Is My 7 Month Old Constipated?

I found good advice for my 6 mo old constipation on Ask Dr. Sears.com it worked for one of my kids although...my first born ended up constipated for a long long time! some kids just seem to struggle w/ it until their digestive tract develops. we ended up having to use a senna laxative for a year or so to help her pass bowel movements. the bananas and rice might be constipating...try prunes and prune juice...they work wonders for some kids. also, try feeding smaller amounts through out the day rather than all in three breakfast, lunch and dinners. ugh, it is so hard to see them struggle! good luck!

I just had this problem at 7 months and my son is 7 1/2 months... I talked to the doctor and this is what she told me:
- keep breastfeeding (of course - it helps too)
- cut out carrots and apples because they don't have a lot of fiber (apples do in whole form for adults but not in applesauce form)
- switch from rice cereal to oatmeal (so I'm assuming rice isn't helping either that comes in some baby food)
- anything with "p" helps poop - peaches, pears, plums, prunes, etc and green veggies
- give 2-4 oz of water every day (nursery water or tap - just flouridated)
- if your baby won't take plain water mix it with a little pear juice

I make these things called "Poo Cocktails" ;) for my son and mix half a jar of pears and half a jar of prunes (I have only found Gerber to make organic baby food prines - I only use organic, mostly Earth's Best) - my son won't take the prunes alone but he LOVES pears so that seems to do the trick. I give that to him once a day and it has helped (with everything else) tremendously. Good luck!

Hi D.,

I have a 7 month as well.....try 1/4 prune juice to 3/4 water in a btle. Or.....try prune baby food or make your own in a blender with fresh prunes. It worked for mine. she is currently eating everything as well, including meats, fruits, veggies and my every day cooking. She just can't get enough and is such a good eater, I forget what she eats so a little prune juice watered down daily keeps her regular. she did have a shiffer-?? small anus tear, which has healed. It helps!!! Good luck, and post an update. S.

You could try feeding him prunes.

Rice and bananas constipate. Try apple juice, at least 2 oz/day. Also raisins and pears are great in addition to prunes.

I'm from Forest Park (and live there). I just posted this elsewhere too ... my pediatrician advised me to give my little one regular prune or apple juice and not the infant kind. About an ounce or so should help get things moving along. If that's not available, try mashing up the apples or pears...sometimes fruit does the trick. Good luck.

D.-Hi my name is T. and I have been studying the effects of different things on our bodies for about 5 years concentrating on organics, homopathic and herbology. Yes-bananas and the formula will bind your baby up. Formula is dairy based and infants should never have it. Breastmilk is the perfect liquid. He is old enough to have organic prune juice to loosen up his stools but do just 2ozs half juice and 2ozs of water. I am not a doctor but have helped enough friends and family plus I have 4 children of my own to know what works and what doesn't. Also steer away from the carbs and starches fruits and veggies please. You can email me direct if you have any other questions. A great website to check out is www.mercola.com. Good luck and make it a great day!!!

T.

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Rice, bananas and apples are all constipating, as is formula in breastfed babies. My oldest had a TERRIBLE time if we ever gave her any of the above - she'd go up to a week without pooping at all and would be extremely uncomfortable. We avoided above mentioned foods completely and instead pushed barley cereal (helps a little with the issue), pears and prunes and cups of water when she ate. That usually helped, though sometimes we had to resort to a teaspoon of Karo syrup (found in the baking aisle - it's concentrated sugar that is safe and doc recommended and gets things going) followed by a cup of water.

Sounds like he is constipated to me. My little guy went through this as well. Cut out the rice and bananas. Maybe switch to an oatmeal cereal (not as binding) instead of rice. Or cut out the cereal all together until he gets back on track. Avocados are ok. Are you supplementing with soy formula? If so, it is extremely constipating -- but not much you could do there, except to breastfeed him as much as you can -- that will help him. My doctor also recommended prune juice and pear juice diluted with water, but my son refused to drink either. He would eat prunes, however, and LOVED them (still does) so we gave them to him everyday (sometimes a few times a day). Eventually, he started to drink water as well, which is really good for constipated babies. Good luck!

It sounds your baby is constipated. I am also a breastfeeding mom and my baby often used to get trapped by constipation and gas pain. We got relief from constipation by using babies magic tea, a natural and preservative-free herbal tea!

Try apricot and pear necture mixed with some water. That is what my pediatrician told me to do. You can find it in the ethnic food isle.

My 8 month old son has constipation issues as well. Bananas constipate him bad. My pediatrician also told me green vegetables help while orange vegetables cause constipation. I also give him a jar of prunes almost every day which helps a lot.

Rice & bananas can stop your baby up, as can some formula. We were told to feed our baby "p" foods if she seemed to have trouble passing poop: pears, prunes, plums, peaches. We never tried prunes & plums, but the pears and peaches worked like a charm. We would just back off on the bananas and give her cooked pears with her cereal and that would usually loosen things up a bit. Good luck!

I have a seven month old also and she has had some major run ins with constipation. I have had to scoop poop out with a q-tip and push her legs back to help get it out, so I have tried to take some measures to insure it doesnt happen so much again. I stopped nursing at around 4 1/2 months and also started rice cereal about the same time and thats when all the problems begun. I was told to stay away from bananas, applesauce and rice. They are very binding and I have been giving her alot of prunes and occassionally a bottle with prune juice (1/2 juice, 1/2 water). It does seem to be working, but she still doesnt go every day. She is an every other day pooper and that does sometimes stink when you are used to the breastfeeding poops. But the doctor says it is fine.
So, sorry for the long rambling, but I would definately cut out the rice totally and try oatmeal or barley. Good luck.