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As we get older, it is easier to express how we are feeling through words and detailed explanations, but as babies, we are only able to express our emotions in limited ways, namely crying and making noise. Infant constipation is one such time when babies cry a lot and as parents, you should notice the tears, which are not ‘crocodile tears’. One of the most common afflictions for babies affects one of their main activities and their parents’ main responsibility; going to the bathroom!
What Is Infant Constipation?
Infant constipation is a serious problem, and there are a number of things that can bring it on; also certain times in infancy and early childhood, constipation is common.
Normal bowel movements in infants occur 4-5 times per day in the period directly after birth, and these should be soft stools, which easily pass through the digestive system. Breastfed children typically have more consistent bowel movements than formula-fed babies. As they age, the rate of BM (bowel movements) will drop to 2-3 per day, and then again around two years of age, reducing to 1-2 per day. Hard, unmoving stool in the body’s system will cause great discomfort to a child, and they will most likely let a parent or anyone within earshot, know that something is wrong.
It is important to recognize the symptoms because babies often resist passing hard or painful stools, which only exacerbates the problem. You need to understand what might be going wrong, and then actively work to fix it. First, let’s look at the causes and traditional examples of infant/childhood constipation.
Causes
There are a number of causes of infant constipation, and knowing which cause that is can help you treat the symptoms and prevent a similar condition from occurring again in the future.
Changes in diet: As infants, our organ systems are warming up and getting used to the normal metabolic functions and activities that we will continue for the rest of our lives. The digestive system is one of these, so drastic changes, like a switch from breastfeeding to formula or processed foods. This change can be disruptive to your child’s system and cause it to become constipated. Different types of formula or processed foods can affect children differently, so try a variety to see which one is most compatible with your child’s system.
Dehydration: This form of constipation is often due to decreased fluids that the infant is taking in (particularly after you stop breastfeeding them), and without fluid to make the stool soft and easy to pass through the digestive tract, it can harden and become more and more painful to the child. If this is the case, a quick fix is to simply switch back to the more fluid diet, which will loosen the stool to normal levels and relieve the infant’s discomfort. Overly active children become dehydrated more quickly, so they should be given extra water or diluted juice every day to stimulate healthy bowel movements.
Nutritional intake: Just like in adults, a baby’s diet can have a huge impact on constipation. Infants need fiber to add bulk to the stool in order for it to pass through their digestive tract. A proper diet of fruits and fiber-rich vegetables, particularly once they have stopped breastfeeding is essential to healthy bowel movements. Adding fibrous foods to their diet can be a quick fix for this common reason for constipation in infants.
Emotional stress: Again, babies are not so different from adults. When we are stressed or anxious, it can often manifest as constipation. Infants that are going through a rough “stage” or a negative patch of behavior can often stress themselves out into not creating passable bowel movements and cause themselves to become constipated.
Symptoms
It is important that you approach a doctor if any of the following symptoms of infant constipation take place:
Continuous stomach pain
Pain while relieving a stool
Rectal bleeding
Baby is under 1 month old and is being breastfed
Continuous vomiting
Swelling of the stomach
Weakness of muscles
Stools are ‘blocked’
Loose stools
Frequent problem
No betterment to a change in diet
Although there are many ways to cure constipation in adults, there are limited options for infants. It is very important to be observant of your child’s diet and behavior to determine the cause of constipation.
