Infant constipation is sometimes relieved solely by diet changes. Apple juice is just one fluid that can play a role in treating your infant's constipation. It's often an effective solution because it adds fiber and increases the fluids in your infant's diet, which can soften hard stools. Other treatments may work more effectively than apple juice depending on the severity of your infant's constipation.
Infant Constipation
Infant constipation is marked by your infant passing hard, dry stools, not the child having an absence of regular bowel movements, according to MayoClinic.com. This is most likely to happen when your infant starts drinking formula instead of breast milk or eating solid foods. Various stool consistencies and colors are normal for your infant to pass, but you should become concerned that your infant is constipated if he passes large, hard stools or has stools that resemble pebbles.
Diet Treatments
To address your infant's constipation, contact your physician first for advice. Increasing the child's intake of fluids may resolve the constipation problem, but do not replace his normal feedings of formula or breast milk with other fluids. If his constipation is related to the introduction of solid foods, try pears, prunes and barley cereal, which are less constipating than other solid foods, such as rice cereal, applesauce and bananas.
Apple Juice
When using extra fluids to ease constipation, water may not provide as much effectiveness as juices. Apple juice, along with pear or prune juice, is recommended by both MayoClinic.com and DrGreene.com to treat constipation. Offer your infant 2 to 4 oz. of juice at a time once or twice a day between feedings. Start initially with a small amount of juice and increase the amount offered until your infant starts to have regular, soft bowel movements.
Other Treatments and Warnings
Along with increasing your infant's fluid intake, placing him in a bathtub filled with warm water may help him to relax so the stool can pass easier. Your physician may recommend a glycerin suppository, but do not use laxatives, mineral oil or enemas to treat your infant's constipation. If his constipation continues despite your efforts to relieve it, or if he starts vomiting or becomes irritable, contact your physician immediately.
