What Causes Constipation in Infants and How Can You Prevent It?

It is very important to know what causes constipation in infants in order to prevent this troublesome condition from affecting the health of your baby. Since this digestive problem commonly occurs in almost 10% of children, you have to be familiar with its symptoms as well as the proper way of curing it before it puts your child’s health in jeopardy. Once you have learned its main causes and symptoms, it will also become easier for you to determine what kind of diet your child needs for developing healthy bowel movements.

What Causes Constipation in Infants?


Infants and toddlers who are suffering from constipation are in need of newborn constipation remedies that are completely different from what adults need. This is mainly because the pattern of their bowel movements may change from the time they were born until they turn four years old. Although a huge majority of constipated infants do not have an underlying disorder or medical disease, other factors may contribute to this uncomfortable condition. To find out what causes constipation in infants, you have to analyze their diet as well as the amount of fluids they drink.

Sudden changes in the diet of your newborn baby may directly affect his bowel habits. While adults need high-fiber meals to improve the functioning of their bowels, no evidence has proven that high-fiber food can cure constipation in infants. However, toddlers and newborn babies who eat well-balanced meals are less prone to constipation. Breastfed infants will also move their bowels more often than babies who drink formula. In fact, switching from breast milk to formula may cause constipation as well. Since babies are not yet capable of digesting complex foods, introducing different foods to their diet may also lead to constipation.

How To Prevent Infant Constipation


Now that you already know what causes constipation in infants, It will be easier for you to think of effective ways to prevent this condition from affecting your child. You can start by evaluating your baby’s diet. You should also refrain from introducing solid foods to his diet unless his digestive system already seems ready for complex food. Make sure that they are getting adequate fiber because it will help them cleanse and move food particles through the colon and intestines. Vegetable and fruit baby foods are excellent sources of fiber so you should consider including them to his diet.

To prevent infant constipation, you should also monitor the amount of dairy products in your child’s diet. Cheese and milk are leading causes of constipation but breast milk is okay because it has no by-products and babies can readily digest it. Finally, you can avoid your baby from becoming constipated by rubbing his stomach in a gentle, circular motion. This simple exercise will also provide immediate infant constipation relief because it helps in moving food particles through their digestive system.

Natural remedies for infant constipation can also help you ease the pain that your child is feeling. Introducing fruit juices such as pear, prune, and apple juice to his diet will be greatly beneficial because act as mild laxatives. Dilute them in water before letting your child drink them because concentrated juices may lead to diarrhea, gas, and bloating. You can also give them an ounce of water mixed with half teaspoon of sugar before feeding them formula food.

Once you have learned what causes constipation in infants, it will be easier for you to prevent it or find an effective cure before it affects your precious baby’s overall health.

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