Baby Constipation

The most common baby poop worry is constipation. The first signs that your baby is eating well and getting enough breast milk can be found in your baby’s diaper. Poop and urine output.

Exclusive breastfeeding makes it very unlikely for your baby to get severe diarrhea or become constipated.

Babies can go a week without passing stool and even if you notice your baby going red in the face pushing one out it doesn’t necessarily mean constipation. Bottle and formula fed babies can suffer from constipation. Lack of fluids and dehydration in bottle fed babies are the common causes and need to be addressed by a pediatrician.

How do I know if my baby is constipated?

Constipation is diagnosed when the baby's stool is hard and dry when it is passed, not when baby has infrequent stools. The most common cause is dehydration. A cause for your baby to become dehydrated and constipated is frequent vomiting. If your baby is ill and does not want to breastfeed, seems weak, lethargic, and has a dry mouth you should get immediate medical care.

Signs of constipation

* In a newborn, firm stools less than once a day with straining and difficulty passing them

* Dry, hard stools and pain on passing them

* Hard, pebble-like stools passed by a baby who strains during a bowel movement, drawing her legs up on his/her abdomen, grunting, and getting red-faced

* Streaks of blood along the outside of the stool

* Abdominal discomfort along with hard and infrequent stools

Hard stools

Older babies who eat solid foods in addition to breastmilk may pass the occasional hard stool. Hard stools are a sign that your baby is not taking in enough fluids. It is usually easy enough to introduce more breastmilk feedings or water and if hard stools continue try giving some diluted fruit or vegetable juice.

With the introduction of solid foods or other liquids, come many changes in baby's elimination patterns.

Baby poop will have a stronger odor and different color and consistency. You may start to notice traces and pieces of vegetables in your baby's diaper, which is very common. At this stage, to constipation and even diarrhea might be signs that your baby isn't tolerating a new food or juice.

Formula may cause constipation

Babies and toddlers can get constipated from baby formulas, cow’s milk and different types of baby cereal. Exclusively breastfed babies rarely get constipated. Speak with your baby’s doctor if you are concerned about your baby’s pattern of bowel movements.

Natural laxatives

Use natural laxatives. Begin with diluted prune juice. Try a tablespoon or two for the six- month-old and as much as eight ounces for the toddler. Try strained prunes or make a prune puree. Apricots and the four P's include prunes, pears, plums, and peaches and these usually have a healthy and more gentle than medication-induced laxative effect.

Medical Laxatives

Do not give your baby any form of laxatives unless you are given a prescription by your baby’s doctor. It is most often a very grave mistake to try to override your baby’s natural bowel system.

You should never interfere with your baby’s poop habits with laxatives or enemas. It can be very harmful and damaging both physically and emotionally for a normal healthy baby.

Bath-time Remedy

Bath-time is a great way to help your baby relax and even help get a bowel movement flowing. It's a very messy remedy but it's been proven to work! Fill the bath tub so you're able to soak your baby chest-high in warm water. Massage your baby's abdomen in a firm yet gentle circular pattern and get ready for relief and a very big mess!