From a very early age, children need routine in their lives. From brushing teeth in the morning to getting ready for bed, daily rituals teach children good habits. Once potty training begins, routine becomes all the more important. Knowing when to go to the toilet is one factor in maintaining regularity. And when that routine is disrupted, a child can start suffering from constipation.

Put simply, constipation is an irregular or difficult bowel movement. It causes discomfort and is often accompanied by dry, hard stools that are difficult to pass. We tend to associate constipation with a poor diet, but that's only one of the factors that can contribute to it. Others include:

• Lack of routine
• Ignoring signs to go to the toilet
• Lack of fluids and fibre in diet
• Fear of potty or toilet
• Embarrassment of using unfamiliar toilets
• Fear of passing painful stools
• Lack of exercise
• Medication

Identifying the cause of your child's constipation is the first step to effectively treating it.

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Merck Consumer Health, Hedon Road, Hull HU9 5NJ England