most helpful answer you are very wise to treat your son's constipation with an overall strategy rather than simply treating each episode as it occurs. a few suggestions: make sure your son is drinking enough plain (or flavored) water every day. you might be surprised what a difference this one change makes. try a bowel training routine. don't wait for your son to tell you he needs to have a bowel movement. it's not uncommon for children his age to "retain stool" by refusing to go to the bathroom even when they feel the urge. they do this for various reasons such as not wanting to interrupt a pleasurable activity in order to take a potty break. so be sure to suggest a bathroom break during your daily activities and even verbalize when you yourself are taking a bathroom break in order to set this example of normal behavior. don't be afraid to speak to his school teacher about the constipation issue to enlist her or his help to make sure your son takes bathroom breaks during the school day. do not treat going to the bathroom as a punishment. rather react with approval when he does take the time to go. don't rush your son in the bathroom. make sure he always knows he has plenty of time to go. some people require more time to complete a bowel movement than others. make sure your son's diet contains plenty of fiber-rich foods such as apples carrots celery and other fruits and vegetables. make sure your son gets plenty of exercise. of course sweating can lead to dehydration (and constipation) so keep him hydrated while he runs and plays. if all else fails you may add a clear non-gritty fiber supplement (such as benefiber) to your son's milk or other beverage. i hope you've discussed this issue with your pediatrician as well. this problem should be documented in your son's medical record and of course your doctor will have excellent advice for dealing with this issue. best of luck to you! my clinical favorite is miralax or generic equivalents. this is safe for long-term use but consider having him evaluated by a pediatric gastroenterologist since there can be some underlying reasons for his chronic constipation and perhaps a better solution.
what are some "kid safe" natural stool softeners to help with constipation for my 7 year old? . my son is 7 years old and we have been battling with constipation for about a year. he gets so "backed up" that it then becomes painful to release once his stool softener starts to work. id like to find a natural regularly implemented strategy/diet in order to prevent this from happening. it is very uncomfortable for him and am worried it may lead to digestion issues down the road.