Wondering how to relieve constipation in baby because your baby is in the middle of trying to push out poop, but it hurts them, and it won’t come out?!
I’m happy to say help is here!
My daughter was ten months old when she first experienced constipation.
I must say, It was one of the most heartbreaking moments for me because I felt like there was nothing I could do to help take away the pain.
Everything that came up in the search was what to feed your baby to help poop come out, but nothing about helping me right now in the moment of pushing poop out!
I tried many tips and tricks given to me, but they made the process so painful!
After a few of my daughter’s constipation experiences, I discovered one trick that made pushing out poop in most experiences almost pain-free!
Let’s get into, How to relieve constipation in baby?
**Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor or professional in this field, I’m just a mom sharing my tips and experience with other parents. Always consult your doctor first!**
Table of Contents
What To Do When Baby Poop Is Too Big To Come Out And Hurts?
- Undo baby’s diaper and check to see if poop is trying to make it’s way out.
- Apply a good amount of petroleum jelly (I used Aquaphor but you can also use Vaseline or something similar) to the butt hole to help poop come out smoothly.
- Keep baby standing with diaper on. This allows the poop to come down with the least amount of pain and when the body is ready.
- Give your baby water.
- Be patient, stay calm, allow the body to do what it has to do!
I know the wait is dreadful, but it will pass! While you wait, you can rub your baby’s lower back or massage your baby’s tummy in circular motions.
*I’m amazed at how well this works! I hope it works great for your baby, too!*
What Not To Do When Baby Poop Is Too Big To Come Out And Hurts?
- Do Not lay them on their back to push (it hurts more)
- Do Not keep their legs pinned to their chest to help them poop (poop is probably stuck and needs to readjust to come out and this just causes more pain)
- Do Not try to scoop poop out (again this hurts and can cause tearing).
- Do Not force them to push poop out! (they are doing the best they can and they too want poop out)
- Do Not force them to squat or sit on the toilet ( again painful!).
You may have tried some or all of these things above, and it helped poop come out eventually, but I’m also sure your baby cried a lot!
I know this because I’ve tried them. It’s the advice I got from others, but I also knew there had to be a better way!
What’s Constipation?
According to Medlineplus, Constipation in infants and children occurs when they have hard stools or have problems passing stools. A child may have pain while passing stools or may be unable to have a bowel movement after straining or pushing.
What Causes Constipation In Babies?
Mayoclinic says, common causes include early toilet training and changes in diet. Fortunately, most cases of constipation in children are temporary.
What Are Baby Constipation Signs?
Signs of constipation in infants and children may include:
- Being very fussy and spitting up more often (infants)
- Difficulty passing stools or seeming uncomfortable
- Hard, dry stools
- Hard, pebble-like stools.
- Pain when having a bowel movement
- Belly pain and bloating
- Large, wide stools
- Blood on the stool or on toilet paper
- Traces of liquid or stool in a child’s underwear (a sign of fecal impaction)
- Having less than 3 bowel movements a week (children)
- Moving their body in different positions or clenching their buttocks
Which Baby Food Causes Constipation?
Healthline says, For the most part, breastfed babies don’t experience constipation until solid foods are introduced, around the time they’re 6 months old. Some foods that may be constipating include:
Rice cereal. Rice is binding, meaning it absorbs water in the gut, making stool hard to pass. Consider switching to oatmeal or barley cereal if your baby show signs of constipation.
Cow’s milk. This is usually introduced at about a year.
Bananas. This fruit is another common culprit of constipation in babies. You can try feeding it to your baby pureed with some water or 100-percent fruit juice mixed in.
A low-fiber diet. White pastas and breads are low-fiber foods. Without enough fiber, it may be harder for your baby to pass stools.
Why Is Baby Not Pooping While On Baby Formula?
Healthline says, Formula is thicker. It has larger proteins that can be harder to digest. This makes gastrointestinal problems — including constipation — more likely.
Also, Sensitivity to certain ingredients can cause constipation. Switching formula may better benefit your baby.
How To Relieve Constipation In Baby?
1. Foods For Baby Constipation (ages 6months+)?
Healthline recommends, Offering your baby high-fiber foods. A diet rich in fiber can help your child’s body form soft, bulky stool. If you recently started feeding your baby solid foods, try adding high-fiber foods such as:
- broccoli
- pears
- prunes
- peaches
- skinless apples
2. Baby Constipation Massage
There are several ways to massage a baby’s stomach to relieve constipation. These include:
- Using the fingertip to make circular motions on the stomach in a clockwise pattern.
- Walking the fingers around the naval in a clockwise pattern.
- Holding the baby’s knees and feet together and gently pushing the feet toward the belly.
- Stroking from the rib cage down past the belly button with the edge of a finger.
3. Baby Constipation Home Remedies
- Exercise
- Warm bath
- Dietary changes
- More Fluids
- Massage
- Fruit Juice
Read complete article on Best Home Remedies For Baby Constipation
4. Baby Constipation Medicines
Treatment typically starts with home remedies. If home remedies do not work, a doctor may examine the baby and, in rare cases, prescribe medications, such as:
- laxatives
- enemas
- suppositories
How To Prevent Constipation In Babies?
- Give your baby water. Keep them hydrated. –if they’re eating more solids than breast milk or formula.
- Give Baby Probiotic Drops-to promote a healthy gut.
- Give Baby Constipation Ease – to promote regular bowel movement.
- Give baby Prune Juice or puree –if you see they haven’t pooped that day, or their poop is hard pebble-like (just in case).
- Mix rich in iron foods with high-fiber foods –to keep a balance.
Baby Hasn’t Pooped in 2,3,4 Days?
According to Mayoclinic, Constipation in children usually isn’t serious. However, chronic constipation may lead to complications or signal an underlying condition. Take your child to a doctor if the constipation lasts longer than two weeks or is accompanied by:
- Fever
- Not eating
- Blood in the stool
- Abdominal swelling
- Weight loss
- Pain during bowel movements
- Part of the intestine coming out of the anus (rectal prolapse)
Remember to always consult with your baby’s pediatrician!
I truly hope this post was helpful! If you do decide to try this please let me know in the comments below how it worked for your baby?!