You have to figure out when things aren't moving through your baby. Your baby is more likely to be constipated if she is formula-fed than if she is breast-fed. If your baby has signs of constipation, contact her pediatrician to determine suitable treatment options.
Step 1
Keep track of your baby's bowel movements. If she doesn't have a bowel movement for three days or more, she is likely constipated, according to Baby Center. To keep track of this, mark each day on the calendar that she has a bowel movement.
Step 2
Check his stool. When your newborn has a bowel movement, if it is solid, he is constipated. Unlike adults, an infant is considered constipated if he has hard, dry stools, according to MayoClinic.com. Even if your newborn has watery or loose stools, he might still be constipated, as the watery stool can often slip past the hard stool. If there is very little watery stool in his diaper, he may constipated.
Step 3
Look at your little one's stomach. Constipation can lead to a distended abdomen. If your baby's stomach is hard or looks larger than normal, she might be constipated.
Step 4
Watch your baby's face and demeanor when he tries to poop. If he seems as though he is pain, he might be trying to pass hard stool. A constipated newborn will strain more than usual to try to have a bowel movement. His face might turn red and he might cry. Stomach cramps can also accompany constipation.
