How to Improve Your Child's Constipation

By: Brook Orvis, PT, DPT, WCS, PRPC, CLT

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Do you have a kiddo struggling with poo or pee problems? There’s pelvic floor physical therapy for that!

Similar to how adults may have difficulty with constipation, leaking of poop, or leaking of urine children can encounter similar issues. These symptoms are frequently (but not always!) linked to dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles, which are muscles at the base of the pelvis that wrap around the anal, urethral, and vaginal openings of the pelvis and help with functioning of pooping, peeing, and sexual activity or intimacy.

As a Board-Certified Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, there are SO many things that I’m taking into consideration when working with children with bladder and bowel issues. Here are a few tips and tricks to help your kiddo that may be struggling with poop or pee dysfunction:

1. Water Intake

Plain water helps to keep poop consistently soft and easy to pass to help prevent constipation and also helps to prevent irritation to the inner lining of the bladder to prevent issues with leaking of urine and urinary urgency and frequency. Typically kiddos under the age of 8 years old should be drinking their age in 8 oz cups of water per day (so if your child is 2 years old they should be drinking two 8 oz cups of water a day). Children that are 8 years old and older should be drinking eight 8 oz cups of water per day.

2. Fiber Intake

Fiber does a few different things in terms of poop consistency. For children that are struggling with constipation and hard to pass poop, it will help to soften the poop and make it easier to pass. For kiddos struggling with loose poop or leaking of stool, it helps to bulk the poop consistency and makes it easier to hold on to which helps to prevent leaking of poop.

Typically you want to add 5-10 on to the age of your child in years old to give you the recommended amount of grams of fiber that they should be eating a day. For example, if your child is 2 years old they should be eating 7-12 grams of fiber per day (2+5 to 2+10).

Make sure that you gradually increase your child’s fiber intake as it can cause abdominal bloating and discomfort when added rapidly or in large quantities. Also, make sure that your child is staying consistent with their daily water intake as an increase in fiber without sufficient water intake can actually worsen or cause constipation.

3. Poop Positioning

If your kiddo is using a toilet you want to make sure that their feet are able to touch the ground and that their knees are above the level of the hips when positioned on the toilet. This allows the pelvic floor muscles wrapping around the anal opening and the rectum to lengthen and release allowing poop to exit the body more easily and without straining. A good way to ensure this position is by placing a step stool (such as the kids Squatty Potty) under their feet.

4. Breathing Mechanics While Pooping

You want to make sure that your kiddo isn’t straining while pooping as this can cause the pelvic floor muscles to contract making it more challenging to empty when going to the bathroom. A good way to do this is by having your kiddo blow bubbles (yes, bubbles), blow a pinwheel, or “moo” like a cow while sitting on the toilet or during their toileting routine when pooping. This will help the anal opening to lengthen and release while exerting a small amount of pressure to allow the poop to come out of the body.

And it makes pooping more fun which is important when creating a positive environment surrounding going to the bathroom which will help long-term with toileting.

Last medically reviewed on March 12, 2024

Dr. Brook Orvis is a Board-Certified Women’s Health and Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, Duke Residency-Trained in Women’s Health, and the owner of Flora Physical Therapy based in Durham, NC. As a momma to a spirited toddler and someone that is passionate that everyone with a pelvis has a pelvic floor, she believes that pelvic floor therapy is for everyone and provides accessible treatment options for men, women, kids, and the LGBTQIA+ community. She loves educating and empowering clients to take charge of their body and health and to not accept leaking of urine or poop, prolapse, pelvic pain, constipation, pain during sex, and other pelvic floor issues as something that is normal.

Want to chat more to see if working with Brook is a good fit for you? Schedule your free phone consultation today!