When children have a long period of constipation, it can result in impacted bowel or fecal impaction. It is important to treat constipation to prevent impacted bowel in children. For infants who are three months old or less, having 2 to 3 bowel movements a day is normal. Infants who are a year old or less should normally have about two bowel movements a day. And toddlers and small children should have at least one bowel movement a day.

There could be slight variations between children, but what parents need to look for is a variation in a particular child’s bowel frequency from their normal routine. When a child that normally has one or two bowel movements daily, stops having them for a few days, it could be a sign of constipation.

Parents should take children who are less than a year old to their pediatrician for treating the impacted bowel. Doctors might treat the condition administering a glycerin suppository or they might perform an enema.

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