Constipation in Babies - What Causes It and How to Treat It

When it comes to a baby's bowel movements, there is no normal number or schedule - every baby has a different "normal" schedule. Some babies pass stool after every feeding, and some will make a bowel movement every other day. His individual bowel movement schedule depends on his nutrition, how active he is, and how quickly his body digests the food that he eats and expels it. With time and experience, you will learn your baby's unique digestive habits. If you have a feeling that your baby may be constipated, you may want to look out for these symptoms. Is your baby eliminating less frequent bowel movements than her norm? If he/she is hasn't had one in more than three days, he is probably very uncomfortable. If your baby has dry hard stools, that are difficult to pass, she may be constipated. There are many different reasons why your baby may be constipated. Babies who are formula are more prone to constipation. Breast milk is the perfect balance of fat and protein, so it produces stools that are usually soft - even if your baby hasn't had one for several days. Formula may have some ingredients that cause constipation. If you find that your formula fed baby is having difficulty passing stool, you may want to try a different brand. When you introduce solids, your baby may become mildly constipated. Rice cereal is low in fiber, and will cause mild constipation in many children. Dehydration can also be the cause of your baby's inability to pass stool. Although uncommon, constipation may also be a result of a medical condition such as hypothyroidism, food allergies or botulism. You may want to rule these conditions out when you speak to your pediatrician. There are many things you can try to treat your baby's discomfort due to constipation. • Exercise can help your baby eliminate bowel movements. You can move your baby's legs in a bicycle motion to stimulate the bowel. • Massage your baby's abdomen. • Switch your baby's formula brand. Soy formula may be less constipating than milk based ones. Some mothers find that adding a teaspoon of corn syrup helps move the bowelsrn• When feeding your baby solid foods you may want to stick to oatmeal and fruits, rather than rice based cereal. It contains a lot more fiber which is better for the bowels. • Increase your baby's fluid intake, to keep her hydrated at all times. You may add a small amount of prune juice to her water or formula, too. • If your baby is really having extreme difficulty and pain you may want to speak to your pediatrician of some over the counter laxative medication that can be taken orally or rectally. A rectal suppository contains glycerin that will help stimulate the bowel movement. It is important to use these medications only when very necessary, as you don't want your baby's body to become reliant on it. • If your baby's rectum gets very irritated or bleeding, you can apply some soothing gel or aloe Vera to ease the burning painrn• To distract your baby from the pain that he is experiencing, take him out in the stroller for a walk to see the outdoors. The fresh air is also soothing to him. • Keep in mind that your baby may be very irritable specifically around his stomach. Be more careful the ways you hold him, minimizing the pressure in that are as much as possible. When placing your baby in an infant car seat or stroller, be mindful of his sensitive abdomen area. Make sure the stroller or car seat harness is not too tight around his waist, because this can intensify the pain even more. A stroller with a wider based seat may be more comfortable at this time for your little one. When none of the above methods help your baby, you should make an appointment with your pediatrician. Stay calm and cool, throughout, and rock your baby in your arms to soothe his/her discomfort.