This site contains information from government publications about constipation in children that have been reformatted and reorganized. There are numerous links to the original documents. The goal is to make the information easier to find and to allow the sharing of information between users. This is a very big undertaking and you can help me help others. Please add your comments or questions to

Constipation means that bowel movements are hard and dry, difficult or painful to pass, and less frequent than usual. It is a common problem for children, but it is usually temporary and no cause for parents to be concerned. When a child does not eat enough fiber, drink enough liquids, or get enough exercise, constipation is more likely to occur. It also happens when children ignore the urge to

American Academy of Pediatrics National Headquarters 141 Northwest Point Boulevard Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1098 Phone: (847) 434-4000 Fax: (847) 434-8000 Internet: www.aap.org International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) Inc. P.O. Box 170864 Milwaukee, WI 53217-8076 Phone: 1-888-964-2001 or (414) 964-1799 Fax: (414) 964-7176 Email: iffgd@iffgd.org Internet: