A baby suffering from constipation may cry, grimace, turn red-faced or pull her legs into her stomach while she strains to have a bowel movement. For a parent, it can be difficult seeing your baby in such discomfort if you don't know what to do to help her. Fortunately, both breastfeeding and feeding your baby certain solid foods can help ease her chronic constipation.
Infant Bowel Movements
Normal bowel movements for infants vary widely. Your baby's pattern of stooling will be influenced by his age, his diet and how quickly his body digests his meals. Newborns may have several bowel movements every day, but by 1 to 2 months the rate slows significantly, sometimes to just once a day or once every few days. Formula-fed babies tend to have fewer and firmer bowel movements than breastfed babies. Once he starts eating solid foods, his stools will become firmer and less frequent than they were previously.
Infant Constipation
Constipation in a baby is determined by how firm and difficult to pass his stools are -- not by how frequently he has a bowel movement. Constipated babies have hard, dry, painful bowel movements. Sometimes you may see streaks of blood in the stool or your baby will show signs of stomach discomfort. Chronic constipation may result if your baby isn't taking in enough fluids or experiences a change in her diet, such as switching from breastfeeding to formula-feeding or changing formula brands. Occasionally a medical condition -- such as certain food allergies, hypothyroidism or botulism -- can lead to chronic constipation.
Breastfeeding and Constipation
Exclusively breastfed babies rarely become constipated. Breast milk is the ideal food for infants, with little waste and the correct proportion of fat to protein. Breastfeeding naturally results in soft stools babies can easily pass. If you suspect your exclusively or partially breastfed baby is constipated, increase the number of times you breastfeed your baby each day. Add breastfeeding sessions to make sure he is getting enough fluids. Replace feedings of formula or solids with breast milk, which he can more easily digest.
Solid Foods and Constipation
Introducing solid foods to your baby's diet can lead to chronic constipation if she has difficulty digesting the new food. Reduce your baby's constipation problems by choosing age-appropriate solid foods that produce softer stools. Replace rice cereal, which has little fiber, with oat or barley cereal. Feed a younger baby pureed apricots, peas, prunes, peaches and pears. Offer an older baby high-fiber foods, such as whole-grain bread, beans and graham crackers. Avoid foods that produce firmer stools, such as bananas, squash, applesauce and cooked carrots.
