How to Help A Baby With Constipation

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By bar10dr98
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Help A Baby With Constipation

If your baby is struggling with bowel movements, has a lot of pain and crying when trying to pass a large hard stool, and sometimes bleeds from passing hard stool, your baby may have constipation. Although heartbreaking to watch, it's fairly easy to help your baby with constipation. In this article, we will learn how to immediately help a baby with constipation, plus take steps to avoid the return of constipation.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Q-tip
Vaseline
Sugar / water
Juice, if old enough- not before 4 months old

Step 1

The best thing to give for a baby with constipation is sugar water, and the sugar water can be used from day one. Mix a tablespoon of sugar with 4 ounces distilled water, and give to a baby with constipation once per day. The sugars in the water will help draw water back into the stool in the intestines, which will make bowel movements easier for your baby. If your baby with constipation is under four months old, now skip to step 3.
Step 2

If your baby with constipation is over 4 months old, you may give diluted juices to help with constipation. Apple juice is generally what is recommended before 6 months, and after that you may use pear juice, apricot, or prune juice. Any of those juices will help tremendously with constipation for your baby. Dilute juice 50 / 50 with water, and give 4 ounces to your baby with constipation. If you feel this just isn't enough, dilute with a little less water, or add more total.
Step 3

If your baby with constipation is crying and trying to push out a hard stool, lay your baby on his back and remove diaper. Dip a Q-tip in vaseline, and gently insert the tip into the anus. Doing this will not only help the hard stool ease out, but will also stimulate the muscles necessary to have a bowel movement. If there is hard stool stuck in the opening, skip this step, as it will hurt the constipated baby to try to get around the stool. Reassure your baby with constipation that everything will be okay, and talk in a soothing and loving voice.
Step 4

Keep your baby with constipation on his back, and pick up his legs, bending them at the knee. Make a bicycle motion with your baby's legs several times. This also helps get the muscles going in the proper way to push out a hard stool. As your baby with constipation seems to try to push, pull his knees up toward his chest, it should look like he's in a squatting position, only on his back. This gives proper positioning to maximize the power of your baby's push. Leave the diaper off, but laying open underneath the baby with constipation, as a large hard stool can get caught against the diaper and not be able to fully exit. After stool has passed, clean area thoroughly and cover with diaper rash cream or vaseline. After a baby's anus has stretched to allow a large hard stool, it will be sore and needs protected from diaper waste.
Step 5

If your baby is getting frequent rounds of constipation, diet modification may be necessary. In general, white foods (rice, applesauce, pureed pears, bananas, potatoes) are constipating. Carrots also can be. Ask your pediatrician for a list of foods to avoid. Foods that can help with constipation the most are prunes and apricots. They are high in the sugars that help your baby with constipation. You may want to add a more than average amount of juice daily to prevent constipation in your baby.