9 month old with uncomfortable BMs

Hoffmania

Any suggestions for helping a baby with harder poops?  I guess its constipation, but he still goes everyday.  They are just huge and hard.  And he works so hard to get them out.  Sometimes he even cries.

 We give him prunes every morning.  Sometimes we add pears at another meal.  We offer water (and give him a few spoonsful) at every meal.  We give him warm baths during the bad days.

He just started three meals a day after his 9 month appointment.  He also just started meat.  Just chicken so far, but he loves it.  Maybe we give too much?  I only give oatmeal or barley once a day for the iron.  Sometimes he gets carrots.  I avoid bananas.  We mix purees and finger foods at every meal.  He breastfeeds 5 times a day and has plenty of wet diapers.  His liquid intake seems good. He eats lots of veggies that are high in fiber.

 I just don't know what else to do.  I'd really appreciate any suggestions.

MollySm

Lucia had that problem right around the same time. I think because she started eating more solids. We avoided bananas, apples and cheese, and made sure to give her a lot of fruit at every meal, and it got better. It seemed like a crazy amount of fruit, but it worked. After it got better we cut back to a reasonable amount of fruit and added bananas and thing back in, and she's been fine. You can also try pear or prune juice but for us she never would drink eniugh to make a difference.

acaudill75

DDs were on formula, but when they got constipated at a younger age, our pedi. recommended Karo syrup. Like a teaspoon full in their formula. It always did the trick. Now, whenever DD2 gets constipated, which seems to be often, I give her some prune puree (which I know you already did) and I also get the spinach and pear puree in a pouch. I think it is Sprout that makes it??? Anyway, I figure its pear, prunes and spinach. I feel like going to the bathroom just thinking about that combo I would definitely stay away from anything binding while he is constipated, like oatmeal. You can get iron from beets or spinach. Could you be eating something that is binding him? From the short amount of time I BF, DDs would get const. when I had to take painkillers from my deliveries. Not sure how that works in an older baby, but I thought I would add that in.

Hoffmania

Thanks for the tips!  I'll work on upping the fruit intake.  I've considered that it could be something in my diet.  I've been lucky so far not to have to change my diet.  I know I have to look into that though.  Thanks again!

Soccer5810

MY DS has the exact same problem.. It's awful to watch him try and go to the bathroom.. He just screams and cries...  My ped told us to give him 1 tsp of miralax with juice to help make them softer.. It works! 

ave1012

My DD has the exact issues but sometimes it is not everyday, she works so hard sometimes. Here are some things that I have done to help my DD, I give her papaya almost every morning, usually mixed with mango. Papaya helps with constipation. When my daughter is with the nanny (about 2-3 days a week) she gets breast milk in bottles. I add some prune juice and water to the bottle, about an ounce of each, which the pedi was okay with to help DD get some water to help with the constipation. She gets about three bottles during the day when she is with the nanny. I breastfed the rest of the time. I am working on the sippy to get DD to take water on her own but so far she does not like it. Hope things get better.

lawmom747

We have had the exact same problem with our daughter since she started solids.  We are headed to see a specialist this week because we have tried fruit, fruit juice, avoiding solids like bananas, etc.  It is so hard on us to watch her screaming in pain at each BM.  If I get some good advise, I will post it.  I hope things get better for you.