How to Give an Infant a Stool Softener

Have you noticed that your infant has not gone to the bathroom in a few days and is cranky because of it? No need to worry. All you need to do is go to your local grocery store or pharmacist and pick up some glycerin suppositories. This will help your infant resume their schedule in using the bathroom with ease.This article will explain how to give an infant a stool softener.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• One box of glycerin suppositories
• Vaseline
• Patience

Giving an Infant a Stool Softener

1. Lay your infant on his/her tummy on the bed, crib or even on your legs.
2. Rub their back and calm them down before you proceed with doing anything. If they are crying, it will make it extremely difficult to insert the suppository where needed.
3. Spread open their buttocks and apply some Vaseline to the outside of the infants rectum. Do not put any Vaseline inside, just around the outside of the rectum so the suppository goes in with more ease.
4. Using one hand to spread the infants buttocks, use the other hand to insert the glycerin suppository inside of the rectum. Proceed slowly. Do not push it in quickly or the infant will push it out.
5. Once the suppository is completely inside of the rectum, close the infants legs so they cannot push it out. Stay that way for at least five minutes. This allows the suppository to go inside the rectum and coat it so that the infant can go to the bathroom.
6. Put a clean diaper on the infant and wait for a bowel movement, which should not take long.

Tips & Warnings

• If your infant does not have a bowel movement with the suppository and is extremely cranky and uncomfortable, see your pediatrician immediately.