Baby Poop matters more !!!
How do you know your little one is constipated ?
The normal bowel movement varies from baby to baby and also depend on the age and type of feeding .
Each baby has a different bowel movement and to tell the baby to be constipated, there should be a gross change in the routine.
I have seen babies in pediatrics OPD who poop only once in 4 days.
Usually you can wait upto 7 days for a breastfed baby and 4 days for a formula fed baby to declare them constipated.
Signs of constipation .
1. If the poop is very hard and pebble like and dry, it is a sign of constipation as it indicates that poop has been in the rectum for longer period leading to the absorption of water from it.
2. If the baby cries during straining to pass stools.
3. Blood in stools, it might be due to rupture of tiny blood vessels due to severe straining.
4. Constipation accompanied with vomiting and belly tenderness.
How to Relieve Constipation in babies?
1. Breastmilk is a natural laxative, so continue breastfeeding even if the baby is constipated. In a exclusively breastfed baby, consult a pediatrician if the baby has any of the above signs and does not poop even after 7 days.
2. If your baby is formula fed, then try changing the formula.
3. For babies who have started solids, the following can be tried
” P ” Food
Prunes
Peaches
Peas
Plums
aPricots
Prune juice is very effective. Also increase the fiber intake of the baby.
4. Avoid the following foods, carrots, rice cereal, bread, potatoes, apple sauce (remember apple juice may help relieve constipation) , squash, yogurt. The foods that cause constipation varies between babies, maintain a food dairy and make a note of foods that cause constipation in your little one and try to avoid them.
5. If your baby is on solid food, give water in between the feeds which helps in prevention of dehydration and also increases the water content of stools and softening the stools.
6. For Babies above 4 months, try to make them sit in a squatting position to facilitate the easy passage of stool.
7. The baby can be placed in a tub of warm water, the warmth will help to relax the muscles and aid in easy defecation.
8. Mix ” ONE DROP ” of castor oil with a few drops of breastmilk and apply it on the babies tongue, take care to wash your hands properly before giving the mixture.
9. Massage the belly lightly with either castor or coconut oil.
10. Using laxatives and suppositories should be the last resort, as the baby may get used to it, and pass stools only when they are used.
Consult a pediatrician immediately if the baby has the following symptoms
1. Fever.
2. Vomiting
3. Incessant Cry.
4. Blood in stools.
5. Rigid and taut Belly.
Hope this article was useful in answering your queries on ways to relieve constipation in babies….Any questions please comment below, will answer it as soon as possible.
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If worried about the child’s weight, refer to the list of recipes for healthy weight gain in 10 baby weight gaining foods.
The content in this article is only for informational purposes and does not substitute medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician for issues and queries regarding your baby’s well-being.
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Reference
1.https://baby-toddler-club.coles.com.au/recipes-nutrition/nutrition-guides/baby/food-for-constipated-babies/
2. http://www.parents.com/baby/health/constipation/foods-that-cause-and-relieve-constipation-in-babies/
3. http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/childhood-illnesses/constipation-2
4. http://www.drgreene.com/qa-articles/babies-constipation/
5. http://www.breastfeeding-problems.com/breastfeeding-and-constipation.html
6. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/infant-and-toddler-health/expert-answers/infant-constipation/faq-20058519
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Hello doctor,
Wonderful service given by you for a new mommy like me. Thanks for that. I saw your blogs on homemade powder preparation for babies. It’s very helpful. I have few doubts on that. Please help
Can we keep the powders refrigerated?. If yes, how many months?.
Wil the refrigerated powder cause cold for my baby?
Also while preparing ragi porridge can we add 1/2 teaspoon almond powder?
And is it good to add a pinch of salt while preparing porridge?
He is not swallowing coarse powdered porridge . How to overcome it. ?
Please help me on this
My baby is 6 months old.
Hi dear, thank you for the following my blog and recipes for your baby. Yes you can keep the powders refridgerated and extend the shelf life upto 6 months from date of production. It will not cause any cold to your baby as we are going to serve it warm.
While preparing ragi porridge you can try with almond powder. I adviece you to not add salt to your baby before 1 year. You can make it finer or add fruit purees to naturally sweeten it.
Dear Dr. Hema,
Your site is extremely useful for new mothers like me and I’m very thankful to have come across this. My 10 month old baby girl has been feeling constipated lately and is straining a little to poop. She hates formula and is breastfed but I doubt if her intake is enough for a baby her age. Can you suggest ways to increase her breastmilk intake and reduce her constipation? Thank you!
Dear Pam,
To increase the intake of breastmilk is always to feed on demand and do not encourage formula through feeding bottle as the babies fed through feeding bottle do not like to work to drink breastmilk
Hi Dr,
Could you please give a sample diet chart for 2-3 days while relieving the constipation? I have been keeping my baby off the rice, since constipation is on n off. But for how long?
Regards,
Nisha
Are those solutions working fine? Here’s the thing, my SIL’s daughter constipate frequently. My SIL found many solutions from internet but seems like they are not working and her daughter is still suffering in constipation issue. That’s why I’m wondering the above ways whether working fine or not.
Thanks for sharing~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
my sons was suffering constipation as well
appreciate your view very much !
Dear Doctor, as a new mom i ve been so blessed with your posts .. i have to ask you regarding my baby boy of 7 months. He refuses to take in water because it is tasteless.. i have been getting him to drink juices like pomegranate mixing it with 1:1 juice water ratio, ensuring he atleast consumes water this way since he has started eating solids.. is this good enough?? lately he is constipated. He passes his stools everyday but it is very dry n pebble like. I doubt he feels uneasy through the day.. lower stomach is hard and he expresses pain while passing stool. What do i do to get him drink more water? Is prune juice good? How do i make prune juice for him?
Hi Imeyshika,
You don’t have to force your baby to drink water, if your baby is on breastfeed then can meet his water demands for a day, for more information read this article ” How much water does my baby need “
Hi hemapriya.my baby is 9 months old…shes taking breastfeed and formula..because my milk is not enough for her..when she is taking anti histamine cause of measles..she is constipated .she cries when she poop because of a hard tools..what am i going to do? Can anti histamine is 1 of the caused of her contioation?
Hi Mickeala, you should consult your doctor dear since your baby has measles. The cause of constipation can be body heat as well, please visit your doctor to find a cure.
Hi hemapriya!! Liked reading ur website.. will definitely try ur receipes..my baby girl is of 1yr 6 mnths.she doesn’t like water n milk.so her liquid intake is very low.I try to give her water after every 2 hrs. Difficult to feed her any other liquid like juice n soups.she ia hesitant to try new taste.low liduid intake so issue in passing urine.she feels itchy in that area after passing urine.doctor is saying to get urine taste done to check fr urine infection.she urinates 6 times in a day..pls help on how to increase her water intake.n all d best fr ur wonderful website!!
Hi trupti,
It’s impossible to say how much water any individual – baby, child or adult – needs in a day. It depends on many variables, for instance, their own metabolism, their level of activity, the weather, and the foods they have eaten that day (many foods naturally contain large amounts of liquid and others very little).
Babies and children generally don’t need any more than their thirst dictates – they just need the opportunity to decide this for themselves, in the same way that adults do. The best way to reassure yourself that your baby/toddler is having enough to drink is to offer frequent drinks, or by leaving a small cup of water within his/her reach during the day.
As a rule of thumb, after 12 months of age, if your toddler’s urine is pale yellow, then it means that he is getting enough hydration and you don’t have to worry about his water intake.
Hey I have a 2.5 yr old son n he has severe constipation problem ..I have tried all medication n even homeopathic but as soon as dosage is over.. back to same problem. ..I give him cow milk..can that be a problem. .plz help
Hi Krupali,
If you think cow’s milk might be the problem, you can stop it for a week or so and restart, give him a high fibre diet and adequate water
My baby is exclusively breastfed. She doesn’t pass stools on her own so my doc has suggested to use suppository every 3-4 days. I never tried waiting until 7 days, as baby gets uncomfortable by the 3rd or the 4th day and passes smelly gasses. the stools that she passes aft using the suppository are very soft (in fact close to liquid like).
Hi Rency,
I don’t think using suppositories regularly is a good idea as babies tend to accustomed to it and later only when you keep suppository they will pass stools. For an exclusive breast fed baby you can wait till 7 days , but since your baby is getting uncomfortable, you can give a drop of castor oil mixed with milk after 4 days, even that too, don’t make it as a habit
Thanks for info.
Such a useful post!! My ds too suffers a lot, because of constipation.
🙂
Such a useful post!! My little one too suffers a lot, because of constipation.
Hi my baby is 7months and he always suffers from constipation.and this problem is since when he was just 1month.plz suggest some foods which gives him relief from constipation.bye.
Dear Zeba,
This post has all the details
The foods you mentioned to be avoided are the most common foods we give after introducing solids. I am confused now as what to be given to my 9month baby.
Hi Arooz, IF you are baby is constipated then it is better to avoid these fruits, otherwise you can give the foods regularly
Waiting for next article��
Will post the article this week…..