Constipated 6mo.old

Hi D.,

It sounds like you already have a lot of good advice. I completely agree with giving the fruits that start with P and changing from rice to oatmeal to decrease constipation. One other thing I found is that whenever I eat pineapple, my nursing baby poops easily (no straining) within 12-24 hours. Good luck!

Hi D.-
Another constipated child- a theme lately- other than Leigh's today.
About me 47 yo med. prof, wellness coach and mom of almost 7yo twin girls.
You're eating several binders- well your child is.
Squash, carrots, bananas, and cereal- tend to be in the starch category.
It's hard because most of the baby foods are just that. And yes- half a person's weight in water is a rule of thumb- so you have to get fluids in your child.
Apple juice will bind too.
One of my twins had constipation issues too- but more because she didn't like going.
You can add prune juice- that is a helper.
We also used a product we called "fairy dust"- a dissolvable fiber to help her soften and want to go. If you want more info on that- email me.
Not sure I gave much advice, but try some foods like greens, and melons and berries if you can make some of your own mashes and see if that helps.

B. J
____@____.com

Both of my daughters had problems with that at some point. Some things that worked for us: Juice (like others recommended), sitting in a warm bath (you can put some baking soda in the water as well), or just using a rectal thermometer. With the thermometer, insert it and let it sit there for a little while while your son tries to push it out. Sometimes that pushing can get the bowel movement started. Suppositories work as well, but try the thermometer first.

Good Luck!

Are you giving him rice 3x a day? There's a lot of iron in baby cereals, so perhaps that's constipating him? Also, I just posted this above, but babies go through VERY distinct bowel changes, esp with the introduction of food. How much carrots/squash/yams are you giving him? Squash worked with our first to get him going; carrots work with our second. If we give him one full plastic container of Gerber baby carrots, we have a big carroty BM within 12 hours! Also, you haven't said how often he's going, or if he's in pain--he could just be the kind of kid that (now) goes every 2-3 days. When my son didn't go for 14 days this winter, all the docs we called said, "It's completely normal for a baby to go days without a BM...call us after it's been 8 days or more or when he seems uncomfortable." I was shocked; going without a BM for 8 days seems awful, but we heard it consistently.

The cereals and bananas can be constipating. I would just take away the cereal and start giving prunes. I used to make my own by boiling them in water and then blending them in the blender. You could even add it to the cereal if you want. I'm sure boy will love the prunes though. My kids just loved them. You're going to experience constipation when you're transitioning so definitely be sure to include lots of fiber and liquids, even if it is more breast milk.
Good Luck.
We're still using Miralax after five years on my six-year-old. So I know ALL about it!

I would stop giving him bananas and start introducing some baby food prunes. My twin girls had the same problem and I found that bananas made it worse. The prunes will really help. I would start with about 1/2 of the container a day (the Gerber 1st food prunes).

Our daughter had the same problem at about the same age. Our doctor recommended giving her oatmeal instead of rice. He also recommended fruits that start with P--prunes, pears, peaches. Our daughter wouldn't drink prune juice so I started mixing her cereal with prune juice instead of water or breast milk. It only took a day or two before she was "cleaned out".

Be careful that if you are giving him the rice cereal and bananas that you are giving him something else with fiber. Both of those have a tendency to constipate. You are probablly fine if you just give him more of the pears or something of the sort.

My mother in law has done daycare for 20 years and starts her children on sippy cups at 6 months with their meals. She gives them just a little water and gives them sips in between bites. Eventually they catch on and they get used to drinking.

I always fed my babies their meal first and then nursed. Have you tried feeding him organic prune baby food? This will get things going. Don't forget to pick up some massage oil for your baby so you can give him a good baby massage after or before he eats. Massage aids in digestion and absorption of essential nutrients.

Iron in the cereal is constipating, but essential for baby. To compensate, give him fruits that begin with the letter "P" pears, peaches, prunes. These are great for helping him loosen up. Pear juice is much better than apple juice for this too.

I would switch from Rice to Oatmeal cereal. Also avoid bananas and applesauce/juice. Stick with fruits that start with P, especially Pears. I take a whole can and puree it with my hand wand and it makes a great pear sauce.
Good luck,
J.
Mom to almost 5.

Stop the cereal. My Dr didn't even have me feed it to my kids she said it was filler with low risk of allergies to start feeding little ones early on and we waited until 6 mos so we started right off on fruits and veggies. My daughter also had problems with constipation and we were told to give her any juice that started with a "P" we used pear juice; as little as 3 oz can be affective. Good luck!

D. take him off banana, that is what you give children when they have watery stooles and you might want to start giving him some green veg. like peas. green beans if you give him all orange veg. he will start to turn orange from to much carroteen my daughter did it started on her nose then her ears.

I read that Barley baby cereal is the better cereal choice for babies with constipation.

Once you start on food and a child enjoys the feeling of being full, backing off is hard.

For constipation I would suggest eliminating the rice cereal to start. It is made from ground uncooked rice which is harder to digest.

Introduce acidophilus (it comes in powder which you can simply put into a bottle with some water or apply directly to his tongue with your finger) to aid in digestion as well as an essential fatty acid like Flax Oil or Cod Liver Oil (flax has less flavor and is just as good). Put a teaspoon of an EFA in his cereal just before you serve it to him.

EFA's are the one thing that occurs naturally in breast milk that you cannot reproduce without a diet rich in raw nuts, avocados, or fish (or other oily foods...). You will have to supplement it until he really starts chewing.

Back off on the bananas and rice cereal (both are binding). That's what constipated my son at that age. I added oat cereal to his diet so that he was getting fiber and stoppped feeding him rice cereal. It was really the only thing that was effective for him. Every baby is different, but maybe it will help your son, too. Gradually try the different suggestions you've been given by the other moms. If you don't find something that works, check with your ped. It might be good to check with your ped. anyway, but mine said to try pear juice and prunes-which I already had. It sounds like you are doing what you should as far as breastfeeding. That should be helpful in keeping him regular, too. Maybe you could try offering b-milk after he eats, too? Or at times separate from meal times. My boy drinks milk sort of like a snack before his naps and he drinks 24-32 ounces a day, but he doesn't really drink much at meals (water is offered).-I also read the response about too many orange foods. It's true! My son loves the orange veggies and has yellowish skin. My ped said it was fine, but I should make sure the greens are balanced in his diet, too. I hadn't heard of this until my ped mentioned it at his last appointment.

Hi D.- I had the same questions for my 7 mo. old son's doctor just last month. He told me two servings of cereal was enough, back off bananas, and try prune juice or prunes. What has worked the best for us mixing his cereal (barley or rice) with apple prune juice for one meal a day until things have worked themselves out. So far we've only had to go a max of two days. Backing off the bananas didn't do anything, but I know they do cause problems for some kids.
J.