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How to help a infant poop


Symptoms, Treatment and When to Call a Doctor

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Constipation (con-sta-PA-shun) in infants can worry parents. Most of the time, your baby is not really constipated. They may not have developed a routine for pooping yet. Some babies do not develop a bowel movement (BM) pattern for a while.

An infant’s BM pattern can change if their diet changes, like switching from breastmilk to formula, starting solid foods, or drinking less formula than usual. If your baby’s stool (poop) is not soft or easily passed, then they may be constipated.

In rare cases, constipation may be caused by a lack of nerves going to the intestines or by a problem with the way the intestine formed at birth. Your baby can be tested for these conditions if your health care provider feels it is needed.

Signs of Constipation

  • less stools than their usual pattern
  • straining more than normal to have a bowel movement
  • a change in how the stool looks from soft and mushy to:
    • small, hard pebbles, or like a large, round golf ball
    • loose and watery
  • abdomen (belly) bloated or swollen with gas
  • painful cramps

Treatment

  • If your baby is not eating baby food yet, you may give 1 to 2 ounces of 100% fruit juice (pear, prune, cherry, or apple) once a day. Stop the juice if their stools become too loose.
  • If they are old enough to eat baby foods, feed them pureed pears, peaches, or prunes instead of giving them juice.
  • If your baby eats cereal, it may help to give oatmeal, wheat, or barley cereal. Rice cereal can cause constipation in some children.
  • Sometimes giving your baby a warm bath to relax them or exercising their legs, like riding a bicycle, will help stimulate the bowels to move (Picture 1).
  • If it has been a few days since your baby has pooped and the juice or pureed food has not worked, then you can try a glycerin suppository. Place your baby on their back. Gently push the suppository into their anus (bottom). Suppositories are meant for occasional use.
  • Contact your baby’s health care provider before giving them laxatives, baby mineral oil, or enemas to treat constipation.

Medical Therapy

Your child’s health care provider may order the following treatments:

  • Give your child medication.
  • Check your child’s temperature using a digital, rectal thermometer. Put a small amount of petroleum jelly (Vaseline®) on its tip before inserting into the rectum. Taking a rectal temperature may stimulate the baby to pass stool.

When to Call the Health Care Provider

Call the health care provider if any of the following occurs:

  • Your baby is irritable and seems to be having stomach pain. Infants will pull their legs up to their stomach and cry when they are in pain.
  • Your baby has constipation and develops vomiting, and their belly looks like it is bloated or filled with gas.
  • You see blood in their stool.
  • Their constipation does not get better with treatment.

If you have any questions or concerns, call your baby’s health care provider.

Constipation: Infant (PDF), Spanish (PDF), Somali (PDF), Arabic (PDF), Nepali (PDF)

HH-I-14 ©Copyright 1984, Revised 2022, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

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Baby constipation: Top 7 home remedies

Babies often go a long time between bowel movements. Most of the time, it is normal for a baby to go days or even more than a week without a bowel movement. However, a baby may sometimes be constipated and need a little help.

If a baby is constipated, a pediatrician may recommend using home remedies as a first-line treatment for baby constipation.

Home remedies for constipation in a baby include:

1. Exercise


Moving a baby’s legs can help relieve constipation.

As with adults, exercise and movement tend to stimulate a baby’s bowels.

However, as babies may not be walking or even crawling yet, a parent or caregiver may want to help them exercise to relieve constipation.

The parent or caregiver can gently move the baby’s legs while they are lying on their back to mimic the motion of riding a bicycle. Doing this may help the bowels function and relieve constipation.

2. A warm bath

Giving a baby a warm bath can relax their abdominal muscles and help them stop straining. It can also relieve some of the discomfort relating to constipation.

3. Dietary changes

Certain dietary changes may help constipation, but these will vary depending on the baby’s age and diet.

While breastfeeding a baby, a woman could eliminate certain foods, such as dairy, from her diet. It may take some trial and error to identify the dietary changes that help, and it is quite possible that changes in the diet will have no effect on the baby’s constipation.

For formula-fed babies, a parent or caregiver may want to try a different kind of formula. It is best not to switch to a gentle or dairy-free formula without consulting a pediatrician first. If one change does not make a difference, continuing to try different formulas is unlikely to help.

If an infant is eating solid foods, parents or caregivers should look to introduce foods that are good sources of fiber.

Many fruits and vegetables can help stimulate the bowels because of their higher fiber content. Good food choices for babies with constipation include:

  • skinless apples
  • broccoli
  • whole grains, such as oatmeal or whole-grain bread or pasta
  • peaches
  • pears
  • plums

4.

Hydration

Young infants do not typically need supplemental liquids as they get their hydration from breast milk or formula.

However, babies that are constipated may benefit from a small amount of extra liquid.

Pediatricians sometimes recommend adding a small amount of water or, occasionally, fruit juice, to the baby’s diet when they are over 2–4 months old and are constipated.

5. Massage

There are several ways to massage a baby’s stomach to relieve constipation. These include:

  • Using the fingertip to make circular motions on the stomach in a clockwise pattern.
  • Walking the fingers around the naval in a clockwise pattern.
  • Holding the baby’s knees and feet together and gently pushing the feet toward the belly.
  • Stroking from the rib cage down past the belly button with the edge of a finger.

6. Fruit juice


A small amount of pure apple juice can help soften stool.

After a baby reaches 2–4 months of age, they can have a small amount of fruit juice, such as 100-percent prune or apple juice. This juice may help treat constipation.

Experts may recommend starting with about 2–4 ounces of fruit juice. The sugar in the juice is hard to digest. As a result, more liquid enters the intestines, which helps soften and break up the stool.

However, a parent or caregiver should not give fruit juice to a baby for the first time without consulting their pediatrician.

7. Taking a rectal temperature

When a baby is constipated, taking the baby’s rectal temperature with a clean, lubricated thermometer may help them pass stool.

It is important not to use this method very often, as it can make constipation worse. The baby may start not wanting to pass a bowel movement without help, or they may begin to associate having a bowel movement with discomfort, leading them to fuss or cry more during the process.

Anyone who feels as though they often need to use this method to help the baby have a bowel movement should talk to the baby’s doctor.

As infants may go for extended periods without a bowel movement, it can be hard to tell if they are constipated. Signs that indicate constipation in a baby include:

  • infrequent stools that are not soft in consistency
  • clay-like stool consistency
  • hard pellets of stool
  • long periods of straining or crying while trying to have a bowel movement
  • streaks of red blood in the stool
  • lack of appetite
  • a hard belly

Signs of constipation in babies vary depending on their age and diet. A normal bowel movement before a baby begins eating solid food should be very soft, almost like the consistency of peanut butter or even looser.

Hard baby stool prior to solid food is the most obvious indication of constipation in babies.

At first, breastfed babies may pass stool often since breast milk is easy to digest. However, once a baby is between 3 and 6 weeks old, they may only pass a large, soft stool once a week and sometimes even less.

Formula-fed babies tend to pass stool more frequently than breastfed babies. Most formula-fed babies will have a bowel movement at least once a day or every other day. However, some formula-fed babies may go longer between bowel movements without being constipated.

Once a parent introduces solid food to a baby’s diet, a baby may be more likely to experience constipation. A baby may also be more likely to become constipated if a parent or caregiver introduces cow’s milk (other than formula) to their diet.

Share on PinterestA doctor should assess a baby with ongoing constipation.

It is advisable to call a pediatrician if a baby has not passed a stool after a day or two and there are other signs present, such as:

  • blood in the stool
  • the baby seems to be irritable
  • the baby appears to have abdominal pain
  • there is no improvement in the baby’s constipation after taking steps to treat it

Treatment typically starts with home remedies. If home remedies do not work, a doctor may examine the baby and, in rare cases, prescribe medications, such as:

  • laxatives
  • enemas
  • suppositories

People should never give these medications to a baby unless a doctor prescribes them.

Constipation can lead to discomfort and irritability in a baby. People can try several at-home methods to help alleviate constipation.

If symptoms do not improve, it is best to speak to the infant’s pediatrician for additional strategies.

Read the article in Spanish.

symptoms, causes, diagnosis, how to help a child with constipation

How to solve the problem and help the baby?

Constipation is one of the most common problems in children. According to statistics, in Russia constipation occurs in every fourth child 1 . And this problem significantly complicates the calm and cheerful life of both the child and and parents, because constipation often causes pain, the child the mood deteriorates, the parents are on their nerves - in general, there is little good. nine0003

In order not to miss the problem of constipation in the baby, we armed ourselves
scientific knowledge and talk about how to identify constipation,
why does it occur and what to give a child with constipation?

Causes of constipation in children nine0017

There are quite a few of them and almost all of them depend on age child. That is, constipation in infants and schoolchildren cause different reasons. Let's consider them in more detail.

Stress and change routine

These reasons are typical, as a rule, for babies. under the age of one year. In this tender age, coordination muscle contractions of the intestinal wall can be violated 5 , which leads to difficulties with defecation. In addition, constipation in infants may occur after switching to artificial mixtures 1 . In breast milk contains many beneficial intestinal flora substances - dietary fiber, a large amount of fat, proteins in the optimal ratio. All of them contribute normal bowel movements 6 .

Stress and change routine

Common causes of constipation are new conditions that break the child's usual daily routine and environment. So, for example, a violation of defecation often appears during potty training, with the start of attending kindergarten or schooling 1 .

Irritable syndrome intestines

This disorder is noted in an older age group - in children from 4 to 18 years old. In this disease, the child periodically abdominal pain occurs, which may be accompanied by symptoms indigestion and constipation 1.7 .

How to understand that a child has constipation?

It seems that the answer to this question very simple - child rarely walks "big". However, this is not quite correct figure. A business that the frequency of stool in healthy children can be very different 1 .

However, if a child's routine of going to the toilet has changed, you should be alert and analyze what is happening. Yes, yes, literally turn into a patient detective and examine the contents of a pot or toilet. This may not be the most pleasant occupation, but the result of research can greatly facilitate both your life and the child's.

So, first of all, you need to evaluate the shape of the stool. This will help to determine with some accuracy whether there is constipation or not 1 . We will not determine the shape “by eye”, but with the help of the Bristol scale of fecal shapes, developed by doctors. According to this scale, there are seven types of stool. We are only interested in two of them.

Constipation criteria according to the Bristol Stool Scale

3 :

Hard and dry, nut-like lumps (called "sheep" stool) nine0003

Sausage-shaped stool with a lumpy texture.

In addition to determining the shape of the stool, you should pay attention to other signs of constipation. For example, a child may begin to push too hard, take uncharacteristic positions, try to poop, and in general, spend much more time on the potty or toilet than usual. 1

If there is no stool for several days, constipation is considered acute. If the constipation problem persists for 3 months or more, this is regarded by specialists as a “chronic condition” 2.4 .

Treatment of constipation in a child

So what should you do if your child is constipated?
First of all, you need to make certain changes in the daily routine. All of them are quite simple and effective. Remember.

Maintain regular toileting

Natural urge to defecate usually appears after eating. Therefore, a small child stands in the morning some time after taking put food on a pot or invite him to go to the toilet. You can develop a kind of reflex in a child - for example, "had breakfast - pooped" 1 .

Comfort

To form a positive perception of going to the toilet in a child, it is also important to provide comfortable conditions for him: for example, to choose a suitable potty so that the child can take a comfortable position 10 . In addition, it is necessary that during defecation, the baby has some kind of support where you can rest your feet, for example, a low bench that can be placed in the toilet, since an increase in intra-abdominal pressure when straining is important to resolve constipation 1 .

Correct nutrition

This is a very important step in the treatment of constipation. From the menu you need to remove fats, sweets (yes, we understand how difficult it is with this item) and marinades.
And replace all this splendor with cereals, vegetables and fruits. Plum, peach and apple purees and juices are especially good for constipation 1 .

Important to understand

Lifestyle changes may not help immediately. Therefore, there are modern remedies for constipation in children, which can contribute to a faster resolution of this problem. One of these is Guttalax®, a local laxative that can stimulate colonic activity, which can lead to soft stools and normal bowel movements 8 . However, it is important to remember that prescription drugs in children drugs should only take place after consultation with a doctor. Only a specialist can determine the cause of constipation and help deal with them. nine0110

Unlike other laxatives, which can sometimes focus the child's attention on a problem, for example, they do not taste acceptable to everyone 11 , or are administered rectally, which can increase the child's fear and discomfort regarding defecation 12 , Guttalax® you can let your baby quietly and naturally normalize the bowel rhythm 8.9 .

Guttalax® - tasteless and odorless drops,

Guttalax® can be added to any food, such as baby food, juice or cottage cheese 9 .
To have a laxative effect could show up in the morning can you give him some in the evening, before bed. This helps normalize mode and rhythm of defecation in the morning. nine0003

Another important issue that worries mothers is drug tolerance. Guttalax® has a favorable safety profile. It is allowed for nursing mothers, and you can also give Guttalax® to babies * .

Drops do not contain glucose, so they can be used in diabetes mellitus 8 . In addition, Guttalax® is an original preparation produced in Italy.

five ways to make life easier for a baby with constipation » News of Izhevsk and Udmurtia, news of Russia and the world - on the Izhlife website all the latest news for today

Constipation is delayed, difficult or systematically insufficient bowel movement. And constipation in children is a problem that parents often face. About whether it is worth worrying if the baby rarely goes to the potty, in which cases it is important to consult a doctor, and in which it is possible to solve the problem on your own, says the famous pediatrician, candidate of medical sciences, TV presenter Evgeny Komarovsky. nine0003

Evgeny Komarovsky

famous pediatrician, candidate of medical sciences, TV presenter

“Very often, constipation is not an independent disease, but only a symptom of peptic ulcer, hemorrhoids, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, dysfunction of the thyroid gland”

– When it comes to about children of the first year of life, then in one case for several thousand constipation may be the result of the so-called Hirschsprung's disease, continues Evgeny Komarovsky. - This is a congenital disease in which nerve cells are not developed in one of the sections of the intestine, which is why peristalsis is disturbed and fecal masses accumulate in the intestine. In this case, there is only one way out - an operation. nine0003

In a word, the child's constant problems with stool should encourage parents to contact a gastroenterologist, who would rule out diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

It is normal for babies to hold stools

Every baby has a different bowel movement frequency, which depends on many factors. And here it is important to remember this:

- In infants, a rare bowel movement almost always indicates that the food that the child eats is of high quality, suits him perfectly and is almost completely absorbed, - says Evgeny Komarovsky. - And if the baby is fed breast milk or an adapted formula, if you introduce the right complementary foods on time, but the baby does not poop for up to six days in a row, this is normal. Provided, of course, that this does not cause him discomfort and does not affect his well-being and development. nine0003

The better the food is digested, the less often the baby goes to the potty.

That is why the problem is most often not in the child, but in his environment.

– Grandmothers, having learned that the baby has not gone to the potty for two days, immediately begin to lament about this, advise him to “treat” him with folk methods, and mothers worry and look longingly into an empty pot, says Evgeny Olegovich. - In this case, the cause of stool retention may be, for example, excessive mother's care. Judge for yourself. Let's say mom has two potatoes. She can cook them in uniform and give them to a child, while he will absorb 80% of this dish, the rest will come out naturally. Or mom can cook them, clean them, knead them properly, add milk and butter. It will turn out a liquid puree, which will be absorbed almost entirely. There is simply nothing to leave the body! nine0003

Five rules for treating constipation

If your doctor is sure that constipation is not a symptom of something serious, you can try to manage it yourself. What do you need to pay attention to?

1. The child must not be dehydrated.

Lack of fluid is one of the most common causes of constipation in children. At the same time, stool masses become thick, slowly move along the intestines, scratch its walls, which causes pain and colic. Yes, and the urge to go to the toilet occurs only when the accumulated masses begin to put pressure on the walls of the rectum, while water helps to increase their volume, and the baby poops faster. So we give more to drink and moisturize the nursery! nine0003

2. There must be enough potassium in the body.

With a lack of potassium, intestinal contractions (the so-called peristalsis) are sharply weakened, and this may well be the cause of constipation. Most potassium in raisins, dried apricots, prunes, figs, which, by the way, can be added to compotes or eaten simply steamed.

3. Complete diet rich in fiber.

For constipation, foods rich in protein, such as chocolate, cottage cheese, nuts, are undesirable. Yogurts, one-day kefir and yogurt are desirable. Black bread is better than white bread. Apple juice is better than a whole apple. Meat is better to limit. In general, fiber is an excellent prevention of constipation. This means that the child needs to be given more fruits and vegetables, as well as cereals, preferably slightly undercooked. nine0003

If lactulose and glycerin suppositories do not help, see a doctor.

4. Safe medicines.

There are only two drugs that can be used even in infants and without a doctor's prescription. The first is lactulose syrup, which is sold under various commercial names in any pharmacy. It increases the volume of feces, retaining water in the intestines, does not cause "addiction", you can take it for as long as you like. True, at the first dose, the baby may form gaziki - as a reaction to the drug, so it is better to increase the dose gradually. The second is candles with glycerin. Their advantage is that glycerin is not absorbed by the body, but is released along with the contents of the intestine, while such suppositories act much softer than an enema. nine0003

If the cause of constipation is cracks in the anus (appeared, for example, after passing lumps of hard feces), because of which the child simply does not want to go to the potty, fearing pain, suppositories with sea buckthorn oil will help.

5. Daily routine.

It happens that the child feels the urge to eat, but ignores it - for example, he is very busy or simply does not want to go to the toilet in the garden or at school, preferring to wait until he gets home. If this behavior becomes systematic, then the rectum begins to stretch from excess feces, and in order to feel the urge to go to the toilet, the child needs more and more time. Hence - constipation, which has to be treated for a very long time. nine0003

In order to prevent this, it is important to teach your baby to systematic bowel movements from childhood. Better - at the same time and in the same familiar environment. Let him go potty before bed or after breakfast, before leaving the house.

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