When Should I Worry About Baby Constipation?

Why is my baby not constipated?

Sometimes your baby is not really constipated, but must be given time to set his own schedule for having a bowel movement. Normally, an infant’s stool is soft and easily passed. Even if an infant is not constipated, his bowel movements may be irregular. In rare cases, constipation may be caused by a lack of nerves or by structural problems in …

Signs of Constipation. Infrequent stools that are difficult to pass. Straining more than normal to have a bowel movement. Stools formed like small, hard small pebbles, stools that are soft and mushy; stools that are wide and large. Liquid stool (like diarrhea) that may be passing around solid stool that stays inside.

If your baby is eating rice cereal, it may help to switch to oatmeal or barley cereal. Rice cereal can cause constipation in some children. Do not give your baby enemas, laxatives, or suppositories unless you are told to do so by the doctor.

What to give a baby when constipated?

If your baby seems constipated, consider simple dietary changes: Water or fruit juice. Offer your baby a small amount of water or a daily serving of 100 percent apple, prune or pear juice in addition to usual feedings. These juices contain sorbitol, a sweetener that acts like a laxative.

Offer whole wheat, barley or multigrain cereals, which contain more fiber than rice cereal. If your baby is struggling, it’s been a few days since his or her last bowel movement, and dietary changes haven’t been effective, it might help to place an infant glycerin suppository into your baby’s anus.

Bowel movements that appear difficult to pass , causing your baby to arch his or her back or cry. If your newborn seems constipated, contact his or her doctor for advice. But keep in mind that the normal amount of bowel movements an infant passes varies depending on his or her age and what he or she is eating.

Infants also have weak abdominal muscles and often strain during bowel movements. Infant constipation is unlikely if your baby passes a soft bowel movement after a few minutes of straining.

However, glycerin suppositories are only meant for occasional use. Don’t use mineral oil, stimulant laxatives or enemas to treat infant constipation. Rarely, infant constipation is caused by an underlying condition, such as Hirschsprung’s disease, hypothyroidism or cystic fibrosis.

How to know if your child has constipation?

Any other symptoms with constipation-fever, vomiting or diarrhea. Bleeding in the stool or from the rectum. Swelling or distension of the belly.

Constipation in children is common. It affects 30 percent of kids at some point in their life, is usually short lived and not severe. Most people call this functional constipation (despite how functional or dysfunctional you feel in the midst of it).

Poor growth or weight loss. Other, non-belly symptoms, especially neurologic symptoms like weakness or abnormal sensation in the legs.

Grandson has a distended stomach and is refusing to go poop. He said it will hurt but he has leakage several times a day. It’s been 2 weeks and doctors appointment isn’t for 5 more days. Should he be seen at the hospital?