Your baby is constipated if she has firm or hard stools that are difficult to pass. The frequency of bowel movements is not a reliable sign of constipation as some babies go several times each day while others only go once every few days. Bottle-fed babies become constipated more often than breastfed babies, and the introduction of solids can lead to hard stools in both. Fortunately, there are many options for softening your baby's stools at home to ease her discomfort.
Step 1
Offer your formula-fed baby a few ounces of water each day to help soften her stools. Do not add extra water when mixing her formula, and do not give her so much water throughout the day that it interferes with her regular feedings.
Step 2
Give your baby a couple of ounces of undiluted apple juice once each day to loosen stools, or put 1 tsp. of light Karo syrup in a bottle with 4 oz. of water. Dr. Alan Greene states that Karo syrup and apple juice will soften stools in infants.
Step 3
Offer older babies prune juice, preferably with pulp included. Prune has a natural laxative effect on the body. If your baby does not like the taste of prune, try mixing it with another food.
Step 4
Eliminate newly introduced foods from your older baby's diet. If you've recently introduced new solid foods, one of those foods may be causing your baby's constipation. Remove those foods from your baby's diet for a week or two to see if her stools become softer.
Step 5
Feed your baby foods that help soften stools, such as pears, peaches, plums and apricots, and take a break from constipating foods, such as bananas and rice cereal.
Step 6
Give your older baby 1 tsp. of flax oil by mouth each day. Flax will not only help your baby move her bowels, it is also a good source of omega 3 fatty acids, according to AskDrSears.com.
Tips and Warnings
- Speak with your doctor before changing your baby's formula. While iron-fortified formulas are constipating for some babies, these formulas provide nutrients vital to good health.
- Dr. Jay L. Hoecker of the Mayo Clinic warns against using Karo syrup in infants and says it is possibly ineffective and may be a potential source of infant botulism.
Things You'll Need
- Apple juice
- Light Karo syrup
- Prune juice
- Flax oil
