Symptoms of constipation in children include:
- Several days without normal bowel movements
- Painful, hard stools that are difficult to pass
- Unusual postures and movements, such as standing on tiptoes or appearing to be dancing (caused by trying to hold in a bowel movement)
- Pain or bloating in the abdomen
- Soiled underwear caused by leaking from fecal impaction (stool is trapped in the colon). This may look like diarrhea.
- Urinary incontinence (leaking urine) because stool in the colon is pressing against the bladder
- Bleeding from the rectum
- Poor appetite
- Unusually cranky behavior