Constipated Baby - APO,AP

We've used karo syrup and pears/juice. You could try a syringe or cup. I would also use breastmilk in the cereal at the sitters.

Have you tried Dr. Browns bottle? Its the only one that worked for one of mine.

Like Sue said my sons ped and my daughters both said to use dark karo in bottles for constipation. I would STOP using pediasure for her though, it's not made for babies.

Her body is not READY to digest solids, period. It is not partially that is the culprit. Pediasure???? Serioulsy that is all sugar - please talk to your baby's doctor about diet needs I think you have been given some misinformation.

My pedo also had me use dark karo syrup just a tbs mixed with warm water. Worked wonders. Although you stated she will not take a bottle. Maybe mix it and pour it into a bowl and try to give it to her on a spoon. Just make more bc it will spill off the spoon but hopefully you can get a good amount into her. I feel for you. Worst feeling in the world is not being able to fix you babies pain. Good luck and double check w your pedo first.

She should be on formula when she is not nursing. She is too young to be eating any considerable amounts of solids - a taste of cereal here or there may be fine, but not enough "to fill her up".
Many breastfed babies will refuse a bottle from mom, but will take it from a caregiver. If a straight nipple won't work try an orthodontic one. If no nipple works a patient and experienced caregiver can feed a baby from a small open cup.
If you insist on feeding cereal, please make sure you mix it with breastmilk or formula. Pediasure is NOT and infant formula and it is not meant to replace breastmilk or formula for infants.
Good luck!

I am with the others, you should pump breastmilk and mix that with her cereal instead of pediasure! Have you really tried ALL the bottles and ALL the nipple styles, there are so many to choose from? She is still so very little to be eating all those solids and I am thinking the pediasure should stop completely.

The Karo syrup is something I have heard of before too, so that is worth a try. Have you tried pear or apple juice in a bottle, mixed with water of course? I would be trying all the bottles, formula if you can't pump enough, then juice in a bottle or mixed in her cereal and fruit baby food, not bananas, pears or apples or prunes.

How long has she been eating solids? She is only 4 months old! There is a reason it is not recommended that babies that small eat solids...their little bodies are not ready to digest it yet, hence the constipation.

I'd buy 1-2 jars of pureed prunes (in the baby food aisle). The one time my baby was constipated I fed him 1/2 a jar, and within a few hours he had a bowel movement. Start slow--few teaspoons or 1 Tbs, because it can work very quickly and you don't want her to get diarrhea.

with both of my sons & with my daycare kids, all of their various different pediatricians recommended adding dark Karo syrup to the diet. Usually it's added to the bottle, but I've also added it to cereal & fruits.

& while this is probably contrary to popular/current trends, I have 25+ years of babies.....proof-positive of the effectiveness of this home remedy! & with the last daycare baby, that recommendation came straight from the child's pediatrician. Obviously, some drs do still believe!

Her mouth is writing checks her colon can't cash.

Has your caregiver tried other ways to get liquids into her while you're gone?

Good ideas:
http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/alternat...

Just as a mommy note, I would talk to your Dr about ideas to get her to take a bottle (maybe sugar water?) because this will make for a tired momma down the road... but as to the constipation here are a few tips that have worked for me: *Rectal stimulation with the tip of a thermometer can stimulate a reflex that causes the baby to poop *Get her legs moving...while she's lying on her back, gently move her legs in a forward, circular motion like pedaling a bicycle. *Massage her belly...measure three finger-widths below her belly button and apply gentle but firm pressure with your fingertips. Press until you feel a firmness/lump...maintain gentle but constant pressure for about 3 minutes. (prob won't make her poop but will make her feel better) For Prevention: *You didn't mention what kind of cereal you were giving her but if rice cereal try switching to barley or oat cereal, or add pureed fruits or vegetables to her regular cereal, once she's ready for them. Foods that make constipation worse: rice, bananas, and cooked carrots. Food that make constipation better: try mixing her cereal with a little bit of pureed prunes, apricots, or pears. *And I know it's hard but at this age they really do need more liquids than solids (if any) so you're just gonna have to try and get that lil gal to take a bottle (sorry!)

Are you on base? (I noticed your APO address.) I'd take her in to the ped and see if they can show you how to use a wax wick. I did that for my baby and it really works. (Make sure you have a towel because sometimes there is liquid poopy in there and it squirts all over - my husband found that out the hard way while wearing his white business shirt!)

My ped nurse told me to try it, and my SIL showed me how because she had older kids and had done it before.

Good luck!
Dawn

Don't use a sippy, but do use a cup. They have a better handle on drinking. He was able to drink out of a cup from day one, when I had to hand express into a baby cup smuggled in cause the idiot nurses wouldn't let me get a pump. I was extremely engorged that first few days until I got out of the hospital and could pump. If the sitter is patient, she CAN drink out of a cup if she refuses a bottle.

My son took breastmilk from a Playtex Drop-in bottle when my Mother of friends wanted to feed him.

Pediasure is designed for older kids. If you can pump a bottle or two for the sitter to mix with cereal, it should ease her constipation.

Hope this helps.

I dealt with this too. Are you sure you can't get pedialax in the pharmacy? you might need a prescription, but it should be at the pharmacy.

But, you can also do warm baths, and if you can't get a laxative, then you can always do a homemade enema with warm soapy water. I don't exactly know how to do this because I had the pedialax, but, I can tell you that they used to use enemas all the time in the old days.

The constipation is probably from the pediasure because it is made with milk and milk is constipating, especially for a little one who isn't ready for it. Solid food works the same way. If you need to give your little one a bottle, but she won't take it, then you need to try different bottles and nipples. It may not be that she doesn't want one, she just doesn't want the one that you have offered.

The only one both of my kids would take was the Playtex drop-ins with the LATEX nipple. They wont' use silicone, and it had to be latex. These are difficult to find, but usually I can find them at Kmart, Target, and Winco, or online.

Karo syrup wil work eventually, but it can take awhile. Doctor's don't recommend it now because it can have bacteria in it, and they worry the baby could get sick.

I feel for you and your little girl, I wish you well....really, you need to try different bottles and cut back on the solids, obviously her body can't handle it. Good Luck Mama~

If you have any carob powder, or can find it, mix it into her cereal. Carob is a natural laxative, and she should find relief within a day. Or the trick of sticking the tip of your pinky in will provide immediate relief.

My son was constipated when he was about the same age. My mother in law is a nurse and I am going to tell you what she told me to do - and it worked like a charm. Get ready - hope your not squeemish.... using a gloved little finger, use a lubricant and insert your pinky finger into the child's bottom. Not too far - but far enough to help the child expell. It took about 3 seconds for my son to "go" and he never felt better. It will be messy - but kids are messy. My son is now 12 and would be mortified to know that story or know that I shared it. Best of luck to you.

My daughter used to get constipated as a baby and still does at the age of 9. I didn't read all the other responses but what our Pediatrician recommended back then was to avoid, bananas, rice, corn and apple juice. Some fruits that start with the letter P like pears, peaches and prunes are helpful for regularity. Not sure if this helps or not. Good luck!