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Constipation is common in childhood, particularly when children are being potty trained at around 2 to 3 years old.

Tummy pain is common with constipation. If you are worried about this please look at the abdominal pain page.

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Types of poo

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Types of poo

Symptoms of Constipation in Children

These can be tricky to spot. Your child may be constipated if:

  • They don't poo at least 3 times a week
  • Their poo is often large, hard and difficult to push out
  • Their poo looks like 'rabbit droppings' or little pellets
  • If your child is potty trained, soiled pants can be another sign of constipation. This is because runny poo (diarrhoea) may leak out around the hard, constipated poo. This is called overflow soiling

If your child is constipated, they may find it painful to poo. This can create a cycle: the more it hurts, the more they hold on to poo. The more constipated they get, the more it hurts and so on. Even if pooing isn't painful, once your child is really constipated they may try to avoid going to the toilet altogether.

Why do Children get Constipated?

Your child may be constipated because they:

  • Aren't eating enough high-fibre foods like fruit and veg
  • Aren't drinking enough
  • Are having problems with potty (or toilet) training
  • Are worried or anxious about something, such as moving house, starting nursery or the arrival of a new baby

For further information and support see ERIC's guide to children's bowel problems.

Preventing your child from getting Constipated

Make sure your child has plenty to drink. Offer breastfed babies who aren’t eating solids yet plenty of breastfeeds. Formula fed babies can have extra drinks of water between their formula feeds. See more advice on drinks for babies and toddlers.

Give your child a variety of foods including plenty of fruit and vegetables, which are a good source of fibre. See what to feed young children.

Encourage your child to be physically active. For more information, read the physical activity guidelines for children aged under 5 years.

Get your child into a routine of regularly sitting on the potty or toilet after meals or before bed (for 5 minutes). Praise them whether or not they poo. This is particularly important for boys who may forget about pooing once they are weeing standing up. Reward schemes appropriate for age are important; as is consistency and patience.

Make sure your child can rest their feet flat on the floor or on a step when they're using the potty or toilet to get them in a good position for pooing. Take a look at this leaflet for a picture of how to sit to get the poo in the loo!

Ask if they feel worried about using the potty or toilet. Some children don't want to poo in certain situations, such as at nursery or school.

Stay positive and reassuring, so that your child doesn't see going to the toilet as a stressful situation. You want your child to see pooing as a normal part of life, not something to be ashamed of.

When should you worry?

Newborn

NEWBORN

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is newborn and they…

  • Feel very stiff, for example:
    • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm into their chest, or always crossing their legs 
    • Find it difficult to change their position on their own 
    • You may also find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
  • Feel very floppy, or have floppy arms or legs when awake
  • Move their arms and legs in repetitive jerky movements, or writhing movements
  • Don’t have a Grasp Reflex (doesn’t grab your finger or small object when you put it in their hand)
  • Are often startling and you cannot understand why
  • Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
    • Rarely moves one of their arms compared to the other arm
    • Rarely moves one leg compared to the other leg
    • When your baby startles, one side moves or looks different from the other

6-8 weeks 

6-8 WEEKS

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 6-8 weeks and they…

  • Feel very stiff, for example:
    • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm into their chest, or always crossing their legs 
    • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
    • You may also find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
  • Feel very floppy, or have floppy arms or legs when awake
  • Move their arms and legs in repetitive jerky movements, or writhing movements
  • Have not started to bring both their hands to their face, or do not move their arms much
  • Keep their hands fisted, and you find it difficult to open their hands
  • Can’t lift their head when lying on their tummy
  • Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
    • Mostly moves one arm or mostly brings one hand to their face
    • Rarely kicks or moves one leg compared to the other leg

2-3 months

2-3 MONTHS

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 2-3 months and they…

  • Feel very stiff, for example:
    • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm into their chest, or always crossing their legs
    • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
    • You may also find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
  • Feel very floppy, or have floppy arms or legs when awake
  • Move their arms and legs in repetitive jerky movements, or writhing movements
  • Have not started to bring both their hands to their face, or do not move their arms much
  • Keep their hands fisted, and you find it difficult to open their hands
  • Can’t lift their head when lying on their tummy
  • Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
    • Mostly moves one arm or mostly brings one hand to their face
    • Rarely kicks or moves one leg compared to the other leg

3-4 months

3-4 MONTHS

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 3-4 months and they…

  • Have lost skills which they could do before
  • Feel very stiff, for example:
    • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
    • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
    • You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
  • Feel very floppy when awake
  • Prefer to keep their arms by their sides. For example, they do not reach for things, or do not bring their hands together over their face or tummy
  • Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
  • Still need you to support their head, or can’t lift their head when lying on their tummy 
  • Have very tight fists and it’s hard to open their hand
  • Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
    • Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys 
    • Rarely kick one leg compared to the other

4-6 months

4-6 MONTHS

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 4-6 months and they…

  • Have lost skills which they could do before
  • Feel very stiff, for example:
    • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
    • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
    • You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
  • Feel very floppy when they are awake
  • Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
  • Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
    • Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys 
    • Rarely kick one leg compared to the other
  • Are unable to roll, or can roll in one direction but not the other
  • Find it difficult to reach their arms out. For example, they do not reach for toys
  • Still have their early reflexes, like the startle reflex and grasp reflex
  • Keep their legs flat when lying on their back. For example, they do not bring their feet to their chest
  • Still need you to support their head

6-9 months

6-9 MONTHS

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 6-9 months and they…

  • Have lost skills which they could do before
  • Feel very stiff, for example:
    • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
    • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
    • You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
  • Feel very floppy when they are awake
  • Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky or strange ways
  • Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
    • Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys, or eat and drink
    • Rarely kick one leg compared to the other
  • Can’t sit without support. For example, they lean on their hand, or, when they sit, their back is very curved
  • Still have their early reflexes, like the startle reflex and grasp reflex
  • Keep their legs flat when lying on their back, for example, do not bring their feet to their chest
  • Still need you to support their head
  • Still need you to help turn their head when lying on their back
  • Can’t crawl, or find it hard, for example, drags one of their legs behind them
  • Find it difficult to stand, for example:
    • Can’t stand with support 
    • Doesn’t try to pull themselves up to stand
  • Can’t move a toy from one hand to the other
  • Doesn’t use both hands to hold larger things

9-12 months

9-12 MONTHS

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 9-12 months and they…

  • Have lost skills which they could do before
  • Feel very stiff, for example:
    • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
    • Find it difficult to change their position on their own 
    • You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
  • Feel very floppy when they are awake
  • Move their arms and legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
  • Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
    • Lean to the side when they sit
    • Use one arm to pull to stand more than the other
    • Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys, or eat and drink. 
    • Rarely kick one leg compared to the other 
  • Find it difficult to sit, for example:
    • Only sit with support
    • Lean on their hand when sitting
    • When they sit their back is very curved
  • Can’t move a toy from one hand to the other
  • Don’t use both hands to hold larger things
  • Don’t point to objects
  • Can’t crawl, or find it hard, for example, drags one leg behind them
  • Find it difficult to stand, for example:
    • Can’t pull themselves up to stand
    • Find it hard to pull themselves up. For example, they only use their arms and don’t push with their legs
    • Can’t stand with support

2 months

Your Baby By Two Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Calms down when spoken to or picked up
  • Looks at your face
  • Seems happy to see you when you walk up to her
  • Smiles when you talk to or smile at her

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Makes sounds other than crying
  • Reacts to loud sounds

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Watches you as you move
  • Looks at a toy for several seconds

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Holds head up when on tummy
  • Moves both arms and both legs
  • Opens hands briefly

4 months

Your Baby By Four Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Smiles on his own to get your attention
  • Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make him laugh
  • Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Makes sounds like “oooo”, “aahh” (cooing)
  • Makes sounds back when you talk to him
  • Turns head towards the sound of your voice

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving

  • If hungry, opens mouth when he sees breast or bottle
  • Looks at her hands with interest

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Holds head steady without support when you are holding him
  • Holds a toy when you put it in his hand
  • Uses his arm to swing at toys
  • Brings hands to mouth
  • Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy

6 months

Your Baby By Six Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Knows familiar people
  • Likes to look at self in a mirror
  • Laughs

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Takes turns making sounds with you
  • Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows)
  • Makes squealing noises

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Puts things in her mouth to explore them
  • Reaches to grab a toy she wants
  • Closes lips to show she doesn’t want more food

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Rolls from tummy to back
  • Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
  • Leans on hands to support herself when sitting

9 months

Your Baby By Nine Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
  • Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised
  • Looks when you call her name
  • Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)
  • Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
  • Lifts arms up to be picked up

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like his spoon or toy)
  • Bangs two things together

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Gets to a sitting position by herself
  • Moves things from one hand to her other hand
  • Uses fingers to “rake” food towards himself
  • Sits without support

1 year

Your Baby By One Year

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Waves “bye-bye”
  • Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name
  • Understands “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup
  • Looks for things he sees you hide, like a toy under a blanket

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Pulls up to stand
  • Walks, holding on to furniture
  • Drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it
  • Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food
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Advice and Guidance

What to do if you think your Child has Constipation

Firstly, try to stay calm. Getting constipated and soiling their clothes isn't something your child is doing on purpose, so there's no reason to get cross with them. Staying positive and relaxed is the best attitude to help your child and praising positive steps is important.

If your child is potty training, they may be feeling anxious or stressed about using the toilet. This can cause them to hold in their poo and lead to constipation. Give your child plenty of time to use the toilet while they are still learning. Encourage them when they do use the toilet. Some parents find a reward chart works. If you think your child is having difficulty with toilet training, you can also chat to your health visitor.

If your child remains constipated despite the advice above, speak to their GP who can decide if they need medicines. The treatment for constipation depends on your child’s age. The longer your child is constipated, the longer it can take to get back to normal. Make sure you get help early.

If your child develops new or more severe tummy ache please see our page .

Laxatives are often recommended for children, alongside diet and lifestyle changes.

It may take several months for the treatments to work. Keep trying until they do. Remember that laxative treatment may make your child's overflow soiling worse for a time before it gets better so consider the impact, for example on school trips.

Once your child's constipation has improved, it's important to stop it coming back. Your GP may advise that your child keeps taking laxatives for a while to make sure their poo stays soft enough to push out regularly. The medicines are safe and don’t cause a lazy bowel.

More Information and Support:

Contact the ERIC helpline on 0808 1699 949 (free to call from mobile and landline), Monday to Thursday 10am to 2pm.

ERIC's guide to children's bowel problems.

​​​​​Contact your local community pharmacist. All community pharmacies across England are required to be Healthy Living Pharmacies. This means that they are able to offer advice about a range of healthy living matters which includes eating a healthy diet. They can also provide information leaflets and give parents, carers, and young people more information about other organisations that might be able to also help with healthy eating.

Visit our page on Healthy Eating.

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