Worried that your baby might be constipated? First consider what their normal pattern is. How often they have bowel movements depends on factors such as what they eat and drink, how active they are, and how quickly they digest food.

Every baby is different; they may poop after each feed, or they may wait a day or more in between.

Interesting fact: exclusively breastfed babies are rarely constipated. Breast milk naturally balances fats and proteins, so it produces stools that are almost always soft – even if baby hasn’t pooped in a few days.

If your baby is breastfed, there is no “normal” number or schedule – just what is typical for your baby. It is not unheard of for breastfed babies to have one bowel movement per week. If your baby drinks formula or eats solid food, he will probably poop at least once a day.

How do I know if my baby is constipated?

Constipation is when your baby has trouble having a bowel movement. Signs of constipation include:

• Less frequent bowel movements than usual, especially if your baby hasn’t had one in three or more days and is clearly uncomfortable when she does
• Hard, dry stool that is difficult to pass – no matter how often
• Squeezing for more than 10 minutes without pooping
• Being more irritable than usual or spitting up more than usual

Note: It is common for babies to strain during bowel movements. If your baby is straining and producing soft stools, it is not constipated.

“When a baby is first learning to poop, it may seem like they’re really struggling—grunting, crying, and getting red in the face before having a bowel movement,” says Liz Donner, MD, a pediatric hospitalist and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory. Board. “This is normal! It happens because pooping requires a coordinated act of relaxing the pelvic floor while flexing the abdominal muscles. As long as soft, mushy stools are passing, there’s no need to worry. This should resolve by about 6 months of age.”

Why is my baby constipated?

Possible causes of constipation include:

Solid food. Your baby may become slightly constipated from eating more solid foods, especially if the foods are low in fiber. (Skip traditional low-fiber first foods like rice cereal in favor of higher-fiber options like oatmeal.)

The formula. The protein component in formula can cause constipation in some babies. If you are concerned, ask your baby’s healthcare provider about switching brands.

“I had (this) problem with my daughter and the doctor said she should have a formula with hydrolysed milk,” he says BabyCenter Community member Mrsdavidwruck. “It worked right away.”

Cow’s milk. “A baby’s digestive tract is not ready for cow’s milk until the first year of life,” says Dr. Donner. “Even then, you should limit them to no more than 16 to 24 ounces per day, as higher amounts can lead to iron deficiency and severe constipation.”

Iron drops. While the amount of iron in formula is too low to cause constipation, the higher amount in iron drops can.

Dehydration. If your baby becomes dehydrated, his system will respond by absorbing more fluid from everything he eats or drinks—as well as from waste in his intestines. The result can be hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass.

Weaning. Reducing breast milk in your baby’s diet can sometimes lead to dehydration, which contributes to constipation.

Illness or medical condition. Although uncommon, constipation can be caused by an underlying medical condition such as hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis or botulism, and certain food allergies and metabolic disorders. If there doesn’t seem to be a reason why your baby is having hard, painful stools, talk to your baby’s pediatrician to rule out these conditions.

How to quickly relieve your baby’s constipation

Here are some home remedies you can try to relieve your baby’s constipation:

• Help them get some exercise. If your baby is crawling, encourage her to do a few laps. If they aren’t crawling yet, try pumping up their legs. While lying on their back, gently move their legs forward in a circular motion as if they were pedaling a bicycle.
• Massage the baby’s belly. For detailed instructions, watch this video on baby massage to help with digestion.
• If you’re feeding your baby formula, ask their doctor about switching to a different brand or type.
• If your baby is old enough to eat a variety of solid foods, reduce constipation with foods like rice and bananas. Try fiber-rich foods such as pureed prunes, peas, apricots or pears, or whole grains to ease bowel movements. dr. Donner notes that if you’re making baby food at home, make sure to blend the skin of the fruit into the puree because of its fiber content.

If your baby has such hard, dry stools that you see a little blood or even slight tears (cracks) in the delicate skin near the opening of her anus, you can apply an ointment such as petroleum jelly or non-vaseline to the area to help it heal. Keep the area as clean and dry as possible, and mention the cracks to your baby’s doctor.

What about juice or water?

While it is American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a baby under 12 months should not be given any juice, a little prune, apple or pear juice with normal feeding is fine to relieve constipation. This fruit contains sorbitol, a sweetener that acts as a laxative. Just make sure the juice is 100% without added sugar.

“Try pear juice, sweet potatoes, and baby oatmeal!” he says BabyCenter Community member RyleeA1995. “My baby had so much constipation (which I was told is normal as their digestive system matures) but he was a pretty miserable guy and the stuff seemed to help.”

If your baby is older than 4 months, you can offer 2 to 4 ounces of juice per day, but not for more than a week or two. If your baby is between 1 and 4 months old, talk to your pediatrician before giving your baby juice.

You can give your baby water when he starts eating solid food. For babies between 6 and 12 months, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends offering 4 to 6 ounces of water daily.

What about laxatives?

Never give your baby an over-the-counter laxative without first checking with your doctor. Your pediatrician may recommend one of these types of laxatives:

• Stool softeners you draw water into the stool, making it more comfortable for the baby to poop.
• Glycerin suppositories relieve severe constipation by stimulating your baby’s rectum. Occasional use of suppositories is fine, but don’t do it regularly as your baby may end up relying on them to have a bowel movement.

When should I call the doctor?

Call the doctor if your baby is under 4 months old and:

• He has a very hard stool
• He has not had a bowel movement within 24 hours of the time they usually leave

Call the doctor if your baby gets any of the following:

• He doesn’t eat
• She’s losing weight
• He vomits
• He has a swollen stomach
• They have blood in their stool
• He strains really hard without a soft stool
• Basic treatments, such as adjusting their diet, do not help

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