4 At-Home Constipation Remedies For Babies From A Child Nutritionist

Has it been longer than usual since you changed your baby’s diaper? Is your baby currently showing signs of discomfort and pain? If you answer “yes” to both questions, you should know that your kid suffers from constipation. Paediatric dieticians get pummelled by questions from parents regarding how they can eliminate baby constipation without resorting to medicines. Perhaps you’d want to do the same thing – reduce and eventually remove constipation without drugs. Here you’ll find a few tried-and-tested techniques suggested by some of the best paediatric dieticians around the world.

 

1. Begin with liquids: According to the American Academy of Paediatrics, babies should take 1 oz of 100% pear or apple fruit juice for every month of life. The child nutritionist from Dietitian Fit & Co also suggests the same. For instance, a three-month-old can consume up to 3 oz of juice per day to get relief from constipation. However, it’s better to offer a small amount of juice at a time, such as 1 or 2 oz instead of the entire amount at once. In terms of water, babies below six months don’t need it separately. They get all the fluids they need from breast milk and formula.

 

2. Diet alterations: Every child nutritionist is perfectly aware that a baby likes to eat bananas and rice cereals. They also know that these two substances can “bind” a baby and harden their stool. As a result, constipation happens. Paediatric dieticians always suggest adhering to a low-fibre diet for kids. They should take easy-to-digest food items, such as fruit purees and vegetables. You shouldn’t worry if your baby eats solid food items, though. Dieticians will never suggest anything that isn’t baby-friendly. Pureed prunes or peas can be excellent add-ons to the menu, but avoid overdoing it with the prunes.

 

3. Physical exercise: Both adults and toddlers must keep active because it gets the gastrointestinal system moving. Before you realize it, your little one will start running around the house, and you’ll be huffing and puffing to keep up. So, the real question is – how should a baby get exercise before they learn to walk? You can do it by laying your baby on their back and moving their legs in a bicycle motion. This simple exercise can stimulate bowel movements.

 

4. Baby massage: Massaging an infant can be highly advantageous. It calms them down when they become fussy, sick, or teething. It can also improve constipation conditions. Baby massage is an effective remedy for constipation, and more so than medication. Maybe you don’t know how to do it or feel scared thinking you’ll hurt them instead of soothing them. Well, the process is straightforward. You only need to rub their legs, feet, arms, head, and tummy. You should make it part of their daily routine. It’ll help them relax for naps.

 

Final considerations

 

Unfortunately, the natural remedies described above may not work every time. It’s also worth mentioning that constipation can be severe to babies and adults alike. If you notice signs like the presence of blood in the stool, vomiting, swollen belly, and instances of pain, you should take your child to a paediatric dietician immediately. When the procedures described here don’t work, the obvious choices include using baby laxatives or glycerine suppositories.