Adults are not the only ones who can get constipated from time to time. Some infants and children can suffer with constipation, particularly when solid foods are first introduced. Babies who are breast fed are not likely to suffer with the problem as often as those babies who are formula fed. However, a constipated baby should be given relief promptly, since their tiny stomachs and intestines need to function efficiently for good nutrient assimilation.
Babies may become constipated when the changeover from mother’s milk or formula is occurring. The baby might not be getting enough fiber so the entire system is sluggish. Care should be taken when introducing any new food. Problems associated with too many new foods too quickly can create issues with allergies as well as constipation.
Infants can develop constipation from a diet that contains too many dairy products. The thought of babies and milk seem to go together, but if the infant only gets milk, yogurt and cheese to eat, it can end up causing a case of constipation. If the baby is unable to have at least one bowel movement per day, you might want to take a look at the diet.
Some foods are known to cause constipation for many infants. These could include things like white potatoes, pasta, breads, cereals, applesauce and bananas. Oddly enough, these are foods that are often considered good to feed babies as they move toward solid food diets. Foods that are low in fiber are another thing that can cause some children to have constipation.
Logically, if diet is a major contributing factor for constipation, a change of diet is going to be of help is eliminating the symptoms. Without changing too many foods all at the same time, you can introduce more fiber through strained foods such as spinach, peas, pears, plums, peaches and apricots. Replace rice cereal with barley or oatmeal and bananas with prunes. Don’t rely too much on fruit juices unless the doctor advises, because other foods provide more fiber.
If you have hears of the BRAT diet for relieving diarrhea (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast) you can simply reverse the BRAT diet to relieve constipation. Remove the BRAT from the baby’s diet to relieve constipation. This means you only have to remember the acronym.
Some gentle exercises can help to relieve constipation. You can gently massage the baby’s abdomen, moving your hand in a clockwise motion from the navel outward. A baby with constipation might benefit from a warm bath. The bath can be followed by a tummy massage. Another exercise that can help to gently bicycle the legs with the infant lying on its back. The bicycling exercise is also good for relieving gas.
A constipated baby is miserable. Long term health effects can result from a baby who is unable to move its bowels for a period of time of two to three days. In each instance, the situation should be discussed with your child’s pediatrician. Don’t resort to laxatives until the doctor approves and make certain that you use only those intended for infant use.
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