Behavioral Strategies to Reduce Constipation

• Encourage your child to sit on the potty, just for a few minutes, after meals and at bedtime. This should be unhurried.
• One the potty, your child’s feet should be flat on the floor. If they’re too short, place a stool under their feet. This helps a child to “push down” and pass stools more easily.
• If going to the toilet to have a bowel movement is a battle, consider a reward system, such as a sticker chart for attempts to sit on the toilet. Lack of success should not be punished.
• Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly around the opening of the anus if you ever see a small amount of fresh blood in the stool. This may indicate a small tear in the anus.
• If you are in the process of toilet train and your child is withholding stools, consider delaying the toilet training until she is more ready and the constipation is under control.
• See your health-care provider if your child is exhibiting stool-withholding behaviors – the earlier these behaviors are addressed, the easier they are to fix.

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