Sometimes, there is no identifiable reason for constipation in children. Some children do not drink enough water and liquids.
Exercise helps move digested food through the intestines.
Toddlers can be overwhelmed by toilet training, especially when a parent is more anxious for the child to be out of diapers than the child is. Toddlers can also become involved in power-struggles with their parents as they learn to assert their independence, and may intentionally, hold bowel movements in. Some children who experience stress at school, with their friends, or in the family, may have constipation. Some children ignore signals their intestines give them to have a bowel movement. This can happen when children are too busy playing and forget to go to the bathroom.