Problem with Constipated Infant?

my son had problems.. water helped some.. and the best thing was a q-tip dipped in vaseline.. you push it in a little and it helps relieve some of the pushing. My dr. told me to give my son also baby stage 1 prune... just a small spoonful at night. it worked like a charm.. he started prunes at 2 mo. old. i know it sounds young.. but it helped ... good luck...

E.,

Congratulations on breastfeeding exclusively! It's one of the best things you can do for your baby.

It happens. It's not really constipation unless it is coming out solid. If it's still soft, he's just learning how to use his muscles, etc. The timing is what you are objecting to. If he's sleeping through the night - be grateful - because teething is starting soon!

Also, he'll start going days between poops. Enjoy that while it happens.

Good Luck,
M.

According to our pediatrician this is completely normal for a breastfed infant b/c there is so little "waste" in breastmilk. He also said that straining is not the same as constipation and that infants are not considered "constipated" until they have not had a BM in 7 days. If your little one is having a hard time, my doc suggested 2oz of water mixed with 1T of Karo syrup to soften the stool.

Hi E.,

My daughter had the same problem. But the only thing that seem to work was 2 oz. water everyday, this helped greatly. Ask you doctor if you can give him water I also would boil water with raisin. My doctor told me to do this. It would be room to cool temperture before I gave it to her. Good Luck! :)

Consider your diet and what you are eating that he may have a food allergy to. Reduce your dairy intake. Research how your diet may effect your sons. Speak to your pediatritian. That is not normal.

Good Luck.
D.

Hi E.,

my suggestion would be for you to include food that may have an mild effect on his stools, for example, eat more fresh grapes, high fiber cereal, and drink more water; the best to you D. RN let mamasource members know what worked for both of you.

I went through this with my 9 month old. I noticed that dairy products made a difference in my diet. I cut them out as much as possible (milk, mostly)...but it was hard, and I didn't do the best job.

Other than that, I took her temperature to help nature take its course...which worked wonders.

I think most babies go through this. Now my daughter doesn't have the issue anymore, and I eat cereal with milk like its going out of style....so she grew out of it. She is fine with eating dairy, so who knows why it caused the problem in the beginning.

Good luck, it will pass.

My daughter was the same way as an infant. My grandmother suggested putting Karo Syrup in her bottles and it worked. I had no idea what Karo Syrup was....it is in the super market by the pancake syrup. It sweetens the taste of formula and she seemed to take it with no problems. It loosened her stool and helped make her more comfortable. I know you said you are breast feeding but if it is because of the constipation you may want to try bottles with the Karo! Hope your little one gets some relief!

my two year old son was having this issue when he was a newborn, the only difference was that this would happen every time he had to poop and there was no expected time of when he would have to go. we dealt with him struggling for quite some time before even being sent to a specialist he was diagnosed with acid reflux, and that because he was about a month early (induced)he just had not fully learned how to use his rectum muscles yet. i didn't think this could be right but there the doctors right. about a month later i notice his poop seemed to have what i thought was blood in it. needless to say as soon as i saw the blood i was back at the doctors and this time not so patient about figuring out what was going on. i to was exclusively breastfeeding breastfeed. this time the doctors where a bit more concerned as to what was wrong with my baby. and at this time we finally figured out what was going on! he had a milk protein allergy, which is a bit more intense then just having a dairy allergy. everything i was eating trying to be health in order to breast feed was only making him sicker i was so angry and upset. but after learning the proper things to consume and getting all the paper work from the doctors listing all the different words meaning that the milk protein was included. my son did a huge turn all around with his feeding the way he was acting and of course his bowel movements.

Is he in pain? Crying? If he's just grunting, but doesn't appear uncomfortable, then I'd leave him to it. My doc told me that around 3 months, everything starts to slow down. And some kids go every 3-4 days, or even once a week! She said it was totally normal!

Talk to your doc, if you're worried. :)

Hi E.,
My daughter had (what sounds like) a similar problem when she was little. We found out that she can't have most milk products. We didn't find this out until after she started milk but I remember while I was breastfeeding that she had such a hard time having bowel movements. Not sure if this would work for you but maybe cut out one item at a time from your diet and see if your little one benefits.

~Kristal

When my daughter was a baby, we were told to put a little apple juice in her bottle when she was getting constipated. It worked for her. Ask your pediatrician about giving an ounce of apple juice and see if that helps.

we were told from our pediatrician that exclusively breastfed babies (we're still breastfeeding at almost 14 months) don't get constipated before trying solids. if the poop is soft, he's probably ok. it also helped our daughter to move her legs like she was bicycling while on her back.

if you do feel that there is a problem, i wouldn't give anything to your daughter, especially NOT karo syrup, until you talk with a pediatrician.

good luck!

Hi E.,

I noticed you said that your son is exclusively breastfed. It may actually be something in your diet that is constipating your son. I would try changing different things in your diet and also eliminating anything that you know for sure gives you trouble as well. We sometimes forget that everything we ingest gets into our breastmilk and that it can affect tiny tummies. I would also take him to see his pediatrician so they can rule out anything serious as a precaution.

HTH
J.