Now that your child’s a toddler, you’re practically an expert on dirty diapers. You’ve dealt with the seedy, mustardy infant poops; you’ve braved the green and blue poops that appeared after your baby began to eat solids (is that a blueberry in there?!); you’ve cleaned up the explosive poops that dribbled out of the sides of the diaper; and you’ve even gotten used to the larger-than-life poops that caused the diaper to sag to the floor. You probably think you’ve seen it all from your child’s bottom. But if you can believe it, there’s even more to the toddler poop story — and it’s often not a pretty picture, especially when constipation and diarrhea enter into the mix. Here’s what you need to know about these two toddler poop problems:
Constipation
Despite what you might think, being constipated does not mean going a few days without pooping. In fact, even if your toddler skips a few days, it’s not necessarily a sign that she’s clogged up — as long as when she does poop, it comes out looking normal. A true sign that your tot is constipated, however, is when she produces small, round, hard stool. Face scrunching, extra grunting, and difficulty while pushing out that hard poop is another sign your child is blocked up.
Why do kids get constipated? It’s usually because they’re not eating enough high-fiber foods, because they’re not drinking enough fluids, or simply because they ignore the urge to poop (who has time to poop when you’re busy exploring, right?). The end result is dry, hard stool that builds up in the lower bowels.
While an occasional blockage of toddler poop is no big deal, chronic constipation can be very painful and can affect your child’s eating habits and sleep. Some kids suffering from constipation also develop anal fissures (cracks or tears in the skin near the anus) that bleed and cause stool to have streaks of blood. To relieve the soreness in your child’s rear, dab some petroleum jelly onto the affected skin. The fissure should heal once the constipation clears up. To help get your toddler back on track, try these tactics:
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- Serve high-fiber foods such as fresh fruits, dried fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
- Offer 4 ounces a day of prune juice or pear juice until the problem clears up.
- Encourage your child to drink water to help soften stools.
- Go easy on high-fat foods as well as those that are high in sugar; they can be binding.
- Make sure your child is exercising regularly, even if it’s just a quick romp in the backyard or an after-dinner walk up the street. This will help get his digestive system to move things along.
- If all else fails, ask your pediatrician about giving your toddler a stool softener designed especially for young children. And never give your child any kind of laxative unless your doctor says it's okay.
Diarrhea
What if your toddler’s poop flows a little too freely? (And we’re talking loose, watery poops that make an appearance several times a day, here.) In that case, she’s likely dealing with diarrhea. This toddler poop problem happens most often when your child has a virus, after she’s eaten something irritating to her digestive system, or after she’s binged on a lot of high-fiber foods (like fruit).
An occasional bout of diarrhea is no need for concern. But if your child is also vomiting, has a fever, a bloated belly or if the diarrhea is bloody (bright red or dark red), call your pediatrician. Another reason to call the doc: in case your child becomes dehydrated — a real danger when your toddler is losing a lot of fluids and electrolytes (essential minerals) through diarrhea or vomiting. Signs of dehydration include cracked lips, tearless crying and a decrease in urination.
When treating diarrhea, medications aren’t usually necessary. Instead, try these solutions:
- Feed your child bland foods like those in the BRAT diet — bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
- Make sure she gets plenty to drink, to avoid dehydration.
- Skip high-fat and high-sugar foods, which can aggravate the digestive tract.
- If your child is vomiting, skip solid foods for a while. In fact, you may want to avoid giving her anything to eat or drink for the first 10 to 15 minutes after she throws up, especially if it's the first bout of vomiting. (It’s fine to give her small sips of water to get rid of the yucky taste in her mouth.)
- Consider giving your toddler a rehydration fluid like Pedialyte. Start off slowly with small sips. If she’s able to keep that down, you can slowly move on to other liquids. When her bowel movements improve, you can gradually resume her usual diet.
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