INFANT CONSTIPATION
• What is constipation?
• What infant stools look
like
• Changes in frequency
• Why babies strain
• Causes of infant constipation
• When to treat infant
constipation
• Natural remedies
• Medications
• Treatment recommendations
• What to do when
your baby strains
• When to see a doctor
CLICK HERE FOR HOW
WE CAN HELP YOU when your baby’s distress in not due to
constipation.
What is constipation?
It’s not the frequency of bowel movements or straining that
determines if a baby is constipated or not, it’s the consistency
of the stool. A baby is constipated if his poop is firm, dry or pebbly.
If his poop is fluid, soft or paste consistency, then he’s not
constipated.
Crying while having a bowel movement, bleeding from the anus, abdominal
pain and reduced appetite can also be signs a baby is constipated.
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What infant stools look like
When baby is breast fed
Consistency: Soft or runny.
Color: Yellow mustard to orange with little white flecks that look
like seeds.
Frequency: Can vary from every feed to once per week.
When baby is formula fed
Consistency: Soft paste.
Color: Grayish green, yellow, tan or brown, depending on the type of
formula.
Frequency: Every 1 to 2 days.
When baby is eating solid food
Consistency: Paste to formed stools. Often contains undigested food.
Color: Can vary depending on what is eaten.
Frequency: Can be less frequent – particularly for a breast fed
baby.
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Changes in frequency
It’s true that infant constipation can result in less frequent
bowel movements than normal. However, a decrease in the number of times
your baby poops doesn’t necessarily mean he’s constipated.
A change in diet e.g. switching formula or introducing new foods can
result in changes in the amount and how often your baby will poop.
A decrease in the number of times a breast fed baby has a bowel movement
is often noticeable around 4 weeks of age, as baby’s digestive
system matures. Although a formula fed baby’s digestive system
matures at the same rate, there may not be any noticeable change in
the number of bowel movements a formula fed baby has at this age.
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Why babies strain
Adults strain as a result of constipation, but this is not the only
reason a baby will strain. If his poop is fluid or paste consistency,
then he’s not constipated and there are other reasons for his
straining.
It can be very alarming to see your young baby draw his little legs
up and grunt and groan and go red in the face while tying to poop.
However, this is very normal behavior for an infant particularly in
the early weeks of life! Straining helps move the stool through his
intestines.
Straining commonly occurs around 2 - 4 weeks of age, as baby becomes
more aware of his body sensations. He strains as he’s learning
to control his body. He needs to figure out which muscles do what and
how much effort is needed to poop. He will often use a little more
effort than is necessary while he’s learning. Within a couple
of weeks he will be a “poop expert” and the straining should
settle.
Straining can also occur when a baby is learning to pass a larger
or slightly thicker consistency stool than he’s used to, e.g.
when changing from breast feeding to formula or when he first starts
on solid food. This also, is normal and generally settles within a
week or so.
Staining is normal, but crying during straining can be a sign of constipation.
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Causes of infant constipation
• Inadequate fluid
•
The type of formula
•
New foods
•
Low fiber
•
Medications
Inadequate fluid
Is your baby gaining appropriate amounts of weight for his age?
Does he have at least 6 or more wet diapers each day?
If the answer is no, he may not be getting enough fluid in the form
of breast milk or formula and this can lead to constipation.
A breast fed baby does not need extra fluids until he starts eating
solid foods. Even then only small amounts are offered, more for the
benefit of providing learning opportunities than for hydration. Additional
fluids should not replace breast milk.
Depending on the climate, a formula fed baby may not need extra fluids
until he commences solids. However, if you live in a warmer climate,
offering baby water (in addition to formula) is often recommended at
an earlier age.
Check how you are preparing his formula. Make sure you are adding
the correct number of scoops of formula powder to water, as recommend
by the manufacturer. Take care not to overfill or tightly pack the
formula powder in the scoop. This can lead to a more concentrated formula
and result in constipation.
The type of infant formula
Switching formula (or switching to cows milk) can lead to a change
in stool consistency, resulting in either constipation or loose
runny stools. Most often this change is only temporary, until your
baby’s
little tummy gets used to the new formula.
Some types and brands of formula are more constipating than others.
If constipation continues to be a problem for your little one, it may
be necessary to change formula.
New foods
It’s common for a breast fed baby to experience constipation
for the first time when solid foods are introduced into his diet. His
little body is just not used to digesting anything other than breast
milk. Introduce new foods slowly to allow time for him to adjust.
Some foods are more constipating than others. If your baby’s
poop is firm, dry or pebbly, think back to what he’s eaten in
the previous 24 hours. Did you offer him a new food? If there’s
something you can identify, wait until his constipation has cleared,
then try offering it in smaller amounts next time.
Low fiber
Fiber is only found in plant foods such as cereals, fruits and vegetables.
Babies over 6 months with high intakes of formula or cows milk (only
recommended after 12 months) can become constipated. It’s not
the milk itself that cause this, it’s simply that the child
fills up on milk which means he will have no appetite for other foods
which provide fiber.
Medications
Common medications given to babies can sometimes cause constipation.
•
Pain-killers containing paracetamol, acetaminophen and ibuprophen
•
Antibiotics
•
Antacids containing aluminum
•
Iron supplements
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When to treat infant constipation
Most babies are not truly constipated unless they experience all of
the following:
1. Firm, dry pebbly stools
2. No bowel movement for 2-3 days for formula fed babies or 7-10 days
for breastfed babies, and
3. Strains and cries while having a bowel movement.
Unless your little one has a problem with all three, he’s probably
not constipated and you needn't do anything. If your baby is constipated,
treatment may be necessary. We suggest you start with the simple things
first.
* It’s rare that a fully breast fed baby will become constipated
prior to the commencement of solids. 7 or 10 days without a bowel movement
can be very normal where baby is only offered breast milk. Breast milk
is the perfect food for babies and very little is left to waste. Breast
milk also has a natural laxative effect, that helps protect baby against
constipation.
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Natural remedies
1. Water
2. Sugar e.g. brown sugar or corn syrup (Karo)
3. Fruit juice
4. Fruit
Water
Increasing the amount of water offered is often more effective than
adding sugars to a baby’s diet. For babies less than 6 months
old, offer 1 oz of cooled boiled water, once or twice a day. For
babies over 6 months offer 2 oz once or twice a day.
Sugar
A remedy for constipation that has been around for centuries and still
recommended today is to add some form of sugar to a baby’s
diet. The sugar works by drawing additional fluid into baby’s
bowel to soften the stools. Sugar can come from fruit, in the form
of fructose or sorbitol or sucrose from sugar cane.
It’s commonly recommended to add sugar (particularly brown sugar)
or corn syrup (Karo) to baby’s formula. Rather than do this,
we suggest you offer it in a small amount of cooled boiled water for
two reasons…
1) The additional water is helpful, and
2) If baby becomes accustomed to drinking the sweetened formula he
may fuss with feeding once the sugar or corn syrup is stopped.
Caution: In previous years, honey was recommended as a natural sugar
to relieve constipation. It is no longer recommended that children
under 12 months be offered honey because the associated risk of botulism
(a gastro-intestinal illness).
Brown Sugar
Add ½ teaspoon of brown sugar (the one used for cooking) to
1 oz of cooled, boiled water. Offer this to baby 3 times a day, directly
before formula feeds, until his poop is soft (then stop).
*Although brown sugar is recommended because it contains molasses,
white sugar would do.
Karo syrup
Corn syrup is a mildly sweet, concentrated solution of sugars derived
from corn starch. A common brand is Karo. Light Karo is recommended
for treating infant constipation.
Add 1 teaspoon of Karo syrup to 4 oz of cooled, boiled water. Offer
1 oz of this solution to baby from a bottle, just before formula feeds,
twice a day until his poop is soft (then stop).
Caution: Only add sugar OR corn syrup to your little one’s diet
if you are treating constipation.
Fruit juice
Offer diluted apple, prune or pear juice. To begin with dilute the
juice to ¼ strength by adding cooled boiled water to the juice.
Slowly increase the concentration to ½ strength if necessary.
Diluted fruit juice is not recommended for babies less than 2 months
old. For babies aged 2 – 6 months, offer 1 oz of diluted juice
(2 oz for babies over 6 months), twice a day until his poop is soft.
Give less rather than more to start with. Too much juice can result
in abdominal gas, bloating and diarrhea.
Unlike added sugars (including Karo), fruit juice can be offered on
a regular or daily basis to maintain soft stools.
Caution: Do not treat infant constipation with diluted juice and additional
sugars (including Karo) at the same time. Choose only one treatment.
Fruit
Rice cereal, bananas, and apple sauce can result in firmer stools.
Carrots and squash are constipating for some babies. Prunes, peaches,
pears, plums, apricots, and peas make stools softer.
For a baby under 9 months, avoid citrus fruits such as orange, grapefruit
and pineapple as the acid content in these fruits can be harsh on little
tummies, as well as the skin around his mouth and bottom (when it comes
out).
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Medications
Laxatives
Laxatives are only necessary if natural remedies have failed or where
constipation is severe. Although many different types of laxatives
can be purchased over the counter, most laxatives are not suitable
for babies and small children. If you feel your little one’s
needs a laxative to relieve his constipation, we recommend you consult
with your baby’s doctor about the best treatment.
Different laxatives work in different ways.
•
Some simply soften the stool.
•
Others act as a peristaltic stimulant (in other words, they stimulate
the natural contractions of the bowel, in order to push the stool out).
•
Some offer a combination of a softener with a peristaltic stimulant.
•
Others offer additional fiber.
Laxatives can be given to babies orally, in the form of drops or anally,
by suppository or enema.
Treatment recommendations
Babies under 2 months old
1. Offer additional water.
2. Try brown sugar OR Karo syrup in water.
3. Change formula if constipation returns.
Babies between 2 – 6 months
1. Offer baby additional water.
2. Try brown sugar OR Karo syrup in water OR diluted fruit juice.
3. Reduce the amount of solid foods offered (if you have already started
baby on solids)
4. Change formula to a whey dominant formula if constipation returns.
Babies over 6 months
1. Offer baby a mixed grain cereal.
2. Offer diluted fruit juice.
3. Increase the amount of fruit offered daily.
4. Change back to a ‘starter’ formula if you have recently
switched to a ‘follow-on’ formula.
Babies over 12 months
1. Offer plenty of water.
2. Increase activity.
3. Offer diluted fruit juice.
4. Increase the amount of fruit and vegetables offered daily.
5. Check milk intake, decreasing the amount to 24 oz per day if
necessary.
6. For those who are trained or in the process or toilet training,
encourage regular toilet times or sit your child on the potty after
meals.
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What to do when baby strains
When your baby strains, lift his knees to his chest (which is a natural
squatting position) or gently move his legs backwards and forwards
in a ‘bicycle’ motion. Also try…
• A warm bath.
•
A tummy massage.
Tummy massage
Baby’s large bowel sits in his abdomen in one large loop. Poop
travels around his large bowel in a clockwise direction. To assist
him to expel gas that can occur with constipation, it’s best
to follow the natural path of his large bowel.
Put some oil on your hands and gently massage his abdomen in a clockwise
direction using long stroking actions. Alternate this with lifting
his knees and the ‘bicycle’ motion.
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When to see your doctor
• If baby cries while straining.
•
If constipation remains a persistent problem.
•
If your baby is not gaining weight.
•
If the number of wet diapers each day has also decreased.
•
If your baby’s poop looks unusual or has blood in it.
•
If you notice any bleeding from his anus.
•
For advice on suitable laxatives.
•
*If you are concerned your baby’s constipation is due to iron,
please consult your doctor before making any changes to his diet.
*Constipation in infants is rarely due to excess iron. Low iron formula
should only be given if recommended by your doctor.
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CLICK HERE FOR HOW WE CAN HELP YOU when your baby’s distress
in not due to constipation.
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See also:
How we can help when it’s not constipation.
Infant formula
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