Infant constipation plagues many babies, especially as they are largely inactive and rely on only one food source in the beginning of their lives. According to Dr. William Sears, Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, constipation in infants does not refer to the frequency of bowel movements, but to the firmness of stools and any pain the infant might experience in passing one. If your infant is experiencing hard or painful stools, you can try old-time home remedies to help make bowel movements more comfortable for him.
Water
The Mayo Clinic suggests a simple fix for your infant's constipation: water. Water can help soften the stools so that they are easier to pass and done so with less pain. Try offering your baby a 2 to 4 oz. bottle of water in addition to her normal bottles throughout the day. You may also try some watered down 100 percent fruit juice, like prune or apple, by mixing three parts water to one part juice.
Thermometer
You can purchase glycerin suppositories for your baby at almost any drugstore, but you can produce the same loosening effect with a rectal thermometer at home, says Kevin Ferentz, M.D., assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Coat the rectal end of the thermometer in petroleum jelly and gently ease into your baby's rectum, no further than an inch and a half. It should loosen the walls of the rectum to allow for easier passing.
Fruit Puree
If your infant is old enough to start trying solid foods, a homemade fruit puree can help to give him the fiber he needs to get moving again. Avoid fruits that could stop him up worse, like bananas, and opt for fiber-rich fruits that are also sweet, like apple, mango and pear. Add to a food processor and pulse until smooth, and offer around meal times.
Movement
An infant that doesn't crawl isn't able to get a lot of movement aside from the usual kicks and wiggles. Dr. Sears suggests helping your baby move and stretch to keep her digestive system working well. Lay your baby on your lap, with her legs touching your belly. Help her pulse her legs by grasping her ankles and pumping them alternately, as if she were running. This can help give her "exercise," much like what is suggested to adults who suffer from constipation.
Warm Bath
Your infant may be holding in a bowel movement because he has endured a painful one before, and is afraid of the process. You need to help him relax so that his stomach muscles are less tense and it is easier for him to pass a stool. Try filling up a warm bath and slipping your baby in, holding him firmly with one hand. Fill the water up past his belly and allow him to relax in the water. Make sure to watch for any stools that he may pass while in the water, as you'll need to drain the tub immediately and clean up.
