Constipation (Babies)

What causes constipation and how can you treat it?

Constipation

Constipation is small, hard stools that are difficult or painful for your child to eliminate. Children of all ages can experience constipation, even newborn babies. There are numerous reasons that a child can become constipated. Temporary constipation can develop after an illness and certain medicatons can also make your child constipated. Constipation often develops in children who are being toilet trained. Constipation can develop when a child is uncomfortable eliminating waste away from home-at daycare, preschool, friend/family's home or the store. The longer a bowel movement is held, the harder and drier it wil become. This will make elimnating the waste painful and more difficult. When a child realizes that constipation hurts, he may try to hold it in again and it will cause a continuous cycle. Bowel movements that are continuously held not only become hard and dry, they also can become very large. When your child finally passes the stool, it can tear his rectum and cause him to bleed.

Constipation is not transmitted from person to person. There is nothing contagious about a child being constipated.

If your child often suffers from constipation, it is best to find the reason. Occasionally, there can be an underlying medical problem and treatment focuses on identifying and dealing with the problem. If constipation becomes chronic and home treatment measures do not work, the doctor may suspect an underactive thyroid gland or a spinal-cord anomaly. An enema may be the only way to remove an impacted stool that has become stuck in your child's rectum. Do NOT use enemas, laxatives or suppositories without your doctor's approval.

At home treatment involves increasing the amount of fiber your child is consuming. Make sure your child is getting whole grain breads, cereals and pastas. Fresh fruits and dried fruits are also effective foods that encourage regular bowel movements. Raw vegetables and salads are also good dietary additions. Make sure that your child is getting an adequate amount of fluids each day. Limit cow's milk to about 3 cups a day because the calcium salts in it can harden stools. Fruit juices and water are good choices. If your child is complaining of constipation or passing them hurt, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly at her anal opening to help the waste come out easier. Regular exercise helps your child's body to stay regular as well.

If your child has not had a bowel movement in four or five days, is complaining of abdominal pain or vomiting, the constipation is becoming chronic or when there is blood around the stool, call your child's doctor.

Comments: Constipation (Babies)

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mommytwo - 816 days ago.
any suggestions for a 8 day old baby with constipation other than the rectal therm.?????help!!!

jenb1 - 864 days ago.
My son is 7 weeks old and he is lactose intlorant, so we feed him enfamil prosobee soy formula and it makes him really constipated. The pediatrician is having us give him baby pear juice. 2 ounces 2 to 3 times a day and it works great!

Loitia - 1155 days ago.
Also btw. For those that are not old enough for apple juice, what I did was take a rectal temp to stimulate movement and make sure the baby's bum is well lubed as well as the temp taker. Works well. Had to do this with my baby at three months.

Loitia - 1155 days ago.
For the ones that can. Apple juice is always the best for constipation. May take a few hours or so but It works. Make sure you are prepared to change many diapers, depending on how long the child has been constipated. I always keep apple juice on hand. It works the best when it is warm. Hope that helped someone.

klee88 - 1187 days ago.
minibub- i had same problem when my lil boy when he was 6 weeks old u could try warm water with a sprinkle of sugar that helped, although it is normal for such a young baby not to go, if he hasnt been after 1 week i would take him to your gp xx

minibub(pink) - 1188 days ago.
my baby is 5 weeks old today and hasnt had a bowel movement for 2 days now and he seems to be pushing very hard and seems to also be affecting his sleep. ( and mine, which im not concerned about, it just makes me sad to see him in pain) I have tried coloxyl drops which were recommended by the pharmisist and I have also tried massaging his tummy and the bycyle movement, just before he feeds, when he is just happily laying down and when changing his nappy, nothing seems to be working, I was going to try prune juice today but everything i have read says to not try it until at least 8 weeks. ANY ADVISE??????

denisec - 1210 days ago.
My daughter is 1wk old and didnt have a BM for going on 3days and then i read that massaging the tummy and doing the bicycle movement exercise on the legs helps. So i tried it and then she had a pamper full..Im sure she is relieved now and so am i...Thanks for all the tips!

*Precious.Moments* - 1295 days ago.
Just a tip for you mommies with older babies/toddlers.. Blueberries work wonders for constipation.. When my daughter is constipated we give her up to 1/2 cup of blueberries and within 10-15 minutes we have a loaded diaper Lol.. So if youve exhausted all other remedies and before you grab the laxatives or enemas try the blueberries! =)

jenim24 - 1347 days ago.
FYI mommas.... If your babies are on SOY formula it is very constipating. Definately switch forumlas if your baby is constipated, why put your baby in that pain? Trust me, I went through breastfeeding then 5 formulas.....

lily3488 - 1351 days ago.
My baby is 9 days old and i think he is constipated. He hasn't poo for a day. Is there any home tricks my may try before giving the doctor a call? The putting on vaseline w/ a cotton swab looks like it can help and massaging his tummy as well. But is there others?

olliesmom - 1352 days ago.
When my baby was about 2 months old, he was uncomfortably constipated and when he pooped it was pretty dry. The dr told me to add a small amount of prune juice to his bottle and it would always work. Now that he's older and eating solid foods, if he ever has a dry poop, I always add a 1/2oz or less of prune juice to either his bottle or his food. it definitely makes him feel better.

manda-may - 1353 days ago.
Sarah, my twins used to poop weekly!!! sometimes up to 9 days without one. My doctor/midwife/nurse said that breast fed babies can go up to 3 weeks without a poop! They were happy and healthy and didn't seem to be uncomfortable. If in doubt ask around, that's what doctors, nurses, midwives and healthlines are for, so don't be afraid to use them if it helps to set your mind at rest! Good luck! :-)

Heather12 - 1353 days ago.
I personally would not give my 3 1/2 old baby juice. I would put karo syrup in the babies bottle. Do you think that maybe you are putting to much cereal in the babies bottle? My second daughter had acid reflux also. She was always spitting up I felt so sorry for her.

devonhoho - 1353 days ago.
My 3 1/2 month old daughter has Acid Reflux Disease and the doctor put her on cereal with every bottle. we found out that she is constipated and the doctor told me to put her on juice. My sister in law took the juice and told me not to use it because it is going to make her sick and try brown sugar water. is she going to be ok if i give her a small amount.

3BeautifulBrothers - 1459 days ago.
Hi I am breastfeeding, and I am sure my 2 month old keeps getting constipated. He hasn't ever gone more than 2 days without having a poo, but it keeps happening and I was woundering if there was anything I can do for him to ease it. I am currently trying to give him extra boiled water as he is exclusivley breastfed, but he is not impressed with it and most of the time refuses it. Also doing a bit of baby massage to try and easy it to. Any idea's welcome. Please reply to my profile. Thanks to all who reply Take care Sarah.xxx

Leila08 - 1463 days ago.
My son has constipation every day. It started happening when we switched his milk to whole milk. We tried everything and nothing worked. I had to call up his doctor and asked her to give me suggestions. They told me to give my son mirolax a laxative that would soften the stool. They told me to give it to him until he stops his constipation.

RobinG - 1482 days ago.
Karo syrup is what is given to infants ~ not sure amount since its been along time since I 've had to use it ~ someone here may know (((hugs)))

christy114 - 1482 days ago.
I would ask dr since he is so little. When he is older you can give him apple juice or prunes, but I think you should ask dr about a 2 week old. R u breastfeeding? If formula feeding, might be to much Iron or something in formula... Maybe try another?

verena - 1498 days ago.
Hi, my son is now nearly 10 weeks old and has pooed every 4-5 days only for the last 3 weeks. He hasn't been fussy at all so I never really got worried. I breastfeed and have started an extra 60ml 'laxic' supplement from the bottle in the evenings, but it hasn't helped sofar. Suppositories haven't helped AT ALL for him. I tried a homeopathic granulate based on apple, and that didn't help either. The cotton bud treatment unfortunately is the only remedy that works for him, he doesn't even cry now! I'm changing my baby doctor though and as soon as I get a new opinion, I'll let you all know what she said!

thenorthcutts - 1506 days ago.
My son is only 9 days old and for the past day has been having problems having a BM. Is there anything I can do for him?

Mommyof2Kidos - 1513 days ago.
My son had constipation really bad when I switch him from breast milk to formula. I had to put a tps of Karol Syrup in 4oz of water that was room temp. It worked very well, but when he went he REALLY went! Also, you can try taking a q-tip w/vaseline on the end and stimulate his rectum. I only used that one when 5 or more days had passed. You have to be very gentle, and you should get immediate results. Best of luck!

3rdtimer - 1513 days ago.
geo - try brown sugar dissolved in some warm water - like a fairly strong solution - see if that goes down?

geobaby - 1513 days ago.
Everyone seem to think that apple juice is best but what if the child doesn't like juice at all. He's 9 1/2 months.

Amy208 - 1521 days ago.
HELP my lil girl is only 6 days old and has not pooed for about 30hrs now. How long can I let it go before I should go to the doctor?

Bri - 1546 days ago.
mommy2mylesNchace - Formula does tend to make babies a little more constipated but not always. I'm sorry your little one is. There are a few things that you can try. Pump your babies legs and give a tummy massage. Start at the top near the chest and firmly but softly rub down and along the sides. My son loved it. He got massages even though he wasn't constipated. If that doesn't work you can stimulate his bum with a cotton swab and vasaline. Be very careful. Don't put it far up inside. Just around the sides. If that doesn't work then I'd talk to your doctor. They may want you to give juice or a depository.