Babies: 6 - 9 Months

Help! Baby is so constipated.

CAA0508CAA0508 member
edited October 2013 in Babies: 6 - 9 Months
My poor LO is so constipated and I'm not sure what to do to help. She tries to poop several times a day, but usually none comes out. She is in tears sometimes trying to poop. When she does poop, there is usually just a little bit and it is very dry and hard. We have had this problem since we started baby food. I am feeding her homemade purées and give her one of the fruits that should help with every meal. The first time she had pears she pooped about an hour later, but they haven't helped since then. I've completely stopped all the foods that are commonly known to cause constipation. Nothing seems to be helping. Does anyone have any suggestions! I have to get her some relief! ETA: She is 6 1/2 months old and breast fed.

Re: Help! Baby is so constipated.

  • Have you tried using a rectal thermometer to help stimulate the area? My DD has always had constipation issues and that usually does the trick. Just insert maybe half an inch or so and it should help. Is your baby EBF or EFF? Mine is EFF and we just add a little more water when mixing it together. It's good you have stopped the problem foods though. Stick to greens, prunes, peaches, pears and apricots if possible for now. It's her body adjusting to the changes I'm sure. It will regulate itself eventually. 
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  • Regular servings of prunes, oatmeal, corn, and several fruits (pears, apples, mango) help our LO's system to stay regular.  When he's constipated, we also give him water with a bit of apple juice mixed in.
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  • I feel ya. You sound just like me/my DS. We've talked at length with his pedi and she said he needed the iron from oatmeal (I had stopped it because I heard it made it worse). So we added it back. We give 3 tsp total of dark Karo syrup mixed with his two solid food meals each day. We try to get 4 oz of pure prune or apple juice daily. (He usually only drinks 2 oz or so) And sit LO in warm baths to help ease the muscles. You can give glycerin suppositories as well. Hope this helps. These are all recommendations from our pedi.
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  • DD2 began having issues when we started solids as well. Occasionally I'll back off solids for a couple days to give her body some relief. We have also started mixing probiotics in one meal a day, and feeding her prunes for lunch everyday.

    She still only poops every 4-6 days, but they aren't quite as hard. I think part of the problem is she doesn't like the feeling of going. When I was just BF she only went every 7-10 days. And then it was just liquidy and she didn't have to try. Now even if it isn't hard she has to actually do some work, and that must feel weird and uncomfortable. I'm hoping it just gets better over time.
  • pavlovcat said:
    Why not just stop with solids?  It sounds like her system isn't ready for them yet.  Wait another month and then slowly try to introduce them again.  Just a thought.
    Yep, I agree with this. They don't really "need" solids at this age anyway.
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  • We just started offering DD water in a bottle (tried the sippy cup and a straw cup and she couldn't figure out what to do) after her purees.  She downed 2.5 ounces of water last night after her butternut squash.  I was really surprised how quickly she took to the plain water.  Also, the rectal thermometer thing has worked for us in the past.
  • Because of the formula DD was switched to, due to massive amounts of spit up, we've been doing prunes or apples every morning, since the formula can be constipating. If she does occasionally get constipated still, we do 1 oz apple juice to 3 oz water, and she drinks maybe half of that, but it does the trick.

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  • The tiniest bit of prune juice in the bottle worked for us.

    Good luck!
  • Our DD was so constipated. She tried to push out so hard so many times. Sorry in advance what I am about to write. I saw the poop and tried to use the thermometer to break it up. Used warm bath to loosen the anal muscles. Had her drink apple juice. She finally pooped a HUGE nugget. Then I helped pull out the next as the diaper confined the poop from coming out. The size and hardness had made her bleed. Should I be concern? I think it torn her butt. What should I do?
  • I have heard applesauce, bananas, and cereal constipate them. Pears, peaches, and prunes help them go. Dark karo syrup in a bottle helps but usually for younger babies. Our pedi just put my son on some meds and it has helped tremendously. I would definitely call the dr. if it continues.    
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