Things to consider
There are many reasons your child may not want to use the bathroom for a bowel movement. They may be scared of being alone in the bathroom. They may be scared of the toilet. Some children just don’t want to stop playing to go to the bathroom.
If bowel movements have been painful in the past, your child may “hold” their stools when they have the urge to pass one. They do this to avoid the pain. This can lead to constipation. Constipation may occur if:
- Your child is not eating enough high-fiber foods, drinking enough water, or getting enough exercise.
- Your child has an illness that causes them to have a fever and not to eat much. This problem can remain even after the illness goes away.
In many children, the cause for constipation cannot be found.
Children who have constipation may have soft or liquid stools leak from the anus (the opening to the rectum). This is caused by a mass of stool stuck in the lower bowel. This happens because the amount of stool can become so large that it leaks out of the anus, causing soiling. These stools have a very bad smell.
Symptoms of constipation include:
- Extreme straining during a bowel movement
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Crankiness
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite between bowel movements
- Wetting during the day or night
- Extreme reluctance to use the toilet
If your child doesn’t have a bowel movement for 3 or 4 days in a row, call your doctor. They may want to remove the stool that has collected in the lower bowel. Your doctor can do this in the office by giving your child an enema or a suppository. This is medicine that is inserted into the anus. Your doctor also may have you give your child laxatives to remove the stool.
After the stool has been removed, it is important to be sure that your child can have bowel movements easily. Easy bowel movements will help prevent another large collection of stool. Treatment may include changing your child’s diet to include more fluids and fiber-rich foods, having your child sit on the toilet several times a day, and giving your child daily laxatives to help soften the stools.