[1]
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Constipated poops can also be tinged with blood (which you might see on the toilet paper), which can come from anal fissures, cracks or little tears that form as a result of hard straining.
Stomach aches or crankiness
Babies and younger toddlers might seem fussier or crankier than usual, while an older toddler might also tell you that her tummy hurts. Babies might spit up more often than normal, while toddlers might have less than their typical appetite.
Infrequent poops
The time between bowel movements depends on things like age and diet. It’s within the realm of normal for exclusively breastfed babies to go several days or even a week without pooping, since their bodies sometimes use up every bit of breast milk for energy.
On the other hand, formula-fed newborns usually have one bowel movement most days, but they might go a full day or two without pooping.
As for older babies who’ve started solids and toddlers? Again, most go once or twice a day, but going once every two or three days isn’t unusual either. But if it’s been longer than that, constipation is likely the culprit, especially if your little one also seems uncomfortable or is straining to go.
How long can a baby go without pooping?
In some cases, longer than you might think. While many little ones poop every day, it’s possible — and not necessarily something to panic about — if a baby goes 24 hours without pooping and even up to a full week without a bowel movement.
Since exclusively breastfed babies sometimes use up every bit of breast milk towards energy production, it’s not unusual for them to sometimes go up to seven days without pooping.
But formula-fed babies, babies who’ve started solids, and toddlers tend to poop more often than that. For them, going more than two to four days or so without pooping could be a sign of constipation, provided they’re also straining to go and generally seem uncomfortable.
That said, every child is different, and some babies and toddlers simply go a little longer in between, well, going, than others. So pay attention to what’s typical for your little one.
If she often goes two or three days in between poops, constipation might not pop up on your radar unless she’s been BM-free for four days. But if your child normally goes like clockwork every single day, you might watch for signs of constipation after a day or two without poop.
How to help a constipated baby or toddler
Constipation doesn't just make your little one miserable. It can get worse when left untreated, making it even harder for your child to pass stool. So if you suspect constipation is the cause of her discomfort, take quick steps to get things moving again with these tips for baby and toddler constipation relief.
Pay attention to the calendar, too. You should call the doctor if your formula-fed newborn baby seems uncomfortable and fussy and she hasn't pooped for several days (or if there's a change in her bowel habits). You should also call if your older baby or toddler hasn’t had a bowel movement for four or five days.
Constipation is rarely an issue for exclusively breastfed babies, but if your little one seems to be going longer than normal without a poop and you’re concerned, there’s no harm in checking in with the doc.
You should call the doctor, too, if your baby or toddler’s constipation is accompanied by abdominal pain or vomiting, there’s blood in her stool, or at-home measures to get things going aren’t working.
Skip the laxatives (unless okayed by a doctor)
Laxatives and enemas can be dangerous for babies and toddlers, so never give your child one unless your doctor has given you explicit instructions to do so.[2] In the majority of cases, simple, at-home measures should be enough to help your child poop.
That said, when the below measures aren't working, polyethylene glycol (brand name Miralax) is often suggested by pediatricians to help get things moving. But again, only give it with your doctor's approval.
Offer more fluids
Older babies and toddlers should get at least a quart of fluids a day, but if yours was recently weaned, she could be getting less.
Water is a good option for babies older than 6 months, but 100 percent fruit juices like apple, prune and pear contain sugars that could also get her bowels moving. Talk to the pediatrician about giving juice to babies under 12 months as a constipation remedy. (Otherwise they shouldn't have juice at all.) Toddlers 1 year and older can only have small amounts.
As for options like gripe water? Some parents swear by the stuff for tummy troubles, but there’s no proof that it can help with constipation. Be sure to check with your pediatrician before offering gripe water to your baby.
Bump up the fiber
It can help move food through the GI tract faster, easing constipation. Fresh soft fruits and vegetables cut into small pieces with the skin off, like poached pears, kiwi and pureed peas, and soft-cooked minced or pureed dried fruits are good choices for babies who’ve started solids as well as toddlers.
Try to avoid refined grains like white bread, white pasta or baby cereals that aren’t made from whole grains — they’re low in fiber and tend to slow things down. If cheese, meat, ice cream or processed foods are a part of your child’s diet, steer clear while you work on the plumbing issue.[3]
Get moving
Physical activity gets your little one’s digestive system going. Try not to have your baby or toddler sit in a carrier, stroller or car seat for too long, and offer plenty of opportunities for movement and play.
If your baby isn’t yet mobile, bicycling her legs is a good option.
Try probiotics
The beneficial bugs are thought to help curb constipation and promote regular bowel movements. Offer plain yogurt containing live active cultures, or ask your doctor about giving your little one a probiotic supplement.
Get help with lubrication
A dab of petroleum jelly applied around the anal opening could help stool slide out more easily.
Constipation is a common childhood ailment, so there’s a good chance your baby or toddler will deal with a bout of it at some point. Thankfully, the issue tends to be easy to fix with at-home measures.
But if you’re having a hard time getting things moving or have questions on how to cope, or if constipation seems to be a chronic issue for your child, it’s always worth putting a call in to the pediatrician.
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