Infant Constipation Remedies
Infant Constipation Remedies You Can Use at Home
When your baby is constipated, you immediately want to help him out, and there are plenty of infant constipation remedies you can try at home before you call the doctor. Constipation in a baby is characterized by crying, straining, and grunting. Your baby’s face may even turn bright red as she tries desperately to pass her stool. Infant constipation may not necessarily mean your baby doesn’t have any bowel movements at all. If the stool is very difficult to pass and it looks dry and hard, then your baby may still be constipated.
Most breast fed babies do not get constipated because breast milk is almost entirely absorbed by the baby. However, bowel movements in babies who are breast fed may be more infrequent, so the infant who doesn’t have a bowel movement in a day may not be constipated. Babies who are on formula are more likely to experience constipation because formula is more difficult to digest.
One of the most common causes of infant constipation is the switch from breast milk or formula to baby food. Other common causes of infant constipation are dietary and may include not having enough fiber, and having too many dairy products. Also some foods you wouldn’t think would cause constipation do actually contribute to it in babies. These include bananas, applesauce, bread, pasta, and white potatoes. Other causes may be as simple as a high amount of stress like a very long road trip.
The first thing on our list of infant constipation remedies is very simple. Try giving your little one some water. This water should be in addition to his feedings. Start out with about two to four ounces, and go from there. You don’t want to introduce anything too quickly.
The next step in searching for infant constipation remedies is juice. Apple, prune, or pear juice usually work wonders on a little one’s bowels. Try just two to four ounces per day, in addition to her usual feedings.
For babies who are on baby food, the next item on our list of infant constipation remedies is high-fiber baby food. This should only be tried if the juice does not help. High-fiber baby foods include barley cereal or pureed pears or prunes. Try to avoid rice cereal.
You may also want to try helping your baby’s bowel movement along. This can be done in a few different ways. One method involves using a water-based lubricant in your infant’s anus. This can help if you find your baby’s bowel movements to be small and hard, as opposed to stopped altogether. A warm bath can also help relieve constipation in this way.
Another common way to help your baby have a bowel movement is through infant massage. This involves rubbing your baby’s tummy in a clockwise direction, moving out and away from the center of the belly. You also might try working your baby’s legs like he’s riding a bicycle. Just place him on his back and move his legs in a bicycle motion.