It started around 1 a.m. My son, Liam, was 14 months old, and the noises coming from his room didn't seem completely human: There was a sort of honking bark followed by a whistle-y kind of breathing.

Eating more fiber and drinking more fluids can help treat or prevent hard stools. Hard stools occur when your colon absorbs too much water from your stool. Dehydration and a low-fiber diet are common ...