Constipation is a condition where stools (faeces or poo) become firmer and harder so that they can no longer be easily passed out of the body.
Your child may be troubled or in pain when they need to empty their bowels, and the bowels will not be emptied as often as usual.
The number of bowel movements a young baby has varies considerably and what is ‘normal’ may range from a bowel movement several times a day to as little as once a week.
In rare cases, there can be up to three weeks between bowel movements.
When it comes to a baby’s bowel movements, there is often no normal number or schedule. Similar to adults, babies’ bowel movement patterns vary. Poo can also change in texture from day to day.
If you’re concerned that your baby may be constipated, look out for these signs:
- Crying and discomfort, irritability or pain before doing a poo.
- Dry, hard, pellet-like poo that she has trouble passing.
- Fewer than three bowel movements a week.
- Foul-smelling wind and poo.
- Loss of appetite.
- A hard belly.
As odd as it sounds, very liquid poo can be also be sign of constipation. Liquid poo can slip past the blockage of hard poo in the lower intestine. If you see this, don’t assume it’s diarrhea. It may be evidence of constipation.
Cause of constipation
Formula milk. A formula fed baby is more prone to constipation because formula can be harder to digest than breast milk, causing poo to be firm and bulky. A breastfed baby is unlikely to get constipated. Breast milk produces poo that is almost always soft, even if a baby hasn’t done a poo for a few days.
Introducing solids. Babies often become constipated when they start solids, as their bodies learn how to manage new foods. Low-fibre foods and not enough fluids also contribute to constipation.
Dehydration. Your baby may be refusing milk because she’s teething, has thrush, a throat infection, a cold, or an ear infection. Or your older baby may not be drinking enough milk or water with her solid foods.
A medical condition or illness. Occasionally, constipation can be a symptom of a food allergy, food poisoning (such as botulism), or a problem with the way the body absorbs food, known as a metabolic disorder.
Introducing food before 6 months, because the babies’ kidneys are not yet fully developed and therefore they are not as adept as adults at handling the waste products from the digestion and metabolism of food. Infants’ kidneys use more water to remove waste products from the body.
Inactivity
Some supplements such as iron
Some medications
When a baby first becomes constipated, it can be the start of a vicious circle.
This is because your baby may find it painful to pass the large hard stools that have gathered in the intestine. Cracks around the anus may appear. These may start to bleed and cause more pain.
To avoid the pain, your baby may subconsciously start holding back stools, which makes the stool stay longer in the large intestine.
As a result, your baby’s body will absorb more water from the stools making them even harder. This can cause your baby to remain constipated.
Food culprits include but not limited to;
- Rice cereal
- Unripe bananas
- Cooked carrots
- Applesauce
- Cheese
- Yogurt
- White bread
- Pasta
- Large amounts of potato
- Some mothers have reported that their babies were constipated by: pawpaw, apples, cerelac…
Relief for constipation
- A warm bath can make your baby relax so the stools are passed more easily. Once your baby has relaxed in the bath, you can also massage their stomach When you wash your baby’s bottom, apply some cream or petroleum jelly (Vaseline) around the outside of the anus.
- Gently move your baby’s legs in a bicycling motion to help move the hard poo along her intestine.
- If your baby is drinking formula, give her extra water in between feeds, but don’t dilute the formula. Make sure that you are using the recommended amount of milk powder when making up a bottle. Too much powder can dehydrate your baby, causing constipation. Your doctor may also recommend trying a different brand.
- If your baby has started solids, give her plenty of water or diluted fruit juice. Plenty of fibre in your older baby’s diet could also help. Pureed or chopped apples, apricots, blueberries, grapes, pears, plums, prunes, raspberries and strawberries are all high in fibre. You could also add a small amount of high-fibre cereal to your baby’s usual breakfast cereal.
- Give fibre rich foods, eg. sweet potatoes, broccoli, spinach, legumes- peas, beans, lentils, ndengu
NB. If these home treatments have not worked, or if your baby’s constipation is severe, your doctor may suggest a laxative, probably lactulose.
Advantages of breastfed babies in dealing with constipation
A breastfed baby will very rarely get constipation because breast milk is more easily digested.
Breastfed babies have several helpful types of bacteria in their large intestine that are capable of breaking down some of the otherwise indigestible carbohydrates, proteins and fats in milk. As a result, their stools are softer, making bowel movements easier.
Breast milk also contains a hormone called motilin that increases the movement of the baby’s bowels, helping them to empty.
Further protection against constipation comes from the fact that a breastfed baby can draw as much milk as they need from the breasts.
Dehydration can cause constipation. But if a breastfed baby is a little dehydrated or dry he or she can usually simply take more milk, unlike a bottle-fed baby who can drink no more than what is in the bottle.
The composition of breast milk also changes as your baby grows older, so it will supply the needs of your baby at all times.
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