How do you treat infant constipation?

Cynthia L - posted on 11/11/2012

i'm having the same problem with my son poops its hard and hurts him really bad and only poops once a week

Adelyn - posted on 11/08/2012

My 6-month-old gal is having hard stool most of the time as she is on lacto-free formula. When she was younger, she was really having hard time to push out and experienced blood in stool before too. Paed advised me to insert a small amount of vaseline (petrolium jelly) using a thermometer to help in getting the hard stool out when pushing and also to protect baby's anus. It worked! You may want to give it a try. At the same time, I will also do some "leg exercise" for her by moving her feets up and down (like ridding bicycle) to help her bowel movement.

Geet - posted on 11/07/2012

1/2 cup little hot milk than add 1/4 desi gheee n give his son .if he feel more costipation give 2 time a day.

Corina - posted on 05/11/2010

you can give him the gerber white grape juice..

Lori - posted on 05/10/2010

When my son was constipated, the doctor told us to give him a little bit of Karo Syrup and water in a bottle. It took about three days of it but it finally worked. We did 1tsp to 1 oz of water. The dark brown syrup works the best. Good Luck!

Jessica - posted on 05/10/2010

My baby was the same way, he wouldn't go for 3 or 4 days sometimes n my dr. said not to worry. Yeah right! so I got another dr.Go to walgreen n buy infants glyserin suppositories! They safe n very gentle, my doc said to use once a day. They usually work with in 15 mins. Try not to let that become the only way ur baby will poop, I got to where he only needed them every couple days, n now he'd just fine. Give it a try though, I think you'll be really happy with it n so will baby :)

Tabitha - posted on 05/09/2010

I found the rice cereal was to harsh on her body. Try barley cereal.

Leslie - posted on 05/09/2010

just keep giving him prunes daily if needed.

Brandi - posted on 05/08/2010

We had the same problem...our dr said this is a pretty typical reaction as your baby starts eating more solid foods, kind of an adjustment period. She suggested apple juice and fruits, which didn't seem to have any effect on our little boy...what worked for us was increasing his fiber intake - as long as we kept up the high fiber intake, he was fine, if we skipped a day or two he would get constipated again. We added fiber by giving him oatmeal with wheat germ and sometimes flax seeds added to it, and fruits known for fiber (like mangos) every day.

Ann - posted on 05/08/2010

We just had the same problem. My doctor suggested apple-prune juice. They told us to give him 4 oz/day for 2 weeks, either in a bottle or mix it in his rice cereal. I just bought the Gerber juice in the baby aisle.

Also...warm baths help him relax and loosen things up, along with massaging his abdomen and doing bicycle legs.

He was about 5 months when it happened and we hadn't introduced too many foods, so they told us to just stop on introducing new things for 2 weeks and then start up again. So far, he's been great. One bottle of juice and he was back on track!

I stopped the juice, but keep it on hand, along with prunes. If he seems to be having a rough day, I'll give him a little of either.

Kathy - posted on 05/08/2010

my dr had suggested either a small amount of apple juice diluted or prune juice.

Jillian - posted on 05/08/2010

Try good old fashion water...it'll hydrate the soon to be bowel movement. My oldest used to get backed up really bad andthe doctor said give her water.

Dina - posted on 05/08/2010

Karo syrup! I have an older child and had never heard of this, but the doctor told me to use this in my baby's bottle. It works! Just about a 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon and believe me, within an hour, they will have a full diaper! You can put it in with formula or just warm water. You don't want to use it more than once or twice a day - you don't want them to have diareaha or get dehydrated. We used it mostly at night before she went to bed so that she didn't wake up in the middle of the night hurting. Hope that helps.

Annie - posted on 05/07/2010

My 7 month old son is going through the same thing. I have had to cut out basically everything except fruit, veg and formula. My Dr. recommended white grape juice. 2 oz of juice with 2oz of water twice a day. It has been working for the past 3 days. Good luck!

Jenee - posted on 05/07/2010

My son is 18 months and has had bathroom problems for ever. Since your baby is 7 months old I suggest introducing Prune Purees. My son loves the Apples and Prunes flavor. I add it to his oatmeal in the mornings. Second if you are feeding your baby rice then skip it. Try oatmeal. Stay away from anything that has rice since rice can cause constipation.

Second skip the thermometer in the bottom. You could stick it in too far and cause some problems. Not good.

Also try some watered down prune juice or water. You can also try a warm bath and while your baby is in the bath bike your babies legs and rub your babies tummy.

Tracy - posted on 05/07/2010

100% pureed pumpkin...works like a charm u can get in a can at a grocery store

Valerie - posted on 05/07/2010

keep giving the prunes and look at the diet which is the culprit...when did it start? i am guessing some of the foods are causing it...go online and google infant + constipation...you will find lots of information and can maybe switch some of the foods...i also hate formulas with iron as they often are the culprit...all the best

Yvonne - posted on 05/07/2010

Had lots of problems with my 2yr old daughter when she was that age. Try cooled boiled water if that doesn't work boil flax seed in water for 10 mins and strain add to juice or formula. Good luck

Candice - posted on 05/07/2010

we tried everything with my daughter (all the natural remedies) and ended up using children's suppositories (cut in half) for over a year. they reaaaalllly helped, and usually didn't even have time to fully dissolve before they worked.

Jane - posted on 05/06/2010

my little boy - 6 months old - is very sensitive to new foods in the same way. Avoid cereals, anything with grain, banana, and yoghurt, custard type foods. My little one has lots of brocolli, sweet potato, carrot for his veg, all served with about 50% pureed pear or apple in with it, or for a fruit meal, try pear and apple puree with a dash on cinnamon sugar in it. Its my little boys favourite. I have also noticed this week if i feed just plain mashed potato he backed up a bit too.

Also when you notice baby straining, go and pick him up, hold his knees up to his chest, it will help him pass it more easily. Also try a warm bath to help relax him enough to want to try to go. Goodluck

Misty - posted on 05/06/2010

Thanks ladies. To answer your questions and give you a little more detail: He is mostly breast fed. I give him one bottle of Enfamil-Gentlease with rice cereal at night and on very rare occasions I give him a bottle when we're out and I can't nurse him. I noticed the constipation started happening more often when I started introducing the more complex stage 2 foods (mainly the ones with a grain included) about 2 weeks ago. I've been staying away from those for the past week or so but it doesn't seem to be helping so I'm not sure that is the cause. I am anxious to see what the doctor says. Thanks again for all your help.

Melissa - posted on 05/06/2010

Breast milk or formula? If you are giving formula, then I would suggest holding off on cereals, and feeding him only fruits or veggies. If you are breast feeding then you should still give the cereal because baby needs the iron. This should get you through until your dr. appointment to see what he/she suggests you do. But the cereals can cause constipation.

Erica - posted on 05/06/2010

my son had really hard poop when he was younger.. i gave him apple juice everyday i gave him 2 oz water and 3 apple juice.. and when i talked to his dr they switched his formula to enfamil gentalease and that helped alot cuz it has breastmilk chemicals and breastmilk doesnt make poop hard.. hope i helped

Marisa - posted on 05/06/2010

my 4 mo old was like that. her doc told me to take a thomomter and put it her her rectum for a min or 2. she said anal stimulation will get her going and if that dont work try a glyclirn suppository only use half tho