I am also shocked that your doc switched your baby to whole milk...infants are not able to properly digest whole milk....it can actually cause constipation, let alone all the problems with early use and allergies.
Also, I wouldn't use any type of syrup or put anything in her drinks...there have been documented cases of infants catching botulism from Karo syrup.
What type of milk did she drink before the doc swiched her to regular milk? Certain formulas can cause constipation and others are processed with broken down proteins in order to be easier for the baby to digest. Soy can also cause constipation. Try one of the gentler formulas like Carnation Good Start or the new one by Enfamil...I think it's called Gentlease or something of the like.
And if she is eating solids, you can try prunes or pears, which are helpful for constipation issues. Sometimes straight prunes can cause stomach cramps, so don't over do it.
Try websites that utilize Dr. Sears or Dr. Brazelton for advice. They are both terrific peds.
Research carefully and make a informed decision before you do anything. Good Luck
My son is constipated all of the time. My doctor had me mix 2 oz. of apple juice and 1 oz. of prune juice and heat it in the microwave. Let it cool down awhile to where it is a little warmer than room temperature. Within 2 hours he would have a bowel movement that wasn't painful.
Hey April, Karo syrup works, put a little of it in her bottle and it will make the constipation go away without laxatives. I always used the light syrup, about a teaspoon. Hope that helps!
Put a little vaseline on a q-tip and place it inside the anus, just a little, and it will help the baby to poop. Make sure she drinks at least 8-16 oz. of water a day. You may also try getting a small enima bottle. It looks like a tiny squeeze bottle with a small straw on the end. Use warm water and place it gently in the baby's bottom. Let the water come out on it's own, don't squeeze. The water will help loosen the stool with no ill effects to your baby.
My 8 month-old was constipated recently, and he got better when I eliminated rice from his diet (both regular rice and those rice puff snacks).
That being said, regular cow's milk can actually cause constipation. The AAP doesn't recommend it for babies under a year old. Like a previous poster said, try switching brands of formula instead.
If you havent tried Mylucan drops (i think i spelled that wrong), try them, this might help if she has gas pains and is not able to pass a healthy bm. If that doesnt or hasnt worked, get your child to a specialist to make sure it isnt an obstruction. I went through this with my daughter. Other things that we used to keep her regular was prunes and grapes (seedless/skinless), limit her bananas and dairy.
My daughter had the same problem when she started eating rice cereal. I gave her prune juice mixed w/water, one part to one. It worked like a charm! She's 16 months now and I still give it to her every once in a while. She even likes it, if you can believe that! If you haven't tried this already, please try it before you resort to other unnatural means. Most of the time, the old remedies work, we just need to go back to our roots! ;-)Good Luck!
I agree with the other ladies...prune juice or prune baby food has worked for me. I've also hear Karo works like a charm. If she's on rice cereal switch to oatmeal. Rice is really binding and can cause constipation.
I'd seek a 2nd opinion regarding using cows milk instead of formula. That just doesn't sound right. Your baby needs the nutrients from formula for the first year of her life. Switching to milk is of no benefit to her, especially if she's having problems with cow's milk based formula. Try a soy based formula like Enfamil Prosobee or Lactofree, without lactose. Get her back on some formula, she needs it! Good Luck, keep us updated!
i always gave my child a mixture of prunes and applesauce,,as the dessert,,if you start her off eating this,,she will eat it about 1 time a week or so,,keep her going good and gentle
When my daughter was 10 months old, I stopped breastfeeding & she had the same problem. My grandma told me to put a little Karo Syrup Light in her bottle mixed in with the milk or formula. Its a clear syrup found with the pancake syrup's or with the baking items. It really works. I put about a tablespoon or a little less. And it will not be long...you will be changing stinky diapers again. Then use as needed. Good luck.
All I can say is grapes! grapes! greapes! Everytime my kids eat grapes they sh*t like crazy! Thankfully now the two older kids are potty trained but when they weren't and ate too many grapes! OMG! I always made my husband change their diapers! Because I WAS NOT touching it with a 10 foot pole!
Hope this helps you!!!! Christa
I know that this sounds crazy but try kool-aid. My friends daughter got so contstipated that she would hold it for so long my friend would have to take her leg and bend her knees into her stomach to make her go. Finally a doctor who could help them w/out feeding her daughter medicane told her to try kool-aid. Low and behold after EVERYTHING possible, it cured it. Good luck!!
my daughter has the same problem. She is 14 months. i give her prune and apple juice made by gerber. They come in little bottles in the baby dept. Within a day or two she will go. But you have to keep giving it to her everyday. I have also put her in a warm bath and that helped her.
well, not sure if this would be something you want to try, but an option. Chocolate and coffee are always good for me. I drink one cup coffee a day and then i go. If not that, try lots of applesauce or some sort of fruit. That should work. Thanks, Amber
April,
My son was put on Miralax for several years. I believe he started with it before he was 2 yrs old and took it until he was 5. It worked well for him and caused his system no harm.
We took him off of the medication and began giving him a juice called Peach Nectar. A friend recommended it and it has been working very well for my son for almost a year now. I don't know if there is an age stipulation or not, but I would strongly recommend trying PEACH NECTAR. You can find it at most grocery stores near the juice isle or the "mexican" section of your store.
Good luck,
Andrea H
P.S. Don't be fooled by all fruits are created equal. Don't give your little one bananas frequently. Apple juice & sauce did not help us either. I would definatley try the peach nectar- you can mix with a little water to thin it some. Pear juice is also a good option. I saw that someone else had written that.