First try to understand why stools get hard. Not drinking enough water, delaying passing stool, not eating enough healthy diet, eating food with less fibers, drinking too much milk.
I advise:
1. Plenty of fluids. Drinking water is the best
2. Decrease the milk in diet to twice daily
3. Less junk food and good amount of fruits and vegetables
4. Regular exercise
5. Try massaging your child's belly
6. Good toilet habit should have started at the second year of life
Encourage good toilet habits:
1.Make it comfortable. Don't pressurise them
2. Involve them in the entire process of potty training
3. His/ her knees should be above the level of hip
4. Indian sitting is best to practice
5. If you have facility of western sitting only, use toilet rim and foot support to
make the child comfortable
6. Make it a routine- Make him spend regular 10 minutes daily at fixed timings
7. Make it a fun- Avoid scolding him for not able to pass poo.
Keep a reward system using points accumulated over a week to keep a track on improvement
Next Steps
Consult a Pediatrician if all this doesn’t help. Child needs a bit of help.
Health Tips
1.Constipation is not a disease but habit in majority of cases
2.Good diet and bowel habit can prevent constipation
3.Once the child has constipation; he/she will need medicines for few months along with high fiber diet and toilet training