Infant Constipation

Updated on January 17, 2009
M.S. asks from Baltimore, MD
18 answers

My 2 week old seems to be constipated at times. is there anything I can do from home to help make his bowel movements less painful?

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B.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi M.! I know this may sound funny, but my pediatrician told me to put 2T of Light Karo Syrup in my son's bottle. It did work for him.

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K.W.

answers from Dover on

When my daughter was constipated. The doctor recommended me to put Miralax in her bottle. It is safe of the belly but helps loosen things up.

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K.R.

answers from Washington DC on

My son was also constipated that young and the doctor said to put Karo syrup in his bottles. She said to start with one teaspoon and increase to one Tablespoon if needed.

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T.B.

answers from Norfolk on

When my youngest was little, she was extremely constipated. She would only go once every 3-4 days. My pediatrician first suggested giving her a tablespoon of dark kayro syrup in her bottles. We did this in every bottle. You can also try to stimulate her when you see she is trying to go. With my daughter, it took using her thermometer and inserting it slightly into her rectum. I have heard of babies that could be stimulated by using a baby wipe and gently wiping across their anus.

I hope this helps!

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L.A.

answers from Charlottesville on

We had to give my daughter Kayro syrup. I don't remember the exact dosage I think it was 1 teaspoon in her milk.

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L.G.

answers from Washington DC on

The only thing that worked for my little one was pedialite, watered down of course, just once a day.

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A.C.

answers from Washington DC on

clear karo syrup- my Ped. told me about it- safe and natural. We had gone the gammut of switching ut formula's and this worked w/ a soy based one. We also did this each bottle. He's 5 now and I still will put some in his "hot chocolate" when he gets tight! It STILL works!

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D.J.

answers from Norfolk on

I know how you feel, my son had that problem from 2 mths to 1 year. It is painful to see them go through that. My pediatrician had me change the formula to a more light weight one and had me give him white grape juice once a day. It worked on occasion, but I think my son was so scared of the pain that he made himself constipated, so nothing else worked. He eventually grew out of it when he started getting potty trained.

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J.B.

answers from Washington DC on

Take his temperature rectally... seriously. They did this to my son at one of his first Dr. appts. and it really worked. Give it a try.

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J.W.

answers from Richmond on

Second the temperature taking - our doctor said the same thing. Use the rectal thermometer with vaseline and slide it in (only up to the standard guideline) and gently slide it in and out for a few seconds. The doctor said this will stimulate those little muscles into working. Sometimes it worked for us in seconds, sometimes in and hour.

The main probablem at that age is not necessarily constipation, but their little bodies learning how to work. My first daughter went through it for a month, my sond for about 2 weeks.

Congratulations! Welcome to motherhood. Bet you knew you would be changing diapers - bet you didn't know you would be forced to cause them! The things they don't tell you at the baby shower!

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S.W.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi M.,

Yes, there are lots of things to do. Try massaging his belly, also you can lay him on his back and roll his legs up towards his head. You can also check out more ideas at www.askdrsears.com.

Good luck, S.

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L.R.

answers from Washington DC on

Are you nursing or using formula? Formula could be an issue. It can take a while to find the right one for your baby. I nursed and gave my babies 1-2 ounces of warm water occassionally (not bottled but filtered). I have known of babies having allergies, as well. I would ask your pediatrician about systems of allergies. God Bless!

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E.S.

answers from Richmond on

M.,
Gerber pear juice works wonders for little ones who are constipated. I have used this with 3 of my 5 after it being recommended by my ped. and I wont use anything else. Personally I think it woks better that apple or prune juice. You only need to give him an ounce or 2 to help relieve him. Good luck, constipated litte one are no fun.

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K.H.

answers from Washington DC on

M.

With all 3 of mine when they were constipated as newborns I boiled some water & let it cool , then I would put 4oz in a bottle with 1oz of orange juice and let them drink that just before I fed them (they won't drink it all). Do this once or twice and from then on just give a little cooled boiled water before you feed them , this should help to keep them from becoming constipated again.

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H.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi M.-

If your baby is truly constipated then his poop will come out as little solid balls. If it just seems like hes having problem getting the poop out but his poop is soft (normal formula fed baby poop is like toothpaste consistency in various Fall colors (greens sometime orangey looking), breast-fed baby poop is usually yellow mustardy colored and pretty watery, sometimes with small seedy looking bits...like stone ground mustard) then he is NOT constipated. Babies as young as your sometimes will be very noisey and even cry when they are having bowel movements. If he isn't really constipated, he might just be gassy (Myclecon drops might help, and making sure you burp him well after he eats.) And some babies are just noisey poopers.

If he is not really constipated, I wouldn't give him Karo syrup nor juice. If he is formula fed, you could try switching his formula to see if another brand works better for his system.

Good luck!

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S.Y.

answers from Washington DC on

I would check with your doctor first but I can tell you what mine recommended when this happened to my daughter. She told me to drink prune juice and since I was breast feeding it would then help my daughter's constipation. I did work. I wasn't thrilled with it but it helped her and that was all that mattered. Good luck!

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A.G.

answers from Norfolk on

My daughter had horrible constipation for her first several months. Here are a couple things to try:
1) Ask your doctor if it's okay to supplement breast milk/formula with prune juice. It helps soften the stool and makes it easier for him to push it out.
2) Get some glycerin suppositories from the drugstore. You just tuck one up his little rectum and voila! a bm happens quite quickly. We went through a lot of these.

For some reason, none of the books we had mentioned constipation in babies (this was 1999-2000), except the Dr. Sears book. That one was a God-send!

Good luck!

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J.D.

answers from Norfolk on

well let me start off with congrat.....now i have a question for you.....do you breastfeed or do formula in the bottle??

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