Constipation - Manhattan Beach,CA

Hi P.,

I just went through the same thing with my daughter. She is now 7 months but several weeks ago she was VERY constipated. My husband and I did a little research and found the following advice (from Dr. Sears Baby Book):

1) remove binding foods from diet - example bananas, apples, also cereals usually have a lot of iron so this binds as well
2) if that doesn't help, add foods the loosen - peaches, pears, apricots, prunes, plums (my daughter had an allergic reaction to prunes, but pears and peaches helped a lot).
Water, apple juice are also good to add to diet as well.
3) if neither of 1 or 2 help, you may have to use a laxative/suppository. Unfortunately, we had to go this route. My daughter was so uncomfortable and irratable for a couple of days :( We used 1 pedialax (from drug store) laxative/suppository and we had a BM within 10 minutes. And then our daughter was happy again.

The sad thing is when I called the dr, the lady that I talked to suggested switching from rice to oatmeal, and add apples or prunes.
Well oatmeal had just as much iron as rice and apples bind as well...so I was giving her more things to stop her up. :(
We removed all cereal from her diet for 2 weeks and she was just getting breastmilk, peaches, pears, and veggies. Plus I would try to get her to take apple juice (just an ounce or so a day). And she has been pretty regular ever since.
Now, we don't give her as much cereal with each meal and I make sure that she gets peaches or pears pretty regularly.

I hope this helps and good luck!

my 5 month old is in the same boat. Her pediatrician suggested an ounce of warm water once a day and if she seems really constipated to mix 1 part prune juice with 2 parts water. This will probably last until you start her on a sippy cup (at 6 months we can introduce watered down juices) as she starts taking less bottles or breast feeding less often.

I personally recommend feeding your daughter prunes if you haven't tried them yet. My little one loves the Gerber prunes or the baby food ones from Whole Foods. A container of either and Chloe is good to go for a few days. Just get ready for some messy diapers.

I would add some prune juice (about an oz) to my daughter's BM bottle. This would help her tremendously.
I would buy it from Trader Joes or Whole Foods.

Good luck~!

Hi P.:
If you just began her on solids, you may be introducing to much,all at once.You need to take things slow.(Nice and easy) Introduce her to cerial and a little fruit,then after her system gets adapted to that, start her on veggies,wait a while,then start her on meat.Alex mentioned staying away from apples and bananas right now,and shes absolutely right.try others, like peaches and pears,until her constipation subsides.Also I'd stay away from the rice cerial and give her oatmeal for the time being. Its a little easier for her to digest.I wish you and your darlin daughter the best.

Hi P.,

Actually, apples will bind your little one, and so will bananas. Apple juice is ok, although I don't know if you're giving her that yet.