Has Anyone Used the Karo Syrup?

Old wives tales are wonderful and always the best. But, please don't use the Karo syrup one. There's been a new study just out that they've identified either mercury or aluminum in some of the corn syrup products, from the machinery used in processing the corn. Please, don't even take any chances with this as mercury and aluminum both are questionable in autism and also learning disabilities. Apple juice is binding, but prune juice is safe, but at that young age, always check with your pediatrician first.

First of all, Congrats to you on having a new baby boy! How exciting... enjoy every day since they go fast!

When we changed from BF-ing to exclusively formula we had the same problem. After a couple of weeks of her having hard rock like bowels and cramping with stinky gas we switched her to soy based formula and things got better fast. That might be an option! Lots of peds offices can give you a sample can of it. I used Similac Soy Formula.

Another thing that may help is moving his little legs like in a bicycle movement. Also running the belly in a circular motion. It helps get things moving a little bit and it might even make it easier for him to go. It also helps with gas as well- just do not sit on the recieving end :) We also did warm baths to soothe her... she enjoyed them and would relax a lot in them.

I am not sure how comfortable I would be giving an infant Karo Syrup. This is something I would definately discuss with his pediatrician. If your next appt is not soon then put a call in to them. I am sure they will get you in sooner or probably even help over the phone!

Good luck and many blessings to you and yours!

**** I was just babbling with my hubby over this and our daughter when he reminded me that we would have this problem no matter which formula we used if we did not heat it up. Might want to give that a try! (hate when Daddy remembers more than me lol)

Have you consider changing the formula ? I found that similac brand cause constipation for my child. But enfamil brand is fine. My friend has the same problem also. I think switching formula will be better than keep giving karo syrup.

Hi A....Iam alittle late responding but I thought I would answer anyways...when my nephew was an infact (he is 13 now). He couldnt take any kind of formula and my sister couldnt breastfeed so the only chose was regular mile with karo syrup in it, but my sister used a full teaspoon in atleast 1 of his bottles a day so he would not have a problem with is bowels. Now with all of our kids anytime with have a problem with backed-up bowels we will feed them a teaspoon of karo syrup and with in a couple hrs they are able to go....but we buy the clear syrup not the dark syrup. I dont remember the reasoning behind it to be honest. Good Luck and it wont hurt your baby at all....And congrats on your baby boy.

I used it with my son, but he was about 6 months and I put it in water. I also only used a VERY little bit, not even 1/2 tsp. It did work, but I am not sure I would be comfortable using this method on such a little baby. I never used formula, but maybe trying another type of formula might be easier on his belly.
Good luck,
K.

Hi,
When my 5 year old was little our Ped told us to do that. So it is safe.

S.

Like many of these other moms, I used Karo successfully for my preemie son. His poops would be so hard and so large it looked like he was trying to push a baseball out! Karo syrup and sometimes the help of a rectal thermometer worked for quite some time. If it no longer works, our doctor recommended Agoral for him as a baby, then another lax we used in bottle. At about 2 years old we switched him to Children's Senokot. It was chocolate flavored and we mixed it in his milk. He had this problem for a long time, but now at age 13 has normal, daily BMs. Keep the faith!

I have used this before. I was actually told to use this by our doctor. She said just put a tiny bit of the uncolored Karo syrup in with the formula. It helped my daughter go. Hope this helps and hope your little one goes!

We used Karo syrup - at the advice of my doctor - with boy of my boys. They were both breastfed, so we didn't start it until they were on cereal (they didn't need it before then). It really helped with both of them. And since my oldest could eat an entire pint of blueberries and still be constipated, the Karo was really necessary! Good luck

I would switch formulas maybe soy or lactose free you will be suprised what a difference it makes...

My son LIVED on Karo syrup at my pediatrician's suggestion to ease constipation when he was an infant. He had the same trouble if I gave him more than 2 oz formula. You have to use the dark Karo, according to my pediatrician. It was a life saver!

I used the syrup. It worked well! Thank god it worked! I cannot remember if I put it in formula or water. You don't need alot of it though.

Have you talked to your ped about this? My daughter had the same thing and we had to change formulas. I wouldn't use the syrup because it's got so much junk in it that especially a 2 month old should never have in their system. You have to find the reason for the constipation, not just keep doing the same old thing and making him miserable. The syrup is just a band aid and not a permanent solution. Their digestive system can't process the syrup so talk to your doctor and find the right formula.

Yours in health,
K.

my sister used it with two of her kids and it worked great. She used the white syrup she would put in their bottles. The only problem was getting the off it because they liked the sweetness so much.

I would recommend using Baby Calm (buy it at Whole Foods). It works wonderfully.

Also add a probiotic into his bottles or digestive enzymes.

My third son was severly constipated when he switched over to soy formula at 6 months. All of the above turned things back to normal.

It has been my experience that old wives tales are usually the best.

Sorry just read this, but sounds like you may need another fix in the next few days. I used mango juice or mango puree and it really helped when my son was tiny like yours. That was on the recommendation of our pediatrician.

Hi A., this is not a wives tale. My pediatrician recommended I use a teaspoon in his formula before he was three months old & then after to use apple prune juice. Something about the calorie intake being more with the apple prune juice. I would talk to your ped first however because this was a one time thing & I don't know if I'd do it without checking with him first.
Good luck!

I used the karo syrup with all 3 of my kids. It doesn't take much, they like the taste, and it works. Good luck.

A.-
I was advised to also use KARO syrup too. My oldest (14 now) was having the same exact problem. My Dr.. did advise me the same thing... however, it didn't work for us, I used "babylax" suppositories and when he was in alot of pani, Dr. told me to just stimulate him with the thermometer and that made him go for sure.

I've been in your shoes, I remember the pain they went through... it was awful & you feel so helpless. Hope this helped a little... they will grow out of it. Mine did!!!

M.

Hi A.,

Our pediatrician actually recommends the karo syrup for helping with BMs. There recommendation was 1 Tablespoon of light karo syrup with 2 oz of water up to once a day. Our little one was on soy formula and it made her constipated. We made our formula in a larger batch and added the karo mix everyday. That helped keep her regular.

We had this problem with one of our son's, and our pediatrician told us to use Karo syrup and it worked for us. I can't recall however how old he was when we did it....

I have used it with both daugthers (formulas fed from the age of 3 weeks). I only used a couple drops in a bottle, but it almost always did the trick... :)

I see you used the syrup, and it worked. My ped. told me to use it for both of my girls and it did work. I wouldn't switch formulas, like some suggested. My youngest was on soy and still had the same problems. And if you ask alot of the older generations they used it on their kids, and I'm pretty sure we all turned out ok. Just giving my say on things, and I'm happy for you that it worked out.

Hi A.,

Yes, I have used it. It does work! My pediatrician told me to put about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon in with your formual. Its worth a try! Good luck!

J. M.

You might not want to use the Karo syrup too often, since it has corn and it is sweet. It could be harmful for long term use. Instead, talk with your doctor. Mineral Oil does the same thing and doesn't have anything harmful in it, it is also cheaper too.

My family has used this for years. I in fact just last week recommended it to another mama source mom. It works. put it in a bottle of warm formula. and within a very short time it works. I am not sure a half teaspoon will do anything at all thought. More like a tablespoon. But try it. it won't hurt anything and will make him feel so much better afterwards.

Hi A.,
Congrats on your first baby, you get so excited but then when they are born you realize they do not come with an instruction manual. Yes the Karo syrup does work. My pediatricain used to recommend it for my kids whent hey were babies with the formula and especialy when they started taking cereal in formula at night.You may want to change formula. We used Similac and neither if my kids responded well.They had gas from it. One responded to the soy based version and the other one I put on Carnation, way cheaper and better.

My grandmother used it on my kids and it made it worse, sugar creates constipation. Use applesauce in the formula, natural laxative.

Hi A.,

We had to use the Karo too. My brother-in-law is a pharmacist and he recommended it to us. It worked great. Our son's problem has persisted and he is now 3 years old. Our pediatrician has us now using Mirolax. We thought at some point we would be able to wean him from this, but everytime we try he gets backed up again. We give him a very small dose each day in his morning milk to keep him regulated. It is straight fiber so our dr said it would not hurt him. He also eats lots of fruit and vegggies too however seems to need this extra boost of fiber.

Blessings,
L.

My son is 2 years old now and I used the Karo syrup a few times when he was an infant. Either he was due to go or it really works. The pediatrician gave me the idea. I don't think it hurts to try! Good Luck!

Our daughter had the same problem. We put in one tsp. of prune juice into her AM bottle and then she started to go daily. It really seemed to help with her straining and now (11 months old) we don't use it at all.

Isee it worked...I was going to tell ya I have used that with all 3 kids and it has worked well with each of them. Our Dr. recommmended it!

Mineral oil? Corn Syrup? O my! I would think apple or prune juice very diluted you would a more natural approach than sugar syrup or (have you looked up what mineral oil really is?!?!?!) Honestly I would supplement with some omega oils (adults can do fish, but probably not good for babies. Not sure if ground flaxseed is possible either, but this or prune juice would be preferable over the other 2 choices

I'm late in responding to this, but I agree with those who have advised using fruit juices such as prune or apple. Karo syrup is pure corn syrup loaded with unnecessary sugar.