A child's constipation is painful for both the child and the parents. There are simple procedures you can follow at home to ease the baby's discomfort and to prevent constipation from returning.
Steps
Step 1. Observe how your child's diet changes, if certain foods make him constipated, making him have hard stools
Eliminate all astringent foods including:
- Rice
- Bananas
- Cooked carrots
- Cheeses
- Yogurt
- White bread
- Pasta
- Too many potatoes
Step 2. Give your baby foods that help soften the stool, such as fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber
Fruits with sorbitol (such as apples and plums) help prevent dry and hard stools. Foods that help soften stool are:
- Peaches
- Apricots
- Pears
- Plums
- Peas.
Step 3. Offer the child some fruit juice, diluted with water, twice a day
The sorbitol in some fruit juices (including prunes) helps relieve constipation. Prune juice may be effective due to its content of sorbitol, caffeic acid, and oxyphenisatin. To dilute the juice:
- Add 30 g of juice to 120 ml of water or …
- Dilute 300 g of juice in 600 ml of water.
Step 4. Massage the baby's stomach, preferably in a warm bath
To massage it effectively, start at the navel and massage outwards in a clockwise direction. Abdominal massage can increase the movement of food in the intestines.
Step 5. Make the baby's legs "pedal" to stimulate the stomach muscles to move and put a slight pressure on the intestine
To make the child pedal:
- Put it on your back
- Grab his feet
- Rotate your legs in a fast but gentle cycling motion.
Advice
- Dehydration is a common cause of baby constipation, especially in the warmer months.
- Traces of blood in the baby's stool can indicate tearing of the soft tissues near the anus when the body is getting used to new foods. It's probably nothing to worry about, but you should see a doctor.
Warnings
- Don't give your baby a laxative without doctor's approval.
- Make sure it is true constipation, usually seen with hard, dry stools. Babies often strain and grunt when they have a bowel movement, or they can go several days without having any bowel movements. These are not necessarily signs of true constipation.
- If you suspect that the child is constipated, consult your pediatrician to rule out any other diseases.
- Always consult a doctor before introducing any new foods, juices, or water to your baby.
