Constipation with increasing solids?

spainy17

Here is the cycle... DD will eat like a rockstar for a few days and I think "wow, we are getting this solid food thing down!"  Then she gets constipated and intake slows to nil until the dam breaks a few days later and then ramps up again and the cycle starts over.  I have added prunes and pears more readily into her diet and really she is not eating that much compared to many of the babies on here so i don't know what else to do about it.  I BF and she still nurses 5-7 times a day and a sometimes offer a sippy of water but not always.  I am sure she gets uncomfortable and I am annoyed with the constant up and down with intake.  Does anyone else have this problem?  Anyone have ideas on what else to try?  I feel like many LO's on here are taking in way more and I am afriad to be more adventurous since she stops pooping!

jwebb0512

It might not be how much you're feeding her, but what you are feeding her. Things like grains and carbs can be hard on babies' digestion. Think of the b.r.a.t. diet for diarrhea. Those things firm stools up for babies too. We recently started introducing table and haven't ventured to far yet, but our doctor suggested backing off those foods if we notice a change and feed prunes or a small amount of prune juice. If that doesn't help, he said we can use a suppository (sp?) to help move things along. I wasn't fond of that idea. He also said to keep in mind that at this point, it's about making them comfortable. It's not until they're toddlers and hold it in because it's uncomfortable do we need to worry. For DS, we just keep prunes handy and feed them every couple days no matter what. I know he's getting enough liquid because he drinks 6 ozs every 2-3 hours. I'd say if she isn't in pain or her stools aren't hard pellets, to just maintain table foods but keep in mind the things that stop them up for a few days if you notice she hasn't pooped. Good luck!

CougFan

Is she constipated where she is straining to poop or is she just not pooping as regular?  DD went a few days without pooping but was acting fine, then it was a few days of just a smidge of thicker food at every diaper changed and now she has officially made the switch to "real" poop (booooo!).  I know that constipation can be very serious (I have a 12 year old son who has been on meds for it for 10+ years) but my understanding is that infrequent BMs are a concern if they are straining or if it is hard pellets.

jannv11

Food for fun under 1.  Maybe her body just isn't ready to digest the food yet.  Take your time and slow down.  DD gets 1 -2 solids a day.  Every baby is different

spainy17

yeah, there is straining involved.  I am going to try and get better about fewer carbs and such.  She does manage to pass it and doesn't act much differently except when she goes she strains and she is just not interested in eating.  I guess I just want her to be a little more regular and not such a hard/soft cycle.