How to Avoid Constipation When Starting Solids.
Constipation is a very common problem when you move from easily digested breastmilk or formula to introducing solid foods.
Before you start treating your baby for constipation - it’s worth taking some time to understand what constipation is, what causes it and when you may need to get medical advice….
So let’s start with what constipation is and isn’t.
It’s completely normal to see changes to your baby’s bowel movements when they go from exclusively milk feeds to solid foods.
You may notice a change in colour, texture, smell, frequency or the amount. You may also see chunks of food in your baby’s stool - again, this is completely normal as their digestive system is still developing and adapting to eating more solid foods.
Ideally, once your baby has started solids, they should be having at least one, easy to pass bowel movement every day.
This will vary greatly between babies and is highly dependent on the types of foods they’re eating - however, if your baby goes from regular bowel movements (1-4 daily) to less than once a day, then they may be at the beginnings of constipation.
Constipation can range from difficulty passing a stool to irregular bowel movements that can cause discomfort and abdominal pain. Dry, hard, small “rabbit” stools or large, difficult to pass stools are not normal. For your reference , check out the Bristol Stool Chart which will help you recognise what is “normal”.
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Constipation can vary between breastfed and formula fed babies.
It’s rare for breastfed babies to be constipated. If your breastfed baby is constipated, it’s possible she isn’t getting enough breastmilk and you might need to feed her more often.
Formula-fed babies might be constipated if the formula isn’t made up correctly and doesn’t have enough water in it, your baby may be sensitive to the proteins in the formula or the iron fortification in the formula.
What are some of the other causes of constipation?
Some other causes of constipation in babies, particularly when transitioning from milk feeds to solids foods include;
Their gut is still maturing to digest solid foods
They have have an imbalance of gut bacteria
The may have a food allergy or intolerance
Some babies can get constipated if a hard stool has caused a tear in the rectum or anus, which hurts them. They instinctively hold on, so the remaining stool gets hard and more difficult to push out.
What are the signs & symptoms that your baby may be constipated.
Crying or straining when passing a stool
Drawing their legs up when trying to pass a stool
The stool or wind smells bad.
Your baby’s appetite has decreased
Large, hard stools or dry, hard, small “rabbit” stools
Not having a daily bowel movement
When to seek medical advice;
If you notice blood or mucous in your baby’s stool
They haven’t had a bowel movement in 3-5 days
My recommended treatments for constipation are...
Avoid rice cereal - rice cereals can be difficult for your baby’s immature gut to digest and also contain added iron that can cause constipation.
Mix in some fats with your baby’s foods (olive or coconut oil or some ghee) - fats help to keep the digestive system moving.
Offer your baby a little bit of stewed pear or apple (grate some pear, including the skin, pop into a saucepan, cover with just enough water to cover the fruit) and cook on low heat until soft. If pureeing foods, then puree in a blender - You can give this on it’s own, or mix in with veggies.
Offer a little bit of water in between feeds (30ml of cooled, boiled water).
Give your little one a warm bath, then using some baby massage oil, massage her tummy in a clockwise direction
If you ‘ve tried all of these things and your baby is still constipated, then you can try supplementing with a probiotic. Probiotics that contain the following strains have been shown to improve constipation in infants and children;
Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938
Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lcr35
Need a little more help with introducing solids?
If you want to learn more about this, then I go into more detail on this topic and much more in my “Get it Right From Their First Bite” Program for introducing solids.
