It's not as common for young babies to experience constipation, especially if they haven't started eating solid foods yet. However, once complementary semisolids are introduced into the diet after the age of 6 months, they may tend to constipate sometimes
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Do you worry that your kids aren't pooping nearly enough or as often as you would want them to?
It's possible that they could be constipating. Yes, babies can suffer from constipation too, though not as commonly as grown-ups do. It can all be pretty confusing, especially if you are a first-time parent. To help you, we've put together a brief guide outlining what you need to look out for. Keep reading to learn more!
Understanding infant constipation requires an understanding of the stool patterns of babies. While each baby is unique and there is a wide range of normal pooping habits, most infants will have frequent bowel movements in the first few weeks after birth, often immediately after each feed. However, by 6 weeks of age, most breastfed babies settle into some kind of a pattern, some may begin to poop much less often, sometimes as infrequently as once a week. This is because breast milk produces very little solid waste that needs to be expelled from the body. Formula-fed babies tend to have daily or every-other-day bowel movements.
If infants have hard, dry poop that is difficult or painful to pass, they may be constipated. If the bowel movements are less frequent than usual or what is typical for them too, you should be keeping a close watch.
The symptoms:
If kids are experiencing firm, round bowel movements like small pellets, discomfort such as arching their back or crying while trying to pass stool, exerting effort when defecating, or blood-tinged motions, or if you happen to notice a tag of loose skin around the anus, it could indicate constipation. Usually, babies also have fewer bowel movements than normal.
The causes:
It's not as common for young babies to experience constipation, especially if they haven't started eating solid foods yet. However, once complementary semisolids are introduced into the diet after the age of 6 months, they may tend to constipate sometimes. Kids' bowel movement patterns change depending on their age and reflect their recent diet.
If you have any concerns or suspicions about your baby's bowel movements, it's always a good idea to contact their healthcare provider for guidance.
What do you do?
It is very important to follow the line of treatment suggested by the doctor.
Don't give any over-the-counter medication to the babies or 'home remedies' like castor oil.
If babies start experiencing constipation after starting solid foods, it's important to seek professional help. More often than not, a few adjustments in the diet are all it takes to fix things.
This may include introducing water, but never as a substitute for breast milk or formula. Fruit juice like apple, pear, or prune juice can aid in relieving constipation due to their natural laxative content. Adding pureed foods such as prunes, figs, pears, papayas, peaches, spinach, and peas into your baby's diet when advised by the pediatrician also helps by adding fiber. Whole wheat, barley, or multi-grain infant cereals at an appropriate age add more fiber as the demand increases with increasing age and may assist in relieving constipation. If these preliminary measures do not work, it's important to seek further guidance from the pediatrician.
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(Dr. Abhimanyu Sengupta, Senior Consultant Paediatrician at Ankura Hospitals, Pune)
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