Need help asap

Jana - posted on 01/20/2010

You need something like Miralax that will soften the stool. You could put Karo syrup in her formula. It will help to soften the stool. A little prune juice in the formula will help too. By the way I am a nurse, not a doctor if that helps.

Veronica - posted on 01/20/2010

as long as she's pooping and it dosen't hurt her i don't recomend giving a laxitive to an infant. You have to remember that breast milk is a lighter liquid than formula so it's perfactly normal for the baby's stool to be heavier as well. Good Luck with everything!

Stephanie - posted on 01/20/2010

we used lactulose and it worked. it seemed to kick start the pooping, but i'm not sure that made the baby any more comfortable. all i know is you don't want to get babies body used to having the help. sad as it is...it just takes time for baby to adjust. remember when switching formulas, always introduce it slowly, 1/4 of each bottle for 2 days, 1/2 for the next two days and so on...good luck and hang in there!

Krista - posted on 01/20/2010

It's the iron in formula that causes constipation. I was not told to use a laxative, but instead to give my son a bath in warm water with baking soda. Sit the baby in the sink with about 5 inches of water and a half a cup of baking soda. The bubbles relax the sphincter. However, in the end, I gave him a suppository. I only had to give him one and things were back on track. On average, it takes about 3 weeks for a baby to get used to that much iron.

Deanna - posted on 01/20/2010

Well I had poop issues with both of my kids my daughter eventually was put on miralax for my son we used Nestle Goodstart with probiotics. Sometimes it just takes their systems a while to get used to the change. How long was she on enfamil before she got switched again? We did use prune juice with water for both of them it worked pretty well for my son but not my daughter. My daughter was so young that we would put it in her formula. She is now 3 and we still have some issues but I still have to give her miralax like every 3 day or so. I feel as though she became some what dependent on it where my son was fixed with prune juice.

Melissa - posted on 01/20/2010

When i had my son i breastfed but he wouldn't take to it, so i switched to formula with low iron(which i heard can cause constipation), but at 4 months is when you need to give them the iron fortified. His poop was thicker but never had a problem getting it out. Is her baby in pain when she poops? Just because its thick doesn't mean there is a problem. Formula fed babies have different poop then breastfed anyway. I would say as long as she is regular and isn't in pain then there isnt anything to worry about. My son is 8 months old now and is still regular.

Susie - posted on 01/20/2010

switch formulas dr. always try to get you to buy what there office reps. give them. my son was constipated with enifamil. i tryed lactose free formula, similac/ store brand which works great. sometimes you have to switch formula to you find the right one. I would not give a laxative to a 3 wk old.

Amie - posted on 01/20/2010

The iron that is in the formula is constipating the baby....it happened to my son and that is what I was told by my doctor.....if it is really bad or painful for the baby...try suppositories to help loosen....my son is much better now after a while of adjusting to the formula....he was on Good Start and then moved to also so it doesn't matter what brand you use I think....it is the iron that is in the formula!! :)

Carrie - posted on 01/20/2010

I was told not to use a laxative when my kids were babies. They just had me put a teaspoon of mineral oil in their formula. It has no flavor and is natural.

Lindsey - posted on 01/20/2010

I went through that same thing. I was breast feeding and supplementing formula. I was told to start her out on Enfamil and that constipated her really bad. So then they put her on Similac Advance. It is most like breast milk. It worked wonderfully. Good Luck

Dawn - posted on 01/20/2010

Plenty of boiled cooled water between feeds.

Sarah - posted on 01/20/2010

My husband and I went through that with my son. He would only poop once every 5 days or so. We talked to our pediatrician and she said that as long as he was still passing gas then he was fine. They told us to wait it out. (by the way this started for my son when he was about 1 month old, that's when we switched to formula) It lasted about 2 months or so, but now he's normal as ever. Supposedly, the laxitive is very safe, but we never tried it. We did put my son on a soy formula (whatever the walmart brand is). It's supposed to help with gas/fussiness. Hope that helps!

Laura - posted on 01/20/2010

Try using Similac Low Iron formula if the problem continues. My son, at 4 months started having constipation problems. My doctor suggested a low iron formula. The only one I found is Similac with low iron.

Leila - posted on 01/20/2010

when i switched my baby over to forumla her stools changed and she was a little constipated for a week or more. Don't worry about it. Their tiny little digestive systems are still working things out. Changing formulas will probably just take longer for her to adjust, so stick with one and see how it goes. In my experience any consistency of poop is normal except pellets...little pellets mean they are very constipated. And of course follow the advice of your doctor. If you don't trust the advice of your current doctor, then go to another one. I did that too.

Carrie - posted on 01/20/2010

1st--Don't panic. 2nd--this happens w/ formula due to the amount of iron in it. 3rd-The "Dr's" don't really consider the baby "constipated" until they haven't had a bowel movement for 7 days, HOWEVER, this momma didn't like that my child wasn't pooping! So, when I asked my Pediatrician, she said to give my child 1 oz juice mixed with 1 oz of water. I wouldn't use a laxative, but that's just me. If you can do something like juice that's more "natural", then why not do it? I also put a few drops of Karo Syrup in the bottles if the juice didn't help. Apple juice tends to cause gasiness, so try pear. You can even try the Gerber mixed juice of Prune/Apple or whatever blends they have. Also, if her bottom gets irritated, get Aquaphor (in the health & beauty section @ walmart or baby section at walgreens) and apply it to her bottom. Works wonders! :) Good luck!

Kim - posted on 01/20/2010

Have you tried sugar water

Melinda - posted on 01/20/2010

My now 13 yr.old son had the same trouble when he was a baby. The doctor had us change to low iron and give a small amount of mineral oil on a daily basis. His doctor also said do not give a baby dark karo syrup or any karo at all. But I would some times give him less than a teaspoon of white karo in a 2 oz. bottle of water and yes you can try the suppositories, they do make them for babies. Also your sister could ask the doctor about using Fletcher's Laxative, it is made for kids. It says on the box that it is natural, gentle and alcohol free.

Jacqueline - posted on 01/20/2010

Prune juice with water or even a little eye dropper of prune juice 4-6 times a day. or boil some water and put 1 table spoon of cornsytup, put it in a 4 oz bottle and once the water cool let the baby have a hayday they love it and it works, i gave it to my kids , my grandma who had 14 kids told me that is what she did so i have done it with all 3 of my kids once i quit nursing.

Ruth - posted on 01/20/2010

perhaps your sister could pump some milk and it is bottle fed to the little one. if she is concerned about supply, the more she pumps, the more she will have milk. Pumps are easily rented from Shoppers Home Health and they are excellent! (I rented when my twins were born to get the supply up.)

Kate - posted on 01/20/2010

I would try karo syrup first or thick sugar water, sometimes that helps it move quicker... just put aa teaspoon in formula each bottle, see if that helps.... (also an old Remedy, kinda' gross but does work, if you notice the baby trying to work on a bm, u take a thermometer and stick it in and hold it, and then some how it does help them go, I know sounds horable, but have had to do to my baby and boy does it work, jus watch out, don't know how it does, but it just does.... good luck!

Santana - posted on 01/20/2010

YAY I am so glad people are starting to reallize how harmful enfamil is to infants. my son once switched to enfamil was sooo sick he was constipated, had flu like symptoms his bowels even started to tie in a knot because the constipation was so bad you could see on an xray they were literally starting to tie in a knot , wee switched him to good start he was still having issues but was getting better , then wee switched him to SOY based good start and only then was he better , he drank SOy milk as well up untill 4 years of age and is still scared to drink or eat dairy based anything. all because of one bad trial with enfamil , i strongly reccomend the soy based formula from good start and then when the child can drink milk eitherr uses soy or ORGANIC milk as some children cannot handle the hormones used in milk making . that is waht my sons boiled down to enfamil had to many vitamins for him and regular milk made him ill because of the hormones and anti biotics used . we also and I know this sounds nutty , we took him to our chiropractor and he did an adjustment on BOTH my childrens bowels and they have NOT had issues since.

Anne - posted on 01/20/2010

Ok my daughter had the same problem she couldn't go because it was to thick to come out they told me to go to the pharmacy and get her suppositories. They sell them for infants if not on shelf ask pharmacist. You will have to hold it in there because the baby is gonna try to push it back out. But its like oil and it sofens the stool so the baby can go.

Cindy - posted on 01/20/2010

I would follow the doctor's advice. If you don't trust the doctor, I'd find another one.

Jamie - posted on 01/20/2010

Kyro syrup is what i was told to use on my baby, but then we had to put her on nutramigen

Linda - posted on 01/20/2010

My child had the same problem i was told to give some water with brown sugar about 2 teaspoons sugar. and it did work and i swear buy it..

Janelle - posted on 01/20/2010

My daughter had the same constitpation problem and it was recommended by our doctor that we give her 1 ounce of pear or prune juice 2 times a day. It worked for us.

Jacqui - posted on 01/20/2010

the change in the baby's bowel is normal due to the amount of Iron in all formulas...it takes a while for the baby to adjust..completely normal..i agree with Robin being a nurse as well and please note, 3 week old baby digestive systems are not ready for any kind of juice...good luck and i hope everything goes well

Alayne - posted on 01/20/2010

The two types of formula you mentioned are not good for babies that are having these problems. I had my daughter on Similac (uses a different kind of oil for fat) and she never had any problems. You could try switching formulas :)

Lisa - posted on 01/20/2010

my daughter had to take lactolose and now has to take colace. It is safe to give an infant. She also had to use Nutramigen formula, expensive but worth it.

Elizabeth - posted on 01/20/2010

I am the mother of a preemie who never got the knack of breastfeeding. He left the hospital 76 days post birth. He was on formula that was high in iron thus causing a very hard stool. If he were to take a 3 oz bottle of formula we would make the bottle 2 oz formula and 1 oz prune juice. This was at least twice a day everyday. He became much more regular in his poop although it could be messy at times. We tried the kyro w/o success. We continued the prune formula until he was about 10 months old w/ much success.

Jessica - posted on 01/20/2010

This may sound a bit strange but my kids went through the same thing with the formula so the doctor recommended putting a teaspoon of corn syrup in 2 bottles a day...The little bit of extra sugar gets things going again.When I first heard of this I was like OMG thats so not good for the baby but I think in the end it was better than him being constipated.

Jean - posted on 01/20/2010

When my son was first changed to formula, he had the same problem. His poop was so hard it crumbled and I often had to "dig" it out. I was told to add !/4 ounce of corn syrup to every formula feeding. That helped immensley. After about two weeks, I started slowly weaning off the corn syrup. By the end of one month, he was pooping regularly on his own. Watering down the formula a little helps too. Make sure its boiled water and not from the tap or you can use bottled water. Introduce water between feedings also.

Michelle - posted on 01/20/2010

My son had the same problem when he was really young and I started him on a small amount of Juicy Juice. With the baby being so young, I would dilute it some but it help him and now that he is almost 20, anytime he gets constipated, we purchase a bottle of Juicy Juice and it does the trick.

Mel - posted on 01/20/2010

also try warm baths, lower tummy massage in a circular motion and stay clear of iron so like s26 formula and rice cereal

Mel - posted on 01/20/2010

almost all formula fed babies get constipated. Use plenty of water between bottles, and coloxyl drops are safe in new borns. And use a cotton tip with vaseline and put it around her butt when you change the nappy. When she reaches 4 weeks you can use prune juice but only mixed with bottle and small amounts per day. Or you can add a bit or prune juice to the bottle. Alot of child nurses recommend just adding 5-10 mills extra water to the bottle when making formula and make sure you are not compacting the scoops. In Australia we have specific constipation formula available from the pharmacy and suitable from birth. Oh its the one Melanie is talking about novalac. Look for it. Wors well in most babies. Didnt work for my daughter though she still bled and everyting

Melanie - posted on 01/20/2010

hello i had the same problem with my son my doctor also told me to use lactulose but that didnt really work so i took him back and there is a formula called novalac/it and its for constipation it really worked for me you can only get it from the chemist hope this helps for your sister as well my son stopped breastfeeding at 2 and a half weeks he has not long ago gone onto a different formula and he is fine now

Amy - posted on 01/20/2010

when we had to go from breast milk to the formula my pediatrician recommended the dark karo syrup. just a tsp or two depending on how big the bottle is. it really did help. they didnt want any juices, could be to hard on the babies sensitive tummy. or like a few other posts the glycerin suppositories for infants helped when it was more than 3 days in between.... :)

Nancy - posted on 01/20/2010

I had to give my daughter suppositories when she was 2 weeks old because she wasn't moving her bowels at all. You can also try brewing some fennel tea. My daughter always had stomach issues and the fennel helps to relax the stomach muscles so they can pass gas and move their bowels. My pediatrician also suggested dark karo syrup and water.

Heather - posted on 01/20/2010

when i switched formulas with my daugter, she had a hard time with her bowels so we gave her apple juice.

Aileen - posted on 01/20/2010

My first baby, I stoped breast feeding and started the formula because I was scaired that I wasn't producing enough for him.So my son had the same problem, the formula causes hard stools and pain while trying to pass. I heard that it is not safe to give babies that young laxitives of any kind. I was told to move my sons legs around like they are running while he was lying on his back. As the baby gets a little older, hold the baby up and get them to stand, and eventually they start to jump. These exercises help them pass their stools a little easier. For some reason formula causes constipation, and breastfeeding doesn't. My second child is now being breast fed and has no problems of constipation.

Widya - posted on 01/19/2010

avoid laxative...give the baby some prebiotik...such us Lacto B. I don'tr know is there Lacto B i you country ....or change the milk with Nutilon Royal or Procal from Wyett.
i hope it's help u...

Amie - posted on 01/19/2010

Hard poops are normal for a BF baby switching to formula.



Considering that the baby is only 3 weeks old how soon after starting the formula did your sister seek out a doctor? A BF baby going to formula will need some time to adjust. Throw in messing around with a few different formulas and it takes a babies system a little longer. There's always the chance that the formula is not being mixed right too. I've known some mothers to do that because they misread the label or did not follow the instructions.



If your sister really does not want to follow doctors advice then I'd suggest doing some massages and helping him/her work it through. Giving babies this small water is dangerous unless it is recommended by a professional. Sugar and syrup are not something a 3 week old needs to be ingesting either.



More than likely though it is the fact that the babies system is still adjusting to the formula.

Jayne - posted on 01/19/2010

lots of boiled water is what i was always told by my mum ,no sugar added though , good luck

Marina - posted on 01/19/2010

Try a dash of lite caro syrup to the bottle...works, but not violently.

Michelle - posted on 01/19/2010

My daughter had that problem when she was little and we added a little apple juice to her diet and it acted like a natural laxitive. But make sure it is added to water about half and half and luke warm not cold.

Shallanna - posted on 01/19/2010

Okay get some Karo syrup and put just a teaspoon in some warm water- it will loosen that baby right up...by the way if it matters I am mother of 5, daycare provider, and future writer for Parenting magazine.

Evangeline - posted on 01/19/2010

baby needs water ,it will help her or him.Aside from milk, don't forget to give at least a little drops of water.

Suzanne - posted on 01/19/2010

I would not encourage a laxative for the baby. Their systems are still learning what to do adn the constant change in formula is making that difficult. I used Good Start and the Wal Mart generic with all my children. Be sure to tell her to wait it out a week. A nice warm bath may stimulate the little one's bowels and help out a bit.

Terri - posted on 01/19/2010

Isomil is a better choice for formula at this age as it is soy based and has less of a chance of stomach upset and constipation. I used it with 7 children. Laxatives are a no no at this age. Their is a product that I have used before called Malt Supex. You will have to check the age and dosage recommendations, but I used it with my oldest based on the advice of my pediatrician. It can be added to the formula and helps with constipation issues. There are baby enemas to use if the baby hasn't had a bowel movement in a couple of days. They should only be used based on your pedi's advice and sparingly as their bowels will become dependent on them. Breastfeeding is the absolute best way to go, even if she pumps her milk and bottle feeds. If she is having feeding issues, there are plenty breast feeding coaches who can help as well as the pediatrician. It sometimes takes a little while for mom and baby to get it together, but the baby is healthier and mom loses weight faster. Good luck and above all consult with the pediatrician. :)

Jenetta - posted on 01/19/2010

first, make sure that she is mixing the formula EXACTLY the way the label tells her. by adding even a small amount of powder, or not enough to the water can cause digestive issues. if its being done accurately, then a pediatric dietition should help any issues.
never give a baby under 6 months juice at all. water after 4 months old is okay in small amounts and warm only. their digestive systems arent formulated for cold or cool temps....