Constipation in infants is common due to their limited diet and immature digestive systems. In most cases, infant constipation is due to a lack of water intake or a change in diet, but frequent or severe constipation requires medical attention to rule out potentially serious causes, such as a structural problem, bowel obstruction or neurological disorder. Symptoms of constipation in infants may include excessive straining during bowel movements, large or pebble-like stools and a swollen abdomen.
Step 1
Offer your infant extra fluids when he is ill, when it is hot outside and when he is teething. All of these conditions can contribute to mild dehydration and cause constipation.
Step 2
Give your baby fruit juice at the first sign of constipation. Prune, apple and pear will help loosen her stools, but they may also cause diarrhea unless given in small amounts and introduced gradually.
Step 3
Substitute barley or oatmeal cereal for rice cereal if your infant struggles with frequent constipation. Rice cereal is more constipating than other infant cereals, according to Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Step 4
Alternate your infant's solid foods so that constipating foods, such as rice cereal, bananas and applesauce, are interspersed with foods that promote bowel movements, such as peaches and prunes.
Step 5
Take a break from solids. Constipation may be a sign that your baby's digestive system is still too immature for solid foods. If his constipation seems related to dietary changes, go back to exclusive breastfeeding or bottle-feeding for a few weeks and then try solids again.
Step 6
Increase the fiber content of your older infant's diet by giving her whole grains, bran cereals, broccoli, beans and other high-fiber foods. Fiber bulks the stools, making them easier to pass.
