Constipated 5 month old

MamaGooGoo

Hello! My 5 month old gets super constipated. He's on enfamil gentlease, which is supposed to be easier to digest. I've already been adding prune juice to his bottles and it does nothing. Any suggestions on formulas that you've found to help with constipation?

teachmegs817

Prune juice should get him going.  It might not be right away or daily, but eventually he will go.  I ran into this issue very early on.  We ended up on Nutramigen, because not only were the other formulas causing him pooping issues, it was causing major gas/bloating/cramping.  He was in pain from not being able to process it through his system, when he was so little. 

Is he going at all? I'm sure you have heard this, but maybe not; babies do not poop every day, and it's okay to go 3-5 days without a bowel movement. When he does, is it hard pellet like stools, or is it still a soft consistency? Even if it's coming out more solid looking, but squishy or soft, and there's no blood accompanying it, then he may not be constipated.  

I will say the Nutraimgen should help with going to the bathroom, because it's already a partly broken down formula, so it's easier to digest.  I'd consult your Pedi. before making any changes though.  The formula worked great for us.  We were on it from week 6, up through 4 months.  The last 2 months we've been using the Gentlease.  Nutramigen is also about $12 more a can, than regular formula. 

Jessdub10

I used gentlease with my daughter and it never solved her problem, but now they have one called reguline by enfamil that is supposed to be good for constipation. We also tried juices, gripe water... 

Ultimately we had to put Karo syrup in her bottles. She's almost four now and still deals with constipation if we aren't careful and let her have too much milk and cheese or not enough variety in her diet. It may be a dairy issue but soy formula made her constipation so much worse so beware. 

Specialty formula can get expensive so adding Karo to a basic formula you are comfortable with using could be good too. I know some people give babies water which could help if dehydration is causing this. Just some ideas to run by your pediatrician.

And just in case, for the future - fiber gummies. 

ChrissyD1203

My baby is EBF however she will only go to the bathroom under certain conditions.  She gets "bathroom time" 3x a day and that is when she goes to the bathroom- if we don't do bathroom time, she refuses to go and gets backed up.  For bathroom time I sit on the sofa with my feet up on the edge of the sofa as back support for baby.  She then leans over from a sitting position (either touching her toes or I move her feet so it's like she is in a seated squat).  I then quietly wait and don't interact with her or look at her other than to keep saying poo poo.  Within 10 minutes she goes to the bathroom.  

So my suggestion is to try a "bathroom routine". 

2winterbabies

Also is it just formula you are feeding your LO? Have you also been giving her rice cereal? *If* you have been giving her specifically rice cereal try switching to oatmeal. I am actually surprised with the PP's and their experience with Gentlease.  I had never ran into that problem when I was giving DD gentlease (only for 2 months) but we switched her to soy due to digestive issues.

MamaGooGoo

@teachmegs817 Yes he'll go eventually after a few days of getting prune juice, and then it'll be normal soft consistency. My concern though was if I don't give him prune juice then when he does go it hurts his little butt and she screams and cries as he tries to push it out because it's hard. The prune juice seems to be helping now that I'm giving him more each day, I just wanted to see if a different formula  would prevent me from having to give him so much freaking prune juice. @Jessdub10 I'll talk to our pediatrician about the reguline. Thanks! I haven't started solids yet, but was planning on starting with oatmeal and then pears.

ctmamaoftwo

Have you tried a probiotic? My little one is frequently constipated from his reflux meds. His pediatrician has us giving him a daily probiotic. He occasionally still has a hard bowel movement and that's when we give him the prune juice. It's helped a lot!

Kelley421

We had some constipation with gentlease. Also almost always green poop. I thought it was easier on their tummies but had nothing to do with managing stool consistency? I would add a tablespoon prune juice into bottles and we had to do suppositories a couple times.
Just recently after 6m we switched to regular Enfamil infant and their poops look more like breastmilk poo- thinner and yellow.

taralroberts

Pear juice helps I've heard.. Maybe try just an oz or 2! 

MamaGooGoo

@kelly421 yes that's what I was dealing with, too! Green sticky poop! I have been giving him enfamil reguline for a few days and today he had a more normal poopy diaper, so I'm very happy with the switch so far.