5 Month Old with Constipation

The methods most parents use now are a table spoon of dark karo syrup. For both of my children that was not enough to help the problem...so my doctor had me give them benefiber...it can be mixed right into their bottle. I put about a teaspoon in their bottle a few times until the problem worked itself out so to speak!

Good Luck!

I know some pediatricians recommend adding a little Karo syrup to the bottle or use glycerin suppositories for infants. Maybe ask a pharmacist for recommendations.

Both of my daughters (now 4 & 2) had that problem around your nephews age. Their Dr had me do a muxture of 1/2 prune juice and 1/2 water in their bottles. He also gave me some type of powder to add to water in their bottles (I can't remember the name) but the prune juice and water mixture did the trick, I nevwer had to use the meds. I did that once a week for about a month until they were regular and then just every now and then as needed.

Good Luck!

In reading the other responses, I would be cautious about giving juice. Infants given juice before the age of one are at a much higher risk for developing diabetes later in life. So be cautious, and if you do give juice, give just a little. Could you call your kid's pediatrician, and ask him or her what they think about it? Our pediatrician recommends the following: 1. Adding 2-3 ounces water daily, 2. Changing formula brands. They recommend Good Start formula to help with this issue. 3. Add corn syrup to a bottle. Start with a low dose (1-2 tsp per day), and increase by one teaspoon increments per day to a max of 1-2 tsp per bottle for 6 bottles per day. Do not use honey. The goal is to produce a soft bowel movement at least daily. 4. If corn syrup fails after 4-5 days of use, discontinue and try a fiber source such as Maltsupex. The dose is 1/2 to 2 tsp, 2-3 times daily. This is an OTC, but it has to be special ordered by the pharmacist. 5. If all else fails, consult your doc for instructions for infant sized glycerin suppository use. 6. Lower abdominal massage may help.

Good luck. Hope that helps.

My daughter had the same thing from birth. We took her to a specialist who prescribe miralax (now over the counter at any grocery/drug store). I blieve the dosage is 2 1/4 tsp. mixed in 6 oz of liquid. We give her this every morning with her milk and she is never constipated. works like a charm. My niece had the same exact problem as well and they started her on the miralax and it cleared her problem up as well. Hope it works for you!! Our daughter still uses it and she is 3 years old now.

applesauce and prune juice.

Go to Whole Foods or Vitamin Cottage and get him some Baby Calm...put it in his juice, milk or mix it with food it is Magnesium (a product the body naturally makes) and works great...we use it on both of our kids and I use the adult calm...it helps with restlessness, leg cramps...all sorts of things...Hope it helps...

Try a formula with less iron. My daughter had that problem and the pediatrician said it was because the manufacturers put lots of iron in the formula because a lot of lower income mothers use less powder than you are supposed to so they can stretch out how long the can lasts. Find a low iron formula and I bet you will see a huge difference.

My daughter is 9 and still has that problem. We give her 100% juice usually apple will help loosen things up. Stay away from foods that constipate like Bananas. When your insurance goes into effect, talk with his pediatrician.

Does he eat a healthy diet? Fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains? Milk and water, rather than juices/soda? Most important thing is to start with a healthy diet -- cut out the processed foods, canned foods, sugar-filled foods, and give him healthy snacks and meals. Give him fresh fruits, carrot sticks, things that are natural and wholesome. If you've already got him on a good diet, try adding healthy things like prunes pears, prune or pear juice to his diet (start slow!) - that is a much better way to help relieve constipation than adding sugar. For babies, people will use Karo syrup but since he's older, I'd try the other ideas first.
Good luck!

Well, with my son I just gave him a little coconut juice and that cleared the problem. Not a ton just a little juice, and its natural.

My daughter had this issue and the peds told us to get these gel for constipation and slice long way and then stick it up her. There is also apple juice to give the infant. Your allowed to give them 1 ounce for every month they are. If you are using regular juice and not the juice in the baby aisle i would dilute it down. My mom also used karo syrup for us but I would call the pediatrics to find out exactly how much to give or try lookig it up on web md. I hope this helps and gl.

Don't know if you have already called your pediatrition but, mine recommended caro syrup and if that didn't work pear juice. The pear juice worked however, when it was that big and that hard we would have to get a suppository. They have them for children and was told to break them in half. Then it would happen usually within the day. Just to let you know my son is now two and we still have problems with constipation every now and then. It's horrible to know that they are in so much pain. Even more so now that he undertands more and is a little more traumatizing. Now I understand why people have issues with potty training. Good luck. Hope he feels better. Also, my pediatritian told me absolutley NO water at that age. I'm sure that all opinions differ but that it could cause liver, kidney issues. So before you give water I would definately recommend talking to the DR.

I would suggest seeing if there is a way to add fiber to his diet.

Two words: prune juice. It tastes good and works like a charm.

Hello,
My daughter has had constipation since birth. Sugar is not the way to go!! Their little bodies don't process it like honey it is terrible for them. Prune juice on the other hand works wonders!! Start with a 3 to 1 mix 3 water to one prune juice, and increase to 1 to one if necessary. Keep in mind it's pretty strong & you don't want to give him reflux w/ the acidity, thats why you work your way up. My daughters pediatrician suggested Miralax for the worst of times but you should contact yours for dosage info. She now gets prunes or prune juice every day and we rarely have to use Miralax. Finally talk to you pediatrician about constipating foods & formulas everything else he's eating will definitely effect him.
Good luck
K

Hi M.,

I know that nowadays, doctors say not to give your babies water, however, both my kids got water daily from the time they were born. (I see NO ill effects because of it.) I would suggest giving the baby a little water with a touch of Karo syrup in it (the clear kind). A persons body is made up of mostly water so its beyond me why they say not to give it to babies. I think EVERYONE (any age) needs water! Either that or give him some apple juice, maybe a couple ounces every day. I know I'm not much help, just had to get my 2 cents worth in! (By the way, my *kids* are now 36 yrs old and 17 yrs old...yeah I know they got spaced a little too far apart! LOL)