Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of your child after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
Your child was seen in the ED for constipation. This is when it is hard to have bowel movements, because they are too hard, too small, hard to get out, or happening fewer than 3 times a week.
Your child might also have pain during bowel movements. This might make them try to avoid going to the bathroom. Or they might leak small amounts of bowel movement into their underwear (if they are toilet trained).
The doctor thinks it is safe for you to treat your child's constipation at home.
How do I care for my child at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for your child. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also do the following:
●Call your child's regular doctor and tell them your child was in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.
●Help your child take all their medicines as instructed.
●Have your child eat more fruit, vegetables, cereal, and other foods with fiber.
●Have your child drink some prune, apple, or pear juice. This helps keep their bowel movements soft.
●Make sure your child drinks plenty of water and other fluids each day to stay hydrated. If they are older than 2 years, they should drink at least 32 ounces of water and drinks that aren't milk each day.
●Avoid milk and foods made with milk, like yogurt, cheese, and ice cream, for a few days.
●If your child is toilet trained, give them plenty of time to have a bowel movement. Have them sit on the toilet for 5 or 10 minutes after meals. Offer rewards just for sitting there.
●If you are working on toilet training your child, stop for a while, until their symptoms improve.
●Remind older children to not ignore the urge to have a bowel movement. They should not try to hold it in.
When should I get emergency help?
●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:
•Your child has sudden severe belly pain, or their pain is constant.
•Your child vomits blood, or passes a lot of blood in their bowel movements (more than 1 teaspoon, or 5 mL).
•Your child's belly becomes very hard or swollen.
●Return to the ED if:
•Your child's bowel movements are black or tar colored.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if:
●Your child has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.
●Your child will not eat or drink.
●Your child's bowel movements have a small amount of blood in them (less than 1 teaspoon, or 5 mL).
●Your child has pain with bowel movements.
●Your child has hard bowel movements for longer than 2 weeks or no bowel movements for 1 week.
●Your child has new or worsening symptoms.
Patient education: Constipation in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Constipation in infants and children (Beyond the Basics)
