Effective Home Remedies To Treat Constipation In Babies

Constipation is a condition when your newborn baby cannot pass stool easily, and the motion is not regular as often. Constipated babies poo like firm dry pellets that do not soak in the diapers. On the contrary, if the baby’s stool is soft, your baby is not constipated despite a gap of 1 or 2 days. A constipated baby strains themselves by crying when they are constipated. At the same time, pushing, their face becomes red, and they may grunt or make other noises. So, here we bring you some ways for relieving baby constipation. Keep on reading. 

How Do Newborn Babies Get Constipation?

The exclusively breastfed babies rarely get constipated because breast milk contains a natural laxative that keeps the digestion process easy.

Formula-fed babies tend to have bulkier poops, and they poop more often in comparison to breastfed babies. To avoid baby constipation in formula-fed babies, you need to ensure that you add the correct number of formula powder’s scoops to water.

Don’t

• Do not swap scoops between different sizes of formula milk.
• Do not skip reading the information shared on the pack. Always follow the instructions to use while preparing formula milk for your baby.
• Do not add anything extra. Not even sugar.

Causes Of Constipation In Babies

• Ignoring the need to use the toilet.
• Not getting enough fibre in your diet.
• Drinking an insufficient amount of water.
• Changing from breast milk to formula or from solid meals to solid foods 
• Situational changes, such as travel, the start of school, or unpleasant events.

Signs Of Constipation In Babies

• Being irritable and spitting up more frequently 
• Passing stools with difficulty or appearing uneasy.
• Stools that are hard and dry.
• When having a bowel movement, there is pain.
• Bloating and soreness in the stomach.
• Blood on the toilet paper.

8 Home Remedies To Cure Constipation In Babies

Constipation in babies can be treated at home with the following remedies for child constipation:

1. Dietary Changes

Certain dietary adjustments may aid with constipation in babies, however, this will depend on the age and nutrition of the infant. While breastfeeding a baby, a mother should cut out certain items from her diet, such as dairy products and add skinless apples, broccoli, whole grains, such as oatmeal or whole-grain bread, peaches, pears, plums in the diet. 

2. Body Massage

Baby constipation can be relieved by massaging a baby’s tummy in a variety of ways. 

• Circular movements on the tummy with the fingertip in a clockwise manner.

• Massage on the naval area in a clockwise direction.
• Gently press the baby’s feet toward the tummy while holding the baby’s knees and feet together.
  

3. Fruit Juice

A modest amount of fruit juice, such as 100% prune or apple juice, can be given to newborns once they reach the age of 2–4 months. This juice will help in the treatment of constipation in babies.

4. Proper Intake Of Water

When a baby is over 2–4 months old and constipated, paediatricians prescribe adding a little quantity of water or, on rare occasions, fruit juice to the infant’s meal.

5. Warm Bath

Giving a baby a warm bath might help them relax and stop straining their abdominal muscles. It may also help to alleviate some of the discomfort associated with constipation.

6. Organic Coconut Oil

If your kid has trouble passing stool or has infrequent bowel movements, organic coconut oil can help. If your infant is older than six months, you can add 2-3 ml of coconut oil to your baby’s diet. 

A lack of fibre can cause Newborn constipation. Apples contain pectin, a water-soluble fibre that aids in the treatment of constipation in babies. You can offer apple juice to your baby in a feeding bottle or sipper. 

7. Encourage Exercise 

Movement of the body helps move things through the body more rapidly by speeding up digestion. Leg bicycles may be useful if your kid has not yet learned to walk.

How To Treat Newborn’s Constipation?

Give your baby a warm bath to relax their bowel movement. You can also gently massage your baby’s tummy in a circular motion, preferably clockwise.

Let your baby relax and move their legs back and forth in a cycling motion. This motion helps them to relieve stomach pain and other discomforts. Do NOT give your baby any laxative with your doctor’s permission. And lastly, make sure your baby is getting their daily fluid needs by breastfeeding or formula feeding.

When To See A Doctor?

If your baby does not poop for 2 to 3 days and feels very distressed. The signs like fever, vomiting, bloodstains in stool, etc., are some of the ‘red flags’ that need doctor intervention. 

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