How to regulate your child's bowel movement issues

Patient's question:

Child has poor bowel movements
The child is now four years old. For the past month, their bowel movements have not been good: the stool is not well-formed, resembling a lump of greasy paste. It's a bit sticky and difficult to flush. They have one bowel movement per day, and their appetite is fine.
Expert consultation: What could be causing this? Is it necessary to use traditional Chinese medicine or herbal medicine for regulation? How should it be regulated?

Doctor's answer:

Improper diet can also cause constipation, such as consuming excessive amounts of fish and eggs while lacking intake of grains, vegetables, and other foods. Additionally, irregular living habits in children, such as not having a regular schedule for sleep and defecation, as well as certain pathological conditions like congenital megacolon, congenital anal stenosis, and hypothyroidism, are also factors that contribute to pediatric constipation.
To prevent and treat pediatric constipation, the first and most important step is for parents to provide proper guidance. Before an infant defecates, parents should give signals, and the timing should be kept relatively fixed each day to gradually help the child adapt to regular bowel movements. If the child does not defecate, it should not be forced, nor should the child be made to sit on the toilet for extended periods.
In terms of diet, refined foods, vegetables, sweet potatoes, fruits, and other foods should be provided in appropriate amounts. For children who frequently experience constipation, in addition to training them to develop regular bowel habits, medications that promote intestinal motility and laxation can also be given intermittently.