It’s one of those unfortunate things but it’s fairly common for babies to get constipation. This can be due to a number of different things including their diet, milk formula or whether or not they are breast-feeding, and general health.

The thing that most often causes constipation in babies is mild dehydration. This is nothing to get alarmed about and usually giving them boiled water or juice will ease this condition.

If you are able to breast-feed your baby then you should definitely go for it. It’s well known that breast milk is the best diet for your baby. It is regulated naturally by the mother’s body to provide just the right amount of proteins and nutrients that your baby needs.

It’s very rare for breast-fed babies to have problems with constipation. Bottle-fed babies on the other hand are more prone, as formula milk tends to be more difficult to digest and pass through their systems.

Having said all that, once your baby reaches four months and is starting to take in some solid food, this is when constipation problems are most likely to occur. The tell-tale signs are thicker than normal stools and pooping less than once a day.

Generally speaking constipation in babies is nothing to get too concerned about. In most cases you can give baby relief by using one of the following remedies:

1. Supplement your baby’s diet with boiled water. Boiling the water will remove any impurities and the extra fluids will be good for the digestive system.
2. A warm gentle bath can often help. Warm bathwater should help the baby to relax and make the passing of stools easier. When you’re done, apply a little petroleum jelly to his bottom.
3. While he is in the bath you can massage his tummy. Start massaging gently from his belly button and move outwards with the clockwise circular motion. If he shows signs of discomfort or starts to cry then you should stop.
4. Another thing you can try is to lay your baby on his back, hold his legs, and move them in a cycling motion. By doing this you will be exercising his stomach muscles which in turn will put some gentle pressure on the intestines.
5. If you’re feeding your baby formula then always carefully follow the instructions on the package or carton. It’s also a good idea to stick to the same brand whenever you can. There are many different brands of formula on the market which are all basically the same quality but they may need diluting differently. By keeping to the same brand there will be much less chance of tummy upsets.
6. This should go without saying but some people do the strangest of things! Never ever try to push something inside baby’s bottom to try and stimulate a bowel movement. Needless to say this can cause painful damage. Believe it or not, things like this have happened. Like I said-some people are strange!
7. When baby is about 4 to 6 months old you can start to give him puréed fruits and vegetables. These have the same effects as with adults in that they are rich in fiber which will need every day to help prevent constipation.

If you should find that none of these remedies seem to be curing the problem then it’s probably time to give your doctor visit. But this is still no reason to panic. It could be that baby just needs a laxative to help get things moving again. This should only be done through your doctor-never buy laxatives over-the-counter: always consult with your doctor first.

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A lifetime of good dental care begins when children are small. Caring for your baby’s teeth with proper baby oral care can teach them good habits for the future. Learn how to care for their teeth as they age.

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