The physical condition of a baby is judged by its stool, so it is not surprising that parents of infants exercise excessive control over their child’s feces and talk about constipation. However, there is no need to worry too much about this: for babies fed with breast milk, there is no “schedule” according to which bowel movements occur. Mother's milk, which tends to constantly change in density and composition, can cause a delay in emptying a baby. Retention of stool for a couple of days is a physiological process, it is acceptable, but under certain conditions: the baby does not show symptoms of intoxication, hypersensitivity, excessive moodiness, weakness that the mother recognizes.
How to tell if your baby is constipated
Children from birth to one year of age may have different bowel movements. This can happen several times a day, or vice versa - once every two days.
Therefore, the number of bowel movements is not entirely suitable for determining the presence of constipation in infants. Komarovsky advises paying attention to the child’s behavior during bowel movements and the consistency of the stool.
If during bowel movements the baby freezes, looks tense, blushes and cries, is the stool in the form of separate dense pieces? These are signs of constipation in a newborn, even if bowel movements occur daily.
A few words about prevention
Taking into account all of the above, it becomes obvious that the prevention of constipation in infants plays an important role. It includes following some recommendations:
- First of all, it is recommended to regularly place the baby on his tummy, at least for 1-2 minutes;
- It is also necessary to pay due attention to the amount of fluid the baby consumes;
- Nursing mothers are advised to eat foods rich in potassium, such as prunes and raisins;
- The body must not be allowed to overheat.
Following these simple recommendations in combination with careful monitoring of your baby's diet will help prevent constipation. And then you yourself will be calm, and you will not need to think about how to treat constipation in infants.
Why does constipation occur?
The causes of constipation in a baby can be gastrointestinal diseases, so it is important to be examined by a doctor.
There are many reasons for constipation in a baby. They may be associated with the characteristics of the child’s body and nutrition.
If we consider the causes of pathology in age groups:
- The causes of constipation in newborns and up to four months can be congenital diseases or poor nutrition of the mother;
- Constipation in a 5-9 month old child is caused by improper introduction of complementary foods;
- Problems with bowel movements in older children may be associated with insufficient physical activity - by the age of one year the child should crawl and begin to walk.
Constipation as a consequence of illness
Such constipation in a newborn baby will appear soon after birth . Children may be born with some abnormalities in the development of internal organs, which are not always detected during an ultrasound examination of a pregnant woman.
One such anomaly is Hirschsprung's disease . Characterized by elongation of some parts of the intestine. As a result, the food bolus passes through it for a long time and becomes denser. Defecation does not occur several times a day, as is expected for newborns, but much less frequently.
Constipation in a child 1-2 months old can also appear due to congenital narrowing of the intestines . The narrowed section of the intestine creates an obstacle to the passage of the bolus of food, which gradually accumulates in this section - constipation develops. This condition can lead to intestinal obstruction.
Constipation as a consequence of nutrition
Improper nutrition of a nursing mother is the most common cause of constipation in a child.
Any type of feeding - natural or artificial - can lead to constipation if it is disturbed.
Causes of constipation in breastfed infants:
- Improper nutrition of the mother, due to which the milk changes its composition;
- Low intake of fluid into the child’s body - milk for a baby is food, not drink, he needs to be given water;
- Long-term breastfeeding without timely introduction of complementary foods.
With artificial feeding, constipation in infants can be caused by an incorrectly selected formula. The baby may have an intolerance to any of its components. Stool retention may be associated with frequent changes in formula .
In a child 4 months and older, constipation may be associated with the introduction of complementary foods. This also causes constipation in mixed-fed infants. Perhaps the new food is not absorbed well and causes stool retention.
Symptoms of stool retention in newborns
The following signs may indicate constipation in a baby:
- sleep problems, anxiety;
- intestinal gases that have a strong unpleasant odor;
- the child strains a lot or even cries during bowel movements;
- bloating (baby presses his legs towards him);
- refusal of food.
Baby refuses breast milk
As for the feces themselves, in this case they are quite dense.
What to give a baby for constipation
To eliminate constipation, sometimes it is enough to adjust the baby’s drinking regime.
What should you do if a newborn has constipation? There are many ways to cope with bowel retention in infants. These include medicinal and non-medicinal methods.
Constipation in a baby, what to do at home to help the baby? The first thing to do is to review the diet of the nursing mother and baby.
It is the diet and drinking regime of mother and baby that become frequent causes of constipation. To properly adjust your diet, it is better to consult a nutritionist or pediatrician.
① If the newborn is breastfed
How to help a newborn with constipation while breastfeeding?
- It is necessary to ensure that he receives a sufficient volume of ordinary water;
- Mom should give up all canned foods, alcoholic beverages, deli meats, and fatty foods - these are foods that cause constipation in the baby.
- Limit baked goods, sweets, and hard-to-digest foods in your diet;
- Every day, a nursing mother should eat vegetables and fruits, fermented milk products, and boiled meat.
The mother's diet should contain a sufficient amount of plain water so that the milk is not too thick.
② If the baby is artificial
What to do if your newborn baby is constipated from formula milk?
- You need to contact your pediatrician to select a suitable milk formula;
- And in this case, water should be present in the child’s diet;
- The introduction of complementary foods should be carried out somewhat earlier than with breastfeeding.
What to do if you are constipated
Hand movements during massage should be stroking without using force. Compotes made from prunes and pears can be given as a drink for babies against constipation.
If constipation in a baby occurs precisely during complementary feeding, perhaps something was done incorrectly, and it is worth giving up this product for a while. If constipation in a 3-month-old child does not last long, the child’s well-being does not suffer, you can start with home remedies to eliminate the problem.
If a child is constipated at 6 months of age, when he can already receive extended complementary feeding, you can feed him pear and prune puree - these fruits increase intestinal motility and promote bowel movements.
③ Massage and its technique
Sometimes abdominal massage for a baby with constipation can help relax the intestines and move stool.
This procedure is carried out as follows:
- The baby should be placed on his back on a flat surface;
- With clean and warm hands, perform soft circular stroking of the anterior abdominal wall;
- Movements should not be too fast and deep, the massage is aimed at achieving a relaxing effect;
- You can also put a dry, warm diaper on the baby’s stomach - this will relieve existing spasms;
- At the end of the procedure, the child should be placed on his stomach for a few minutes.
This procedure can be repeated several times a day, in between feedings.
Having watched Komarovsky’s video at the end of the article, massage for infants with constipation has a positive effect in most cases.
In addition to abdominal massage, for constipation in a child over 7 months old, you can gently massage the anus area. This causes irritation of the rectum and reflex emptying. Massaging is carried out with a clean finger moistened with any sterile oil.
④ Enema and its features
Constipation in a baby, what to do if massage doesn’t help? At home, you can resort to using an enema. To do this, you need to have a small volume syringe with a soft tip. How to give an enema to a baby with constipation?
Enema solutions can be different:
- Plain boiled water softens feces and clears the intestines from them;
- A hypertonic solution - boiled water with salt in a ratio of 10:1 - draws water into the intestinal lumen and dilutes the stool. You should not get carried away with such an enema, because it can cause dehydration in the baby;
- Oil enemas - sterile vegetable oil - envelops feces and promotes their sliding.
Enema for a newborn with constipation, how to do it? The enema solution should be warm . The tip should be lubricated with sterile petroleum jelly. After administering the solution, the baby should be kept on his side for ten minutes.
⑤ Soap is allowed or not
Under no circumstances should soap be used to treat constipation in a baby. The so-called “grandmother’s advice” of inserting a bar of soap into the rectum for constipation in a newborn will only lead to irritation of the mucous membrane, and in some cases even a burn.
Features of treatment
First of all, it is recommended to identify the cause of this condition. It is quite possible that no additional actions will be required. So, for spastic constipation, a gentle stroking massage of the abdomen is effective, but only along the course of the colon, i.e., clockwise. You can also alleviate the baby’s condition by holding him close to you or putting a warm diaper on his stomach. The intestines will relax under the influence of heat, and the child will calm down.
Abdominal massage for babies
Treatment of constipation in infants
All non-drug methods for treating constipation in newborns have been used, but there is no effect. In this case, it’s time to contact a specialist who will recommend suitable medications.
What remedies can be used to treat stool retention in infants without harm to their health, what can be given to a newborn for constipation?
| Name | Indication | Contraindication | Application | Approximate cost in rubles |
| CANDLES WITH GLYCERIN | Stool retention of any origin | Acute pathologies in the rectal area | The introduction of one suppository for constipation for newborns into the rectum is prescribed. Apply once a day. | 100 rub. for 10 candles |
| MICROLAX | Acute stool retention | Allergy | One microenema is enough. Insert up to the mark on the tip into the rectum, squeeze out the contents of the tube | 400 rubles for 4 microenemas |
| DUPHALAC | Acute and chronic stool retention | Allergy, intestinal obstruction | Used orally in age-appropriate dosages | 400 rub. for 250 ml |
| PRELAX | Acute and chronic stool retention | Allergy | Oral use in age-related dosages | 250 rub. for 100 ml |
| NORMOLACT | Acute and chronic stool retention, dysbacteriosis | Intestinal obstruction, allergies | Used internally | 300 rub. for 200 ml |
| PLANTEX | Prevention of constipation in a child from 8 months | Lack of lactase and galactase, allergies | Orally, 2 packets up to 3 times a day | 350 rub. for 10 packages |
Reviews from moms
Ksenia, 20 years old, Saratov
I am a young mother, I still don’t know everything about children. My son is four months old and I am still only breastfeeding him. We started having problems with stool. The pediatrician advised me to start complementary feeding. After a few days of feeding applesauce, the stool returned to normal.
Alexandra, 26 years old, Novgorod
My son is eight months old. I already give him all types of complementary foods, but he doesn’t want to eat everything. Sometimes stool retention occurs. In these cases, we use Plantex for constipation; it is also good for newborns. Helps very well. Inna, 30 years old, Moscow
My six month old daughter has frequent constipation. She cries and doesn't eat well. Suppositories for constipation for newborns with glycerin help us very well.
