Baby Constipation

Baby Constipation – It’s heartbreaking when your baby is constipated.

There are many causes of infant constipation. One of the most common causes of constipation in babies is the introduction of solid foods.

Common Causes of Infant Constipation are:
?Introduction of solid food(s) – breastfed babies may be more prone to constipation when solid foods are introduced. This is because their tiny tummies are used to processing the easily and highly digestible mother’s milk

?Diets low in fiber

?Diets of excessive dairy products (yogurt, cheeses, milk)

?Foods such as Bananas,  Applesauce, Cereals, Breads, Pasta and White Potatoes may contribute or cause constipation
A change in diet usually relieves a baby with constipation. The following tips may also help the constipated baby get things “moving”.

Remedies and How to Treat Constipation in Babies
There are many things you can do to help relieve baby’s constipation. You can change baby’s feeding pattern and/or engage in some physical exercises.

Exercises to Help Relieve Infant Constipation include:

Tummy Massage – Gently massage and rub baby’s tummy in a clockwise direction.  Place your hands at baby’s navel and massage in a circular motion, moving your hand(s) out and away from the center of baby’s belly.

Warm Bath – Some medical professionals suggest giving your constipated baby a warm bath.  The thought is that this may help relax baby and “get things moving” again.  Give a tummy massage as you are drying baby.

Bicycle Legs – Place your baby on her back and lightly hold her legs in a half-bent position.  Gently begin to move your baby’s legs as if she is riding a bicycle.  Alternate “Bicycle Legs” with Tummy Massage.  *”Bicycle Legs” also may help to relieve a baby who is gassy.

Relieving Constipation in Babies Younger than 4 Months:

Try giving one to two ounces of diluted fruit juice such as grape, prune or apple-prune twice daily and practice some of the above exercises.  (Always consult your pediatrician about the appropriateness of new foods/liquids to help alleviate constipation) Learn about Fruit Juice in your baby’s diet.

Relieving Constipation in Babies 4 Months to 12 months + by Changing the Food Diet

Try strained foods that contain high fiber such as:

apricots

prunes

peaches

plums

pears

peas

spinach

In older infants who are just beginning solid foods, you may want to avoid baby foods such as rice cereal, applesauce and bananas as these may aggravate constipation.

Barley or oatmeal cereals, prunes, peaches, plums, apricots and most vegetables are preferred when baby has constipation.

Juices are helpful, especially apple or prune, but use in moderation, as they are not as nutritious for babies as formula or breast milk.

If Your Baby is Constipated, Reverse the BRAT diet

The BRAT diet is used for the treatment of diarrhea in infants – BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast – as these foods help firm up stools.

An easy and natural way to remember how to help alleviate baby’s constipation is to cut out the foods that contribute to it – rice cereals, bananas, and applesauce are some of the most binding foods around.

If you ever forget which foods to cut out, remember BRAT and cut out those foods!