Let’s face it, nobody wants to be constipated, and when it becomes a recurring theme then it’s the kind of thing that can make you feel horrible both physically as well as mentally. What you need to do is to be able to identify the best course of action for you to take with this becoming even more important when it is your baby that has the issue.
So, here are several ways of relieving constipation in babies, from switching up the milk and increasing fluids to using pureed foods. While there’s no guarantee of knowing which one will work best, we are sure that at least one remedy will prove to be rather effective.
Baby Constipation Help is Here.
Constipation in babies is something that every mother should be concerned about. After all, we all know how uncomfortable it is for us so imagine what it’s like when you are unable to communicate that there’s a problem and are also oblivious as to what is going on?
Even putting that thought to one side, you need to be able to help your constipated baby, and there are a number of different approaches that have been shown to work.
Give Them Some Exercise.
First, try getting their legs moving as this can have a positive impact on their digestion. You can do this for them or even if you can encourage them to crawl more it may then lead to an improvement in the situation. We aren’t saying that they need to run or be full of life but any kind of exercise is then able to speed up the digestion.
Massage.
You can also help your baby by doing some gentle massaging to their tummy area. Use slow, circular motions and apply only a little amount of pressure at a time. This is something that you are able to do on several occasions throughout the day and continue to do it until you know that your baby has had a successful bowel movement. This is a very common method to help baby constipation.
Look at Fluid Intake.
If fluid intake is too low, then this is going to have a negative impact on their ability to have a bowel movement. Both water and milk will make a difference, but at the same time you do not want to give them too much fluid as that in itself can cause problems.
If your baby is older than 6 months and is constipated, then you may want to consider giving them a small amount of either pear juice or prune juice just to help things along. However, if you see that your baby is not too happy with the taste, then it may be too tangy for them at which point you simply need to dilute it with some water to make it easier for them to drink.
Consider Using Pureed Foods.
If your baby is not quite over to solid foods, then giving them pureed fruits or vegetables can make a real difference. This will allow them to get the nutrients and natural fiber that will then bulk up any stools that they may have. Also, we all know the impact that fiber tends to have on our ability to go to the toilet, and your baby is not going to be any different in that department.
While you can go ahead and buy them from a supermarket, you might want to also consider making your own pureed food where you can create your own individual combination. It makes it easier for you to identify the kind of things that your baby enjoys eating, and as long as it has a lot of fiber in it, then you should notice a significant difference in the bowel movements of your baby.
Try Solid Foods.
If you feel as if your baby is on the brink of moving to solid foods, then this may very well be the time to try them. Once again, this is linked to the way in which they can get more fiber and nutrients in their diet that can help turn things around when it comes to dealing with constipation.
If baby constipation is a real concern, then you may want to get them to try a few different foods that tend to be higher in fiber than others. This includes broccoli, prunes, peaches and pears. However, anything with fiber in it is going to make a difference, so it may be a case of trying to find out which foods they are able to eat.
Change the Milk Option.
If you bottle feed your baby and they are constipated, then it could very well be the milk that is causing the problem. A different formula may make a huge difference, so even though this is a bit of a trial and error approach, it may improve their bowel movements. Also, be aware of how often you feed them and how much. Look at feeding them in the correct manner including burping them during it as this can also keep things moving in a more natural way.
Also, if you breastfeed your baby, then something in your own diet may be passed through your milk that is not really agreeing with them. Look at what you eat and study how it may affect your baby in this way and then make a few changes to see if this improves things. However, it must be stressed that this is not going to be that common but it’s still worth looking into it to see if this is the case for you.
As you can see, we are not talking about wholesale changes to help with baby constipation, but you clearly cannot just ignore what is going on either. They are in distress and even though there may not be an instant cure that works in seconds, you must be willing to try different approaches until you get to the one that works best for your baby.