Constipation happens to children, teens, adults, and infants. Breast fed babies have no problem with constipation because breast milk is the perfect food for a newborn. Bottle fed babies may experience problems. You may find your baby passes a stool after each feeding - common with breast feeding or that they pass a stool on alternate days.
If there is no stool in three days, you can treat it as baby constipation. However, your baby may show signs of constipation after only one day. It depends on individual patterns, what they eat, drink, activity level and their digestive system.
After a while you will work out your baby's unique habits. You can see what causes constipation. Less frequent bowel movements are normal, but if they are obviously uncomfortable when having a bowel movement, like drawing up the knees to the chest and grunting, you must be cautious.
Gas also causes discomfort and pain. Hard, dry stools also appear to be baby constipation. Babies find it difficult to pass a formed stool instead a liquid stool. This does not mean it is diarrhea. Liquid stools can pass a blockage in the lower intestines.
Some formulas encourage constipation in an infant. A physician can help about how and when to change formulas (including formulas without iron). Feeding pattern changes can also trigger constipation, dehydration and more severe problems. Natural aids can help relieve baby constipation. Always discuss your baby problems with your pediatrician and implement what is appropriate for your baby. If after trying these methods your baby continues to experience discomfort, visit the pediatrician for a more thorough examination.
Exercise and water consumption levels can help constipation problems. Moving a baby's legs in a bicycle fashion can induce bowel movement. Ask your doctor how much water is needed daily to re-dehydrate your baby's body. Premature babies, babies less than 2 months adjusted age or those with other medical issues may not be able to take additional water.
Adding 2 to 4 ounces of water to their diet may help the lubrication of the intestinal tract thereby keeping water in the stool and helping bowel movement. Add 2 to 4 ounces of fruit juice if extra water doesn't help (quarter part juice to start and work to full strength juice if needed). A guideline is: If you feed 4 ounces, then mix 1 ounce of juice with 3 ounces of water and do this for 2 days. If no change, adjust to half strength (2 ounces juice and 2 ounce water). If no improvement after that, change to three quarters mixture and afterwards full strength. Always allow 2 to 3 days between increases. Fiber is important in the diet. Fruit juice adds fiber, increases fluid intake and increases the sugar content without nutritional value.
