Preventing stool retention can be accomplished by following a few guidelines over longer periods of time. Below are some helpful pointers for decreasing your child’s stool retention.
Make sure that your child is drinking enough fluid to keep urine a light, yellow color.
Your child should have a well-established routine of sitting on the toilet each day at the same time to attempt a bowel movement. Prompting to sit on the toilet after meals typically works well.
Fiber comes in two varieties. Insoluble fiber absorbs fluid and increase in size, producing a bulky stool. Soluble fiber turns into a gel-like substance when it comes in contact with fluid, keeping stools soft without adding bulk. Many foods have both soluble and insoluble fiber in them. While all foods with fiber are good, too much insoluble fiber without enough fluid will produce a bulky, hard stool which will distend the rectum. Try to focus on soluble fiber foods first.
