Baby’s Constipation Cures: Essential Information for New Parents

Constipation is a condition in which stools become harder and firmer. For baby, constipation can be a source of serious discomfort that, fortunately, is easy to treat.

Infants in good health may have bowel movements as frequently as three times a day or as seldom as once a week. This condition is a problem not so much when bowel movements are infrequent as when baby’s condition causes the child to strain.

When stools are large and hard, bowel movement becomes painful. Cracks may appear around the anus. Baby’s constipation causes the area around the anus to become itchy and inflamed and can cause constant pain.

To avoid anal irritation, your baby may hold back stools. This makes the digested food stay longer in the intestine, becoming harder and more impacted.

If your infant has food sensitivities, the longer the stool is retained, the more likely it is to cause allergic reactions. It may also cause colic, because the large, bulky stools in the large intestine cause the organ to dilate. Your baby will not want to eat. He or she may become nauseated.

What can parents do?

Laxatives should not be given to babies unless the child experiences discomfort. But discomfort during bowel movement should be treated quickly to halt the start of a vicious cycle. Here are some positive steps:

Give your baby a bath. A bath in warm water relaxes muscles and makes bowel movements easier. Be sure to dry your baby’s bottom carefully and treat any peri-anal inflammation with Vaseline.

Gently massage your baby’s tummy. Start at the belly button and move in circles outward several inches. Do not continue the massage if baby appears to be in pain.

Place your baby on his or her back, and gently move the legs in a cycling motion. This action places gentle pressure on the intestines and relieves baby’s constipation as it helps the bowels move.

Make sure you are making formula correctly. Read the label. Too little water in formula can cause this condition.

Give baby plenty of fluids. Water that has been boiled and then cooled to room temperature is best.

What shouldn’t parents do?

The one thing to remember is, never use a rectal thermometer to stimulate bowel movement. Placing anything inside the anus can cause damage to delicate tissues. Enemas are also out of the question.

And beyond these simple home remedies, diet makes a difference.

Breastfed babies are less likely to become constipated than bottle-fed babies. Bottle-fed babies are more likely to suffer because cow’s milk is harder to digest. Stools of bottle-fed babies are likely to be greenish and thicker than stools of breast-fed babies.

Breastfed babies typically have bowel movements several times a day until they are 3 or 4 months old. Their stools are softer and have a yellow color.

When baby is ready for solid food, consider the 4 P’s: Peaches, plums, prunes, and pears. These fruits contain sugars that draw fluid into the lumen, or central cavity, of the large intestine and soften fecal matter. If you give baby the 4 P’s, however, be sure also to give baby water. If your everyday routine is giving baby rice cereal, This condition may result—cream of rice is devoid of fiber.

Be sure to give baby vegetables and porridge as well as milk and meat. The fiber in vegetables and cooked cereals goes a long way toward preventing baby’s constipation.

Making sure your baby’s condition is treated can prevent a lifetime of problems. Fluid, fiber, and gentle activity in a loving environment are the best tonics for your baby’s digestive health.