Constipation means having fewer bowel movements (poops) than usual, or having dry, hard, or difficult-to-pass poops. Constipation can happen at any age, and usually starts when kids hold in their poop. Often, it gets better with changes in diet, setting a regular toilet time, and sometimes medicine.

• Give any prescribed medicines as directed.
• Talk to your health care provider before giving your child any other medicines (including an enema or suppository), supplements, or herbs.
• To increase fiber in your child's diet, offer high-fiber foods such as bran cereal, pears, apples, strawberries, beans (such as pinto, kidney, black, or lima), and sweet potatoes.
• Make any other suggested changes in your child's diet. 
• Have your child drink plenty of water. Drinking juices (like prune, pear, or apple) may help too.
• Make sure your child sits on the toilet for 5 to 10 minutes once or twice a day after eating. Kids are more likely to poop after a meal.
• Give a small reward like a sticker for sitting on or pooping in the toilet or potty. 
• If your child tries to hold in poop, teach them that it's important to go to the toilet as soon as they feel the need. This way, poop won't build up in the colon and rectum.

Your child:

• doesn't poop within 2 days after making the recommended changes 
• has new or worsening belly pain
• has diarrhea (watery poop)
• starts vomiting (throwing up)
• soils their underpants
• has a swollen belly
• has a lot of blood on the toilet paper, in the toilet, or on the poop

Why do some children hold in their poop? Young kids may hold in their poop because they are:

• afraid of pooping in the toilet when they start learning to use it
• too embarrassed to use the toilet at school. They may wait all day until they're home to poop.
• afraid to poop because it hurt in the past

What does it mean if my child has blood in the poop? A small amount of blood in the poop isn't a sign of something serious. It happens when your child may need to strain and push to get the hard poop out. The hard poop stretches and cracks the skin of the anus (the hole where the poop comes out).