Baby Constipation -
How You Can Help Your Little One

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Baby constipation can be distressing, but there are simple steps you can take at home to relieve baby's discomfort and prevent its return.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Constipation in baby should always be checked out by a medical professional, to rule out any underlying cause.

Constipation And Solid Foods

When babies begin solid foods, the appearance and smell of their stools will change quite dramatically. This is particularly noticeable in breastfed babies, whose stools were previously of a smooth texture and relatively "sweet" smelling!

Once your baby is introduced to solids, his stools will often be the colour of the food he ate. They may also contain small pieces of undigested food.

The frequency with which he passes stools may change too - sometimes a baby can go a few days without a bowel movement. This does not necessarily mean he is constipated - if the stool is soft when it finally appears, then it is very likely that all is well.

Nor do straining and grunting necessarily indicate constipation - these are actually quite common reactions, as your baby's body adjusts to the new texture and firmness of his stools.

But baby constipation can arise as his intestines learn to cope with this new form of nutrition. The resulting hard stools can sometimes tear the delicate skin around the anus. These tiny but painful tears can cause your baby to sub-consciously hold back his stools. Unfortunately, this compounds the problem - his body will absorb the water from these stools, making them even harder, plus the large amount of stools in the intestine will cause discomfort and pain.

Causes Of Baby Constipation

CONSTIPATING FOODS

Certain foods are more likely than others to trigger constipation. These include:

• rice cereal (see our article - Is Baby Rice the Best First Food For Baby?)
• unripe bananas
• cooked carrots
• applesauce
• cheese
• yogurt
• white bread
• pasta
• large amounts of potato

Other causes can include:

• underlying illness
• food allergies
• dehydration, particularly in warm weather
• certain types of medication that your baby may have been prescribed
• switching from first stage formula to a "follow-on" formula

Home Remedies For Baby Constipation

ALWAYS OBTAIN THE CONSENT OF YOUR CHILD'S DOCTOR BEFORE INTRODUCING NEW FOODS, JUICES OR WATER TO YOUR BABY.

• If your baby is eating rice cereal, try switching to an oat, barley or mixed grain cereal. Alternatively, learn more about introducing easily digestible avocado or sweet potato as suitable alternative first foods.
• Mix the cereal with a little prune juice, or give him fruit juice diluted with cooled, boiled water. Try 1oz of juice in 4oz of water initially - if this doesn't help, try diluting the juice with 2oz of water. Offer this diluted juice every morning and evening, until the stools soften.
• Add pureed fruits or vegetables to his cereal.
• Offer other foods that help soften stools - these include pears (a gentle but effective option that we recommend trying first), peaches, apricots, plums and peas.
• If baby is bottle fed, offer him cooled, boiled water to prevent dehydration, particularly in warm conditions.
• If baby is breastfed, increase the frequency of feeds.
• Massage baby's tummy gently, in a clockwise direction, starting at his navel and moving outwards.
• Give him a warm bath - this will make him feel relaxed (if he enjoys his baths!) and you can continue the massage technique to "get things moving" and relieve discomfort.
• 'Cycle' baby's legs - this exerts gentle pressure on his intestines by moving the muscles in his tummy. Simply put him on his back, hold his legs and turn them gently, but quickly, in a cycling motion.
• If hard stools have caused tears to baby's anus, alert his doctor and use Vaseline to protect his delicate skin.