Helping Your Infant Cope With Constipation
With a little experience, you’ll learn to recognize your baby’s elimination habits. Every infant is different; some babies pass a stool immediately following meals. Others may do so once a day or even once every few days. There are several influences such as the types of food your baby eats, his activity level, and his rate of digestion.
If his bowel movements are inconsistent with his normal habits, or his stools are harder than usual, it may mean he’s constipated. Below, we’ll explain some of the factors that can potentially cause constipation in your infant. We’ll also describe a few steps you can take to help resolve the problem.
Factors Which Can Make Your Baby Constipated
One of the most common reasons babies become constipated is due to their moving from breast milk or formula to eating solid foods. Their bodies must adapt to the solids, especially when the food has a low fiber content.
Babies can also develop constipation from formula. If your little one becomes constipated soon after switching to a new brand, ask your pediatrician whether you should switch again. He or she may know about specific ingredients within certain brands that can cause constipation.
Your baby can also become constipated if he’s dehydrated. When his body become dehydrated, it will absorb moisture from the foods he is eating. As those foods are metabolized into waste, the lack of moisture results in harder stools.
How To Help
You can help your baby relieve the problem and regain comfort through a number of methods. The three main areas on which to focus are food, activity, and hydration. If he is eating solids, ask your pediatrician whether you can increase the amount of fiber in your infant’s diet. A small amount of bran, pureed apricots, or apple juice will soften his stools.
You should also help him to exercise. An easy way to do that is by lying him on his back and moving his legs as if he were riding a bike. Or, if he enjoys crawling, play with him. Set him at one end of a room and encourage him to crawl toward you.
And of course, provide your little one with plenty of liquid. Dehydration is a leading cause of constipation in babies. Once your infant reaches two months in age, consider mixing one ounce of prune juice with an ounce of water each day. That will soften his stools and make his bowel movements more comfortable.
As a side note, do not give your infant a laxative unless your pediatrician recommends it. There are many other natural strategies that can help relieve your baby’s constipation. Laxatives should only be used as a last resort.
It’s important to remember that constipation is common in babies. It normally does not represent a significant health issue. Use the tips above to help your baby overcome the problem.
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