by Laura Falin posted in Parenting

I never thought I'd spend this much time caring whether someone else pooped.
Before I had kids, I swore I wouldn't be one of those parents who talked about the bathroom habits of my baby or potty training kids, discussing when they had gone, and what they had done in there.
But what I didn't realize at the time is that children's regularity affects so many other parts of their lives. Problems with regularity can affect everything from their mood for the day to whether they can start potty training (which can in turn affect when they can start school). It can affect physical health, too. It's a big deal, and if you're a parent, you're going to have to pay attention to your child's digestion.

It's especially challenging because many toddlers and preschoolers are picky eaters, so try as you might, they may have trouble getting nutrients, such as fiber or probiotics from diet alone. How to tell if your child is having regularity issues
1. Look at their poop
Yep. Check their stools. If they appear hard and dry, or overly large (ever wondered "How in the world did that come out of such a tiny child""), they aren't going regularly.
2. Check how often they go
Ideally, they should be passing stools every day...or at least every other day. Fewer than three bowel movements a week is an indication they're having regularity issues.

3. Backsliding on potty training
When my potty trained daughter began wetting herself, I had no idea it...