Infant Constipation - Causes, Symptoms and Remedies

Infant constipation, commonly referred to as baby constipation, is a medical condition whereby a baby passes hard and dry bowel movement, and at times absence of the baby passing any stool.

Cases of a baby, especially below the age of four (4) years, being constipated are not that new in the society; they happen quite often. For Parents whose children are undergoing this for the first time find it very disturbing and are often worried without knowing what to do to bring an end to the suffering of their children.

You could be reading this article looking for information on how to end your child’s constipation. Do not worry; we have the information on infant constipation, read along please.

Causes of Constipation in Infants

At their tender age, the toddler can easily get constipated due to the numerous things that cause it. Listed below are the most common causes:

Change of diet: As the baby continues to grow, there comes a time when you will no longer breast feed it and introduce solid food to your child. It is during this transition of changing the baby’s diet that you will notice that your child’s poop is hard and dry and also your child is finding it difficult to poop. This is because unlike the breast milk that the child is used to, solid food and milk formula are a bit hard and not easily digestible. Solid food such as rice cereals that are normally the first solid foods to be introduced to the baby are low in fiber and can lead to mild constipation to the baby.

Dehydration: Your child will become dehydrated if she lacks enough fluid especially water in her diet. As a result, his or her stool will become hard and dry and passing it will be hard and painful.

Illness or medical condition: This could be the most serious cause that could get your child constipated. Some illnesses that affect the children cause them to lose a large amount of fluid from their body thus causing them to get dehydrated. Also, the bowel movement of your child can be seriously affected by illnesses and medical conditions such as food allergies or some metabolic disorders.

Symptoms of Constipation in Infants

However much pain a baby is experiencing, he or she cannot correctly express what is ailing them. And it is at this point that parents get confused and ask themselves questions. It is at this point you realize that the most important thing to know is the symptoms of infant constipation.

Slow Bowel Movement: If you realize that for your child has not gone for a long call, something could be wrong; he or she could be constipating. However, as children grow, their bowel movement adjusts.

Baby is very relieved after a long call: If when passing stool your child is having a hard unpleasant time and then total very relieved after the long call, your child could be constipating.

Hard stomach: This could be as a result of bloating (gas) or even constipation.

Hard stool: This is the most common symptom that is mainly caused by dehydration among other reasons.

Cracks on the opening of the rectum: If you happen to notice cracks, this could be a sign that your son or daughter is constipating.

Ps: Symptoms can at times be misleading especially if ONLY one of them is taken into consideration.

Infant Constipation Treatment and Remedies

The treatment to infant constipation is very simple and natural; can also be done at home.

Increase the amount of fluid in the babies diet: This will certainly help and ease digestion and at the same time bowel movement.

Warm bath: When a constipated child is given regular and frequent warm baths, constipation eases away.

Baby massage: This when done on the back and abdomen can greatly increase and improve bowel movement, thus eradicating constipation in babies.

Adding milk of magnesia to baby’s food: This will help remove gas accumulated in the tummy, ease digestion and above all get rid of constipation. However, it should be added in the right amounts.

What if infant constipation continues?

Kindly seek the attention of a doctor, preferably a pediatrician.

We hope that the next time your child suffers from infant constipation, the information you have read from this article will be or great help to you.

Source: Health Care Website ; http://healthcarereview.org/constipation/infant-constipation