Ds only "goes" every 3rd day?

[notapootrollhonest]

He's 10 - reasonably healthy diet (lots of veg, not much processed stuff)
But he only goes every 3-4 days

DH, his younger brother and I all go at least daily and we all eat the same stuff

Is this normal for a 10 year old?

How long has he been in this pattern? It might just be his normal, so no point comparing with other people. As long as he is drinking enough fluids, and going to the toilet isn't painful for him, I don't see the problem. Not everyone goes every day :-)

Constipation is generally considered to be going fewer than 3 times a week.
Some people will go 3 times a day and that can be normal. Some can go 3 times a week and that can be normal.
It’s about what’s ‘normal’ for him and if you speak to a doctor, they will ask about any change in frequency, not about his normal routine. If that makes sense?
So if it’s not a new thing and he’s not in pain, it’s fine

Does it cause him any discomfort and is it a struggle when he goes? DS is 3 so not comparable age wise but seems to have a slower gut transit time than average. He's not constipated and doesn't struggle to go.

My dd, also 10, goes every 3 days too but she doesn’t struggle and has had this pattern since birth. As a newborn, fully bf, she’s go up to 6 days without going.

Thank you for all of your replies

I actually don't know if this is normal for him or not. His "tummy pain" - which has eased off - is possibly just this. I did think appendicitis but it certainly hasn't got any worse (he is currently fighting with his brother so can't be in too much pain)

I try and keep a better track of him

He does need to drink more water in general though

A kids probiotic might be worth a try

If he's getting tummy pain it's very likely to be constipation. DS is under a paediatrician for constipation (v similar bowel pattern to your son's) and on daily movicol. Can you ask your GP to refer you to a paediatrician? My DSis is a consultant paediatrician and says that GPs are notoriously poor a dealing with childhood constipation, she had to ask a colleague to write to our GP before they'd prescribe movicol on repeat.

She says they get teenagers referred with chronic bowel issues that just weren't dealt with effectively earlier in childhood. If I were you I'd be getting him seen by a paediatrician as soon as poss.