This is not true. For some persons, normal bowel patterns can mean having a stool three times a week, while for others it can be daily. If the stools are soft and pass easily, then one is not constipated. Causes There can be many causes for constipation. It is best to see your doctor if constipation is a recent development or if you have a sudden change in your normal pattern of bowel movements, so more serious causes can be ruled out.
Stress related to toilet training can contribute to constipation in young children.
Children may also become constipated if they ignore the urge to pass stools because they are involved in other activities or play. Knowing more about the digestive system and how it works can help to understand why constipation occurs. After the food that you have eaten leaves the stomach, it passes into the small intestine where the nutrients are absorbed. The food particles move along through the intestines by muscular contractions. By the time food reaches the colon, almost all of the nutrients have been absorbed and the waste material that is left must be expelled.