Although every baby is different, and there’s a broad range of what’s considered normal when it comes to pooping, many babies will poop after each feeding in the first weeks of life. Then, after about 3 to 6 weeks of age, some breastfed babies will poop less often, even as little as once a week. That’s because breast milk creates almost no solid waste that has to be eliminated from the digestive system.
Formula-fed babies tend to poop once a day or once every other day. Your baby’s stools should be soft, like peanut butter, when everything is normal and regular.
What are the signs of Baby Constipation?
- Hard or pellet-like stools
- Bowel movements that appear painful or difficult to pass, causing your baby to arch his or her back or cry, accompanied by hard, dry stools
- Bowel movements that are infrequent or less frequent than usual
Baby Constipation 5 Home Remedies:
- Warm bath: Giving a baby a warm bath can relax their abdominal muscles and help them stop straining. It can also relieve some of the discomfort relating to constipation.
- Massages: Using the fingertip to make circular motions on the stomach/ naval in a clockwise pattern. Holding the baby’s knees and feet together and gently pushing the feet toward the belly.
- Cereals: Try feeding him whole-wheat, barley, or multigrain infant cereal once he is eating solid foods. These three types contain more fibber than rice cereal and may help get things moving.
- Liquids in Diet: Paediatricians sometimes recommend adding a small amount of water or, occasionally, fruit juice, to the baby’s diet when they are over 2–4 months old and are constipated.
- Solids in diet : Once your baby is eating solid foods, give them pureed foods such as prunes, pears, peaches, and peas. These can help with constipation since they contain more fibber than other fruits and vegetables.
If the above dietary changes haven’t given your baby relief, contact his healthcare provider again for guidance.
