The Constipation Solution, Increasing Fiber
Who gives a poop?!
I talk to a lot of physicians about “poop.” It’s true. Most pediatricians I know say they get questions about bowel movements for at least half of children they see. In fact, 3-5% of pediatric outpatient visits are just related to constipation. For pediatric GI specialists, it’s 35% or more of ALL their visits. Although people think of constipation as infrequent bowel movements, it can also describe large bowel movements, holding a lot of stool in your body (e.g. fecal load), or bowl movements that are overly firm or hard.
Constipation is often related to a variety of factors. It can be impacted by foods, fluids, movement, medications, and other health conditions. Some of these are more readily changed than others. When children don't have enough fluids or fiber, potty training can be really challenging. When children are constipated, they are more likely to have poop accidents, resist using the potty for bowel movements, or request a...
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Author
Dr. Amanda Keating
Dr. Amanda Keating is a licensed psychologist and board certified behavior analyst. She has held a variety of leadership positions over the course of her career and been awarded several grants related to behavior and parenting. Dr. Keating is a real life university professor, and she is currently teaching a specialty class on evidence-based practices for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. She's also, and most importantly, a mom to Gabriel, age 6 and Elise, age 18 months.
