Learning to assist a baby with pooping more efficiently is a crucial skill for new parents. Contrary to widespread assumption, not all newborns, infants, or babies have flawless bowel movements following birth. Your baby’s bowel movements may slow down or stop altogether due to changes in lifestyle, difficulties with feeding, a lack of gut flora, or illness. But it’s not usually a sign of a problem if your kid doesn’t defecate perfectly right away. Parents should therefore take their time, even though there are gentle and non-intrusive methods to get their infant to poop.
Parents frequently have misconceptions about infant constipation and its effects. They are unable to communicate any defecation difficulties to you. You can maintain perspective if you know a few fundamentals regarding your baby’s digestive system.
How Often Should a Baby Poo?
Parents must comprehend what defines “regular” stools before they can comprehend how to make a baby poop. As a child gets older, their gut microbes develop and change. These bacteria are crucial to digestion and are the leading cause of the character changes in a baby’s stools over the first few months of life.
These alterations may be much more pronounced in infants who are breastfed exclusively. Newborns breastfed may poop immediately after each meal, save everything for one bowel movement per day, or go days without generating a stool.
Do Few Poop Still Qualify as Normal?
Due to the high nutritional value of breast milk, a baby’s body may occasionally absorb practically all of it, leaving little to pass through the digestive system. While it’s typical for breastfed newborns to have a bowel movement once a week, your kid may only poop occasionally.
Some newborns have a slower-than-average gut, which makes them go less frequently. Sometimes people experience hard stools. Call your doctor, however, if your infant appears to be in discomfort or if you have any other concerns.
Rarely a medical condition results in severe, long-lasting constipation. For instance, there may be an obstruction in the digestive tract or improper function of the intestine’s muscles.
ARE YOU AWARE?
Once children begin eating solid foods, constipation becomes more prevalent.
Baby Constipation Signs and Symptoms
It’s not simply how frequently your infant poop that causes constipation. The difficulty of their task is another factor. They should be fine if they pass soft, simple-to-pass feces every 4-5 days. However, you should consult your doctor if they:
- have difficulty traveling or feel uneasy
- have brittle stools
- Have crimson or dark-colored stools
- Poop no less than once every five to ten days.
- unable to eat normally
- have a bloated abdomen
- Baby Constipation Treatment at Home
- Try a different formula brand if you’re bottle-feeding after consulting your doctor. Never quit breastfeeding because of constipation.
- Add a little dark fruit juice to your baby’s bottle, such as prune or pear.
- If they are older than four months, give them some extra water; no more than 1-2 ounces should be given daily. However, see a doctor first.
- Try foods higher in fiber, such as pureed prunes or peas, or cereal made with barley or whole wheat, if your baby is eating solids.
- Try bending your baby’s knees so that they are towards your chest. In a squat position, as opposed to a reclining flat, it is simpler to urinate. Gently exercising their legs in a bicycle motion may also be beneficial.
- Your baby’s muscles can relax and expel excrement with a warm bath.
- Gently rub their stomach.
- Rectal temperature taking may cause your baby’s bowels to move more quickly.
- Keep in mind that most babies who don’t poop often aren’t actually “constipated” and don’t require any special care.
OTC remedies for infant constipation
You can attempt certain over-the-counter drugs if home cures don’t work. Consult your physician beforehand.
A suppository of glycerin. This is inserted right into your infant’s anus to induce a bowel movement.
Laxatives. Use laxatives only if your doctor instructs you to.
Remedies for constipation in your infant
You can try several methods to provide your baby with relief if you observe constipation symptoms. These consist of:
- Change the milk
You might try changing your diet if you breastfeed your infant. Though it’s unusual, your baby could be sensitive to anything you’re consuming, which could be why you’re constipated.
Breastfed Infants may benefit from switching to a different formula, at least while their constipation is still present. Constipation may result from sensitivity to a particular substance.
- Utilize whole foods
While some solid foods can worsen constipation, others can help. If you’ve just begun giving your infant solid foods, try introducing a few high-fiber items, like:
Broccoli, pears, prunes, peaches, and apples without skin
Offer cooked grains like quinoa, barley, or oats instead of refined cereal or puffed rice. Additionally, whole-grain cereals, crackers, and bread give a lot of volume to the stools, which may aid in the relief of constipation.
- Utilize pureed food
Try some of the items on the above list in their pureed version if your baby is older than six months and has not yet switched to solid solids.
Remember that fruits and vegetables include a lot of natural fiber, giving your child’s stools more volume. Some work better than others in assisting with bowel movement stimulation.
- Add more liquids
Regular bowel movements require proper drinking. Your baby can stay hydrated by drinking milk and water.
For infants older than six months, a small amount of prune or pear juice on occasion may help hasten colon contractions, which could hasten the production of a bowel movement.
If it is too tart or sweet for your baby’s palate, try diluting the juice in a cup of water. Before giving your infant anything other than breast milk or formula, if they are under six months old, see your doctor.
- Exercise is encouraged.
Exercise accelerates digestion, which can hasten the body’s metabolic processes. Leg bicycles could be beneficial if your youngster is still unable to walk.
- Massage
Gently massaging the lower abdomen and stomach can help the bowels move waste. Till your child has a bowel movement, give your youngster many massages throughout the day.
