No single number of daily bowel movements is ideal for all infants. Some infants pass stools every time they eat while others may go at least a day between bowel movements, according to BabyCenter.com. However, your infant may be constipated if her bowel habits have changed dramatically, according to the Mayo Clinic. Assessing her bowel movement frequency, making some dietary changes and seeking advice from her pediatrician will help you ease any discomfort.
Signs and Symptoms
Your infant may be constipated if he's having bowel movements less frequently than normal, particularly if he hasn't had a bowel movement in at least three days and he seems uncomfortable whenever he has one, says BabyCenter.com. Although hard, dry stools are a symptom of constipation, you shouldn't assume that your infant isn't constipated if he has liquid stools. Liquid stools may slide past a blockage in your infant's lower intestine and end up in his diaper, according to BabyCenter.com.
Causes
If your infant breastfeeds, she is unlikely to become constipated because breast milk contains a balance of fat and protein that leads to soft stools, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, if your baby consumes formula, an ingredient could cause her to become constipated. Switching to solid foods can also cause constipation because rice cereal---typically the first solid a baby tries---doesn't contain a lot of fiber, says the Mayo Clinic. Dehydration may also cause your infant to become constipated.
Dietary Adjustments
Talk to your pediatrician for advice if you have a newborn who seems constipated. If your older infant seems constipated, give him 2 to 4 oz. of water a day, in addition to his feedings, to help hydrate him, suggests the Mayo Clinic. If the water doesn't do the trick, give him a 2- to 4-oz. serving of apple, pear or prune juice each day. If your baby is already on solids, the Mayo Clinic suggests trying high-fiber baby foods such as pureed prunes and barley cereal.
Relief Tips
Exercise can help regulate your infant's bowel movements. If she's already mobile, be active and encourage her to crawl around. If she's not, lay her on her back and move her legs in a circular bike-pedaling motion, suggests BabyCenter.com. Abdominal massage can also help reduce some constipation; use your fingertips to apply gentle but firm pressure three finger-widths below her belly button until you feel a mass, then hold pressure for three minutes, says BabyCenter.com. Talk to your pediatrician if your infant is still constipated. He may recommend an over-the-counter stool softener or suggest a glycerin suppository, but you shouldn't use these relief methods unless a doctor suggests them.
When to Call a Doctor
In rare cases, infant constipation is caused by health conditions such as Hirschspurng's disease, a birth defect that prevents his digestive tract from functioning the right way, according to BabyCenter.com. In other cases, constipation may be caused by food allergies or a food poisoning known as botulism. If your infant's constipation is persistent despite your efforts to relieve it, or if his constipation is accompanied by symptoms such as irritability and vomiting, contact a pediatrician.
