Constipation/solid Stool

My doctor had me give 1/2 tsp of dark Karo syrup per 4 ounces of formula 1-2 times a day. It's an undigestible sugar (and it's safe, unlike corn syrups, etc.) that basically greases his intestinal tract and helps his hard poop to loosen/come flying out :) I don't do it every day, but it helps when he has been bound up and needs to be "unplugged". And it was my pediatrician who recommended it, a man who has been practicing for 30+ years and is "the" doctor to go to in my area. I had worries about the Karo syrup but my sister (a doctor) and other doctors online recommend it to help unstop the little ones.

Hope it helps :)

Hi A.,

what I used to do was give my kids half food half fruit(1/2 jar). almost like a meal and desssert type thing. I also did sips of water with meals. FYI all fruits that start with a p..peaches, pears, etc are good for constipation. he may be drinking too much milk still. once they start food they don't need as much formula. I hope this helps, good luck

Hi A.,
I went thru the same and here what did it for me. Make your own cereal, don't use the store bought stuff. There is too much iron in the store bought stuff and it bound up my son immediatley. I cook regular oatmeal, not the quick but the old fashioned, by pouring hot water over it and letting it sit for an hour or so, which makes it really soft. Then I puree it in the baby food maker adding water to thin it out. (I saw your other post and we have the Fisher Price one that comes with it's own single serve containers you blend right in and it works sooooo great! Makes everything just as smooth as can be! Cost about $30) After 2 or 3 days of the new food and he has been free flowing ever since. He gets a little thick when I feed him sweet potatoes but he still goes every day, when before he'd go only once every 4 days or so. He was REALLY bound up from the iron. Look at the label on the food, one serving has 45% of his daily intake. For sensitive guys like ours, thats just too much at one time. I breast feed and don't have to give him any water to keep him regular, this takes care of it for me and hope it does the same for you.

Make sure you're giving him enough liquid. He might also have a food sensitivity to one of the foods you've given him. I'd cut back and introduce one food every 4-5 days. It can take up to 4 days for an allergic reaction.

Are you breastfeeding BEFORE giving him solids? It sounds like he may need more breast milk (or formula/water if you don't BF). Also, depending on his age you may be giving him too much food. Breast milk (or formula) should be the main source of nutrients for the first year. Good luck!

Hi Anne-Marie. How old is your son??

Hi A.,
I've heard the best cure for baby constipation is to back off solids for a bit and nurse more (or just stick with formula if that's what you're doing).
You definitely don't want your baby straining to poo.
Good luck!

My daughter started experiencing the same thing at about 6 months.There were days (and still are) days when it was so larhe and hard my finace referred to it as "giving birth" we felt so horrible. We took her to the pediatrician and they put her on "Glycolax" which we give her about 2 tablespoons in juice or milk every day. You can also get this over the counter called "Myrolax". I would have him evaluated by his pediatrician first. Even at 2 1/2 we still give her the dose daily and God forbid we miss a day. The pediatrician says this is very common but unfortunately it can take awhile for them to get regular on their own. Alot of it has to do with their muscle coordination also.
Good luck!

H.

Hi A.!
I have to admit I'm longing for the baby days (mine are 13,11 & 7) but I do remember them!
Here's a thought, mix the oatmeal with an apple/prune juice mix. Limit dairy, try to stick to soy until after your little guy's first birthday. Organic baby cereals have a better track record (no fillers) and O'Soy makes a tasty yogurt, lactose free! Also, keep him hydrated, lots of room temp water. Having a constipated baby is no fun for either of you
:( Good Luck!

Lots of pear juice and water!! Pear juice works great, one 4 oz cup a day should keep things moving. When your constipated it takes a few days for the backed up poo to come out, that is why you were not seeing soft stools till now...my daughter had major issues with this. Be proactive and start on pear juice once a day while you are introducing new foods, it will help...trust me!

Is he six months old? Because if he's not, you can/should probably wait until then. Starting too soon is very hard on their systems, which are not generally mature enough.

As others have said, a taste of one food at a time, every two or three days, is the best way to proceed.

I'm wondering if, with the foods being introduced, he's reduced the amount he's drinking? Constipation can be cause by 1. solids too soon; 2. too little fibre (which the prune juice, etc, is addressing); and 3. too little water (or, if you're nursing, breast milk). The amount of liquid is another thing to consider.

Hi, Ann Marie. My baby, Owen, had the same issue. It was recommended by his ped that we give him a natural laxative, 1 teaspoon of packed dark brown sugar and 2 oz of warm water mixed once in the morning and once in the evening. This concoction and solids that only start with the letter "p" got him back on track. Once that happened, we slowy introduced other solids and gave him his sugar water only once a day. Then we finally are giving it to him every other day. We hope to eventually stop giving it to him but for now, it's working. Good luck!

C. (Owen, 9 1/2 months)

Ditto the previous post. Sounds like he needs more hydration if the prunes aren't working. I always heard, try to have them drink first (breast or bottle), then feed the solids.

Hi there,
Not to worry about giving us details, we've all been there! It sounds as though your baby needs to drink more water. Hard stools are often an indication of not enough water in the diet - this is true for people of all ages, not just babies. You do not mention how old your baby is, which may also be a factor in his troubles.

Formula-fed babies need to be given extra water, since formula does not provide enough; breast-fed babies do not require water, since breast milk provides the proper balance of water and nutrients. However, now that your child is eating solids, he really needs water in his diet (we all do!). Depending upon how old he is, he could take it in a bottle or a sippy cup. Drinking water, by the way, is the best and most effective remedy I know of for relieving constipation in children AND adults.

Good luck!

Try more fluids, prune juice with water, peach nectar with water, etc.

Now that he is eating foods, your baby may be drinking less. You might need to offer him some water (or juice - ask your pediatrician). Fluids are important for preventing constipation.

Hi Ann Marie,
My son recently had the same issues. I put him on fruits beginning with P, and applesauce only. Prunes, pears, peaches... you get the gist. I also give him green beans for diner. And though he still doesnt go like my 2 year old son, it has changed his stool to solid but not hard, (like the little pebbles he was doing). I would keep up with the prume juice as well. Good luck!

I went through the same thing with my son.I gave him his bottle first then his food.I found the more he drank his poop got back to normal.

hi, didn't say how old the baby is, but trying adding some water and juice especially orange if he is old enough and that might help or some fruit.

J.

Hello.

I don't necessarily agree with giving your baby soy products at this stage, as one of the other moms recommended below. Most pediatricians (though not all) don't recommend introducing soy unless you know that your baby has a milk allergy, otherwise, weaning them onto cow's milk can become a huge problem.

To me, it sounds as though maybe you are introducing too much at once? Like a couple of the other girls said, try waiting at least 4-5 days in between trying new solids. Since he is still having problems with constipation, you may want to try laying off the solids altogether for a little while, until his little digestive system returns to normal. I do agree with giving the baby the breast or the bottle before you give him solids. Solids don't replace meals, it's more practice for them in using a spoon, trying new tastes, etc. So just make sure that you are still giving him the same amount of bottles/breast milk during the day, and just using the cereal/fruits/veggies as a "treat", so to speak.

In the meantime, you can try giving him a bottle of warm sugar water (try a 4oz bottle with 1/2 tsp of sugar), and that should get things "moving" a bit better for him. Good luck to you, and I hope your little guy feels better soon!

M.

Sounds like you are feeding him way too much. Constipation is one way of a baby telling you that you are damaging his gut by overfeeding/too early feeding.

Eliminate solids for a week.Make sure he nurses as much as he can as often as he can. If he's at LEAST six months, start giving him tastes of food here and there. Around seven months start feeding him solids more regularly.