How to Keep Your Child From Getting Constipated While Toilet Training

Potty training is hard enough with a child who's not constipated. But constipation causes pain, which can freeze a child up, making him terrified to make a bowel movement at all. Of course, if your child refuses to make a bowel movement, that worsens the constipation, which begins a vicious cycle of pain and withholding movements. Keeping your child regular before potty training, and keeping the training itself low-pressure, can help avoid this common pitfall of potty training.

Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure your child is getting enough fiber. Fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts are all good sources of fiber, which moves quickly through the digestive tract and keeps it functioning optimally. Clinical psychologist Edward Christophersen recommends that children get enough fiber to equal their age plus 5 grams (e.g., a 2 year old would need 7 grams of fiber).

    • 2

      Give your child plenty of fluids, such as water and diluted juice, to keep the food moving along your child's digestive tract. Prune juice can be especially helpful in keeping things moving along.

    • 3

      Encourage your child to exercise. Young children don't need to follow any exercise program, and they don't need specialized equipment. Let your child run around and play throughout the day, and you'll be helping her bowel movements to stay more regular. Play a game of catch or tag, let your child walk instead of riding in the stroller, and dance to some music with her.

    • 4

      Make sure that your child's stools are soft before beginning potty training. If they are not, try a natural laxative like honey, give your child two or three prunes to eat as a daily snack, or talk to your child's pediatrician about giving a medicinal laxative.

    • 5

      Begin the potty training process only when your child is actually ready. Starting too early can put undo pressure on your child, which can cause him to "hold it in." This can cause constipation and pain, which can make your child even more scared to have a bowel movement.

    • 6

      Relax and help your child relax while on the potty. Reading a book, singing a song, or playing a verbal game can help distract children and help them forget that they are waiting to have a bowel movement.

    • 7

      Keep track of your child's bowel movements, and try to put her on the potty at a time that you know she is likely to need to "go."

    • 8

      Empathize with any pain that your child feels, but try to keep him as relaxed as possible about it.

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