Patricia K.
12.06.2017

How to help your little one when they are suffering constipation…



Constipation is not a pleasant experience for adults, but for babies it can be absolutely miserable.
 
Why do babies get constipated?
 
There are many reasons why a baby might get constipated. Sometimes it’s because of diet, whereas some babies have sensitivity to certain foods and their body’s reaction is to experience a stool firming effect. For some little ones it is not what they eat, but for example too little fluid intake. As well, constipation could be related to an allergy or intolerance to cow’s milk or soy milk found in formula or even through breast milk. However, it is recommended that you do not make any changes to your baby’s diet or your own, before consulting your child’s doctor.
 
Whatever the reason, it is important to remember that constipation is diagnosed based on discomfort and firmness of a baby’s poop, not frequency. As long as the baby is comfortable, a baby can poop quite infrequently. There are breastfed babies at 3-4 months of age, who only poop once a week. Formula-fed babies should poop more frequently, at least every other day.
 
Constipated poop typically looks like pebbles, marbles, or logs. If your baby is straining, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your baby is constipated, as long as the poop is soft and your baby is comfortable.

Common ways to treat constipation in babies…
 
If your baby is constipated but has not started to eat solid foods, the common way to treat them is to give them extra hydration between their normal feeds.
 
Here is one of the common ways to treat constipation in babies:
 
- Mix ½ oz of prune juice with ½ oz of water and give to your baby once a day to help them poop.
 
Holle Nutritionists also recommend Holle’s Organic Tea for Kids, which contains the herbs fennel, aniseed, caraway, and chamomile. This organic tea is perfect for supporting and encouraging healthy digestion for babies two weeks of age and older.
 
For babies who are on solid foods, they can have pureéd versions of the “P-Foods” which include prunes, pears, peaches, papaya, parsnips, and pumpkin.
 
Holle also offers some great organic baby foods that can help with treating constipation. For example, Holle Millet Porridge (which is also gluten-free!) or Holle Rolled Oats Porridge, are both great choices for stool regulation in babies.
 
If changing your baby’s diet doesn’t help, we recommend talking to your child’s doctor before trying anything else. 
 

constipation, constipation_treatments

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baby_food_preparation biodynamic_agriculture breasfeeding breastfeeding breastmilk constipation constipation_treatments demeter feeding helpful_tips holle organic organic_baby_food porridge weaning wholegrains