{"id":2130,"date":"2021-10-11T14:20:34","date_gmt":"2021-10-11T14:20:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.parentinggoal.com\/?p=2130"},"modified":"2021-10-11T14:23:01","modified_gmt":"2021-10-11T14:23:01","slug":"home-remedies-for-constipation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.parentinggoal.com\/home-remedies-for-constipation\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Remedies for Constipation in Babies – Constipation Causes and Remedies"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a nursing mother or caregiver, you should have a good understanding of constipation causes and remedies \u2013 especially home remedies for constipation in babies. Since constipation is one of the natural occurrences bound to occur as your infant grows, you will be doing yourself a great deal of favour if you are prepared to tackle it heads on.<\/p>\n

It is normal for an infant who is still on breast milk<\/a> to pass loose stool \u2013 several times daily. The stool will become firmer as they grow older, especially as you introduce them to thicker diets or solids.<\/p>\n

However, from experience, I have noticed that a baby that is on a formula feed does not only have firmer stool than those on breast milk, they are also more likely to experience constipation \u2013 this is due to the fact that babies on formula experience fewer bowel movements than babies on breast milk due to the high water content in breast milk.<\/p>\n

As a nursing mother and caregiver, you should also know that babies are different when it comes to stooling, so while one baby may stool multiple times in a day, another baby may stool once or only a couple of times.<\/p>\n

In this article, we will discuss all you need to know about constipation in babies, and the home remedies you can rely on for quick and effective relief whenever your little one is suffering from constipation. Let us get on with it!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is Baby Constipation?<\/h3>\n

In adults, constipation occurs due to less frequent movements in the bowel area, resulting in difficulty in passing stool. It is often a result of a deficiency in dietary fiber in the individual\u2019s nutrient and system. Sometimes it is due to a significant change in the individual\u2019s routine or diet.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, constipation in babies is a little more complicated \u2013 or perhaps not. While constipation in babies is also a result of stiffness around the bowel area, it causes the baby a lot of discomfort, especially around the back and bowel area.<\/p>\n

The baby\u2019s stool also becomes irregular \u2013 so, it is challenging to determine baby constipation by just one type of stool. In some cases, the stool<\/a> may be soft or mushy, while on other occasions, it will be like small hard pebbles; so, it differs from baby to baby.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, the baby may experience what may look like diarrhea. In such cases, you will notice that the baby is passing soft stools, which are occasionally visible but difficult to pass. As a nursing mother or caregiver, you should take constipation seriously because it causes the baby many discomforts.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What Causes Constipation in Babies?<\/h3>\n

The major reason why constipation occurs in babies is as a result of a deficiency in fluids in the diets of a baby. As in the case with most adults, due to the pains and discomfort the baby feels when they try to pass out stool, they tend to hold on to toileting \u2013 and this usually makes the issue even worse.<\/p>\n

Breast milk is mostly made up of water \u2013 but it contains all the necessary nutrients needed for the baby\u2019s development and growth. So, babies who are fed purely on breast milk have fewer issues passing stool or with constipation than babies who are fed with solids and formula.<\/p>\n

Although we have already established that the most important sign of constipation in babies is the hardness or dryness of their stool due to the lack of enough water, there are other signs and symptoms<\/a> in babies that should give you a clue that your baby has a fluid deficiency in their diet and may be suffering from constipation.<\/p>\n

We all know that a baby often makes gestures and may sometimes look uncomfortable when stooling, but if you notice that your baby is truly going through a lot of pains when trying to pass stool, then it could be a sign that they are not having enough water in their diet and could be battling constipation.<\/p>\n

In other cases, if you notice that the stool \u2013 or their gas is having a very bad odor, or your baby\u2019s stomach appears so strong even when they are not eating much, it could be a sign that the baby is having constipation.<\/p>\n

You should know that the hard stool can cause your baby\u2019s anus to tear and this could cause even more discomfort for the baby \u2013 and lead to severe consequences when not handled the right way. But what do you do when you notice that your baby is battling with constipation? We will provide you with all the answers in the next section of this article.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What To Do if Your Baby is Constipated?<\/h3>\n

I have always advised nursing mothers and caregivers never to administer medication for constipation unless this has been prescribed and advised by a medical professional who has been examining the baby before the occurrence.<\/p>\n

If your baby is on breast milk and is still experiencing constipation occasionally, you may want to see a doctor or medical professional for advice because, under normal circumstances, a baby that is being breastfed should have very few or no issues with constipation.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, if your baby is on a formula and he or she is experiencing constipation, it is a sign that the formula is not being made correctly or the nursing mother or caregiver did not apply enough water when making it.<\/p>\n

If your baby is on a formula or any baby meal, you should make sure to pay attention to the following when making a meal for the baby to enable them to reduce the effect of the constipation.<\/p>\n