Hi there, I agree that constipation is sometimes tricky to tackle, and I would like to congratulate you on being careful with her fibre and water intake. Children often develop constipation at this age due to their ability to start holding in their stool, especially if they have been potty trained too early. They have learned the new ability to hold it in, sometimes just out of convenience while they are playing, or out of fear of pain if they have been constipated for a while. I find that some children may have to be re-trained on their toilet habits to make sure that they notice the urge to pass motion, and are encouraged to go as soon as they feel the urge. It is better to set a time of day, possibly early morning, to develop a more convenient habit, instead of having to hold it is when you are out and have no access to a toilet. However, that is not always necessary, and the most important factor is just going when she feels any urge at all. Note that some people require more than once a day stool to achieve a normal consistency. Aim for long sausage-like stool with or without cracks in it. If she has not been potty trained, the stool should be soft and mashed into her diaper. Also, if she hasn t been potty trained, try to delay it for a few months so that she gets into the habit of going whenever she needs to. It might be necessary to use laxatives for a longer period than the usual bouts of constipation. This is to make sure that she is not afraid to pass motion due to the pain of passing hard stools. I would not advise using Ezlax long term, I usually prescribe something like lactulose, which is a stool softener that is much safer to use for long periods. Lactulose can also be tapered from 5-10 mls once a day to three times a day, to help her achieve a soft consistency of stool that is easy to pass. Hope this helps, and all the best to you and your daughter. Regards, Dr. Teh