Methods and Foods to Relieve Baby Constipation

How can I treat my baby’s constipation and which food to introduce?

An infant can suffer from different functional gastrointestinal disorders one of which is constipation. Hence mothers always ask how they can treat or help relieve baby constipation and which food should they introduce during constipation?

To treat constipation, there are several home remedies:

First, exercise: moving a baby’s legs can help relieve constipation.

Second, a warm bath: giving a baby a warm bath can relax their abdominal muscles and help them stop straining. (1)

Third, dietary changes: certain dietary changes may help constipation, but these will vary depending on the baby’s age and diet. (2)

While breastfeeding a baby, a woman could eliminate certain foods, such as dairy, from her diet. For formula-fed babies, a parent or caregiver may want to try a different kind of formula known as comfort formulas

If an infant is eating solid foods, parents 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 (1):

• Skinless apples
• Broccoli
• Whole grains, such as oatmeal or whole-grain bread or pasta
• Peaches
• Pears
• Plums

Fourth, 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.

Fifth, 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. (1)

Six, Fruit juice:
If your infant is at least four months old, you can give certain fruit juices to treat constipation. This includes prune, apple, or pear juice (other juices are not as helpful). You can give a total of 2 to 3 ounces (60 to 120 mL) of 100 percent fruit juice per day for children four to eight months old. You can give up to 6 ounces (180 mL) of fruit juice per day to infants 8 and 12 months old (1)

In conclusion, when a child suffers from constipation there are several ways to try to comfort them whether through exercises and massage or through the dietary intervention.

References:

1- Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, MD – Written by Jenna Fletcher on Aug 12, 2020

2- Patient education: Constipation in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Daytime wetting in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Giving your child over-the-counter medicines (The Basics)

Dr. Hayat Tinawi Daher
Pediatrician