Baby Constipation Cures

The first step in choosing an infant constipation remedy, is to make sure he is actually constipated. Check out these tips on diagnosing this common malady.

Once you've decided he is, in fact, constipated, choose an easy newborn constipation remedy and work your way up to the more advanced (and doctor-approved) infant constipation remedies.

If your baby is a newborn (younger than 4 months) and is breastfed, be sure to read the section on breastfeeding and constipation in this article before you proceed with any baby constipation remedy. Most breastfed newborns do not require infant constipation relief.

Quick Skip to the Headlines

• Check the Formula
• Adding Juice
• Avoid Karo Syrup
• Remedies for After Solids
• Treatment by Your Doctor

Is the formula cow's milk based? That can sometimes cause baby constipation.

Try moving to a soy-based formula instead. About 20% of infants with a cow's milk allergy also have a soy allergy, so you may not be able to tell a difference after switching (most of these are outgrown before their 3rd birthday).

Despite common knowledge, switching to a low-iron formula is not the way to solve constipation in your baby.

A recent study showed that the rate of constipation was the same in a sample of babies with regular and low-iron formulas. Iron is very important in your baby's development.

Skimping on the iron will not affect his constipation, but it could hurt his development.

If you've tried these and they don't seem to be helping, consult your doctor for formula advice (and maybe even a free sample!) and proceed to the next intervention: juice.

{Photo by Alessandro Perillil}

My children (who both struggle with chronic constipation) get diluted juice every day. (In fact, I gave Elena some diluted prune juice in her bottle just this evening.)

Recipe for Relief

If your infant rejects the prune juice in his bottle, try diluting white grape, pear, or apple juice instead. In my experience, they are not as fast-acting as good 'ole prune juice, but they are eventually effective.

You should also ensure that your baby is drinking enough water throughout the day. Starting with about 1 Tbs of water a day, gradually increase this until he's drinking 4-6 oz of water by his first birthday. I fill a small sippy cup or bottle with water for Elena every day. The cup comes out during feeding times, and then goes into the fridge in between meals and snacks. This helps me easily monitor her daily water intake.

{photo by krilemar}

This is, in fact, a true statement...but today's doctors do not recommend it.

Honey and corn syrup may contain spores of bacteria that cause clostridium botulism, a potentially fatal disease. Your baby's intestines do not develop intestinal flora (an important defense mechanism) to fight this bacteria until after the age of one.

Honey and corn syrup has to be cooked a certain period of time at a certain temperature before it is safe for your baby to ingest. This is why you should avoid Honey Nut Cheerios, or any product made with honey or corn syrup until after age one. The corn syrup found in some formulas is safe, because it has been heated and cooked at the correct time and temperature.

The 2006 American Association of Pediatrics Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases reported,

"Manufacturers of light and dark corn syrups cannot ensure that any given product will be free of botulism spores, but no case of infant botulism has proved to be attributable to contaminated corn syrup."

Translation? No cases have been linked, but avoid it anyway. There are many other baby constipation remedies you can try instead.

If you've just introduced cow's milk or other cow's milk products, that can be a contributing factor to constipation. Lay off the bovine production and introduce them again at a later date.

Some foods tend to encourage constipation. These foods should, naturally, be avoided if your infant is currently constipated.

The book Super Baby Food, by Ruth Yaron is definitely a resource I cannot live without (and a baby shower staple gift).

This book provided the "months of introduction" you see listed to the left.

Click here to look at a copy of Super Baby Food.

• rice cereal
• bananas
• carrots
• applesauce
• diary products
• white bread, pasta or potatoes

• peaches ~ 5 months (cooked), 7 months (raw)
• pears ~ 5 months (cooked) 6-7 months (raw)
• peas ~ 7 months (cooked, and either pureed or mashed, never whole)
• apricots ~ 8 months
• plums or prunes ~ 8 months
• broccoli ~ 8 months (cooked)
• spinach ~ 9 months (cooked)
• ground oatmeal, millet or brown rice ~ 6 months (each), 7 months (combined)

Double check that the foods you are introducing are age appropriate and a proper choke-proof consistency.

• Babies 5-9 months should have well-pureed food with no lumps,
• 9-12 month old babies can have mashed food with some lumps,
• 12-18 months may have tiny chewable pieces that can be picked up (small enough to be accidentally swallowed whole but not big enough to choke)

My doctor is comfortable giving me suggestions over the phone, but your pediatrician may request a visit before giving baby constipation treatment advice.

Depending on the severity of the constipation, some of the things he may suggest include:

• Adding a little mineral oil to a bottle of formula.
• Using a suppository (a long plastic-gel-like substance shaped like a bullet) that is inserted in the rectum, encouraging the bowels to contract.
• Coming in to the doctor's office for an infant enema or further treatment.

The worst part of watching a constipated infant is being unable to help him. These baby constipation remedies can go a long way towards solving both problems.

You have options and ideas to try, (after speaking with your doctor of course) and your baby finally gets the relief he really needs.

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