What if your child's constipation continues despite changing their diet?
If your child remains constipated despite the treatments listed above, take them to their GP who can decide if they need medicines. The treatment for constipation depends on your child’s age. The longer your child is constipated, the longer it can take to get back to normal, so make sure you get help early.
Laxatives are often recommended for children, alongside diet and lifestyle changes.
It may take several months for the treatments to work, but keep trying until they do. Remember that laxative treatment may make your child's overflow soiling worse for a time before it gets better so consider the impact e.g. on school/planned trips.
Once your child's constipation has improved, it's important to stop it coming back. Your GP will advise that your child keeps taking laxatives for a while to make sure their poo stays soft enough to push out regularly: the medicines are safe and don’t cause a lazy bowel.
The key to treating constipation is not laxatives alone but this together with toileting routine, physical exercise and plenty o fluids and a balanced diet.
How to treat constipation - ERIC