Continuously Constipated 10 Month Old

There could be a medical reason for this. My daughter was constipated from 3 months to a year. She would go 6 days and cry and bleed. It was bad. Finally the doctor ordered allergy testing for milk. She was breast fed and really allergic to milk. You would think it would have the opposite affect on them, but sometimes it results in constipation.

my daughter had this problem. she drank prune juice at just three months old, we tried Karo for a while and suppositories all suggested by my doctor. finally the doctor prescribed Lactulose which is a sugar that is not metabolized by the body but helps keep waste soft and manageable so it is easier to pass. we went to a specialist who told us this is very common in babies and she will grow out of it. the lactulose worked and eventually she did grow out of it. until she started potty training, but that is a new and different story. she no longer takes the lactulose and hasn't for almost a year. i am still mindful of her diet. for example she does not eat bananas more than once per week and i occasionally give her prunes (she thinks they are a treat). i would start a conversation with her doctor. good luck.

This has been a huge struggle of ours with our 10 month old. I give him as much fruit as possible. Babyfood prunes, babyfood blueberries, fresh or frozen blueberries are even better. I put them in the mesh bag and let him chew on them. I do half of a the little bottle of gerber prune juice and water in a full size sippy cup and offer that at every meal. My son is also breastfeed. Pineapple is really good as well. I have heard pear juice works well. I just try not to give too much juice I would rather nurse. Our Dr. told us to use milk-of-magnisa(sp?) everyday for a week then every other day then when needed. I just didn't want to use it too much. Also look into baby massage I'm sure you can find the method online it has helped him some. I'll be reading this post to get more ideas!! Good luck!

Hi S.- My daughter was a champion nurser and loved her solid foods also. I have heard about trying prune juice (either in a cup, maybe mixed in cereal or fruit). Bran muffins, or if you prefer a bran cereal mixed with milk (breast) so that it is soft, may also help. I used a glycerine supository on my daughter when she didn't poop for 4 days, but she was over a year old. Check with the doctor on those. You can buy them over the counter and my daughter pooped within a moment or two of us inserting it in her anus. Good luck.

Hello S.--I would like to share a few Safe and Natural remedies for Lucys constipation.
1. It is not necessary for a 10 month old to eat solids foods but if you have made that decission please know I'm not trying to talk you out of it. I would suggest however to cut back on the amount not the frequency.Just fruit would be best.
2. This might sound too simple but reflexology is a very effective remedy. The heel area corresponds to the bowel system. Massage (no need to be gentle)the area and even the heel of the hand.
3. Sitting in warm water.
4. Diluted apple juice is gentler than prune juice for infants
5. Baby massage~ In a warm room, warm hands, using olive oil--
First~massage in a DOWNWARD motion on the LEFT side (tracing an l
Second~starting at the center of the lower abdomen (right above the pubic bone)massage to the RIGHT and then UP tracing an L
Third~massage abdomen (right below navel)in an upside down U
It's called the I Love U baby massage--it's nice to say the I love you while you are doing it.
It's important to do it in this order because of the way the bowel system evacuates.
6. If you want to use essential oils during the massage add 1 drop of ginger essential oil. ONLY 1 drop to several tablespoons of olive oil.
7. In 1 pint of water simmer 2 T fennel seed and 2 T licorice root (natural food store) for 20 minutes. Cool completly. Give 1 t every 1/2 hour, Lucy will probably like the taste. Will keep in fridge for several days but it will more than likely work the first day.
Please don't use dried fruits, they are of course void of all liquids and as you are already aware of--she needs more liquids not less
Hope this is helpful S., good luck. And Lucy~happy pooping! :0)

My son got constipated at 10 mo too, he's 27 months now and still constipated, we've tried EVERYTHING!! The best thing I've found is pear juice, you can get it at Whole Foods or somewhere similar. The Dr. says it's the best too and go with dried fruits like apricots and raisins. Hope you can curb it sooner than we have. Goodluck!

I think it's always important to remember that it isn't unusual for children not to eat solid food before a year. Every babies body is on its own schedule. I'd go with the suggestion from the person who said just cut back to a tiny bit of solid food--mostly for fun, let her nurse her weight back up and give it another try in a couple of months. At that point the problem may have resolved itself, and, if it hasn't, you can head into the other possibilities.

Hi S.,
My name is B. and I had a similar issue with my daughter. Her issue was that her bowel movements were so large and wide that they could not come out. She was 2 when it started. We took her to the pediatrician and they put her on Miralax. It was a prescription but now it's an over the counter med. We put some in her milk everyday. The doctor told us we had to retrain her bowels. I'm not sure if that's what's going on with Lucy but it could be just that. And then she may feel full from the constipation and not want to eat. It's a vicious cycle. Anyway I hope this helps in some way. Good luck and I hope it gets better soon for you and Lucy. Take care,
B.

I went through the same thing with my daughter when she was about 6mths when I was nursing and feeding her baby foods. My husband and I made sure she ate stage 1 prunes at least twice a day. We did half a container in the morning and then at the evening meal. My daughter also became constipated when she turned a year when she started whole milk. We ended up having to put her on 1 tbsp of mineral oil twice a day. That was too much for her at one sitting so we ended up splitting that dose throughout the day with whatever she was eating/drinking at that time. Now, she is pretty regular with her bowel movements and she is 15mths. She was on the mineral oil for about 2mths before she became regular. Also, with the prunes we did that almost everyday. She also liked the prunes.

After the loose stools of a breast fed baby, those solid BMs can be alarming after adding solids. Grunting, red face, firm stools are normal for some kids. She should be getting sufficient liquids from your milk which is still the best source of nutrition as well. My babies wouldn't drink other liquids either, but prunes every day helped make BMs easer to pass until their bodies got used to the solids. My last baby seemed to have lots of allergies, so I researched how long he could be exclusively breastfed. At 11 mo., he only ate rice cereal and applesauce. I hope you are able to discover what is best for Lucy.

I noticed the solid food/ constipation link after a few kids. My last one, I felt I was getting in the groove better with. I started her off on a blend of mashed avocado/ banana. No cereal! There's a lot on that after I researched. Anyway, for those days she was having trouble, I mixed in some baby food prunes with the banana. Hope it helps your little one!

Chamomile Tea worked wonders for my kids. Just a few ounces once or twice a day.

S.,

That sounds very similar to the story of my daughter. When we started solids, she became constipated. Take Lucy to your pediatrician and get a referral to a GI doc. With my daughter, it turned out to be Celiac Disease, which isn't a bad thing, but it CAN present with constant constipation that isn't alleviated by fruit, or all the liquid in the world--it's by the removal of certain grains from the diet. It's best to investigate everything though via your pediatrician though. It may not be that at all.

~D.

I've heard that all things P--pears, prunes, peaches, etc. are good. Apples can be binding for some babies, a help for others so you might have to play with that one. My son did the same thing at around 6 months. I found the culprit to be iron (even though some will tell you this is a myth). He was primarily breastfed but I started to use small amounts amounts of formula to make his cereal and he would drink the little bit that wasn't used to mix. It seemed that the iron of the fortified cereal combined with the iron of the little bit of formula was more than his system could handle at the time. We did the pear juice thing and cut out cereal. Once he was a little more regular, we added cereal again but made with water this time. And the times when I did use formula (if I was going out, etc), I purchased the low iron variety (not easy to find...I could only find it at Walgreen's). Good luck and unfortunately each baby is different and reacts differently to things and has his/her own rythm so it make take a while to figure it all out. Good luck! :)

Our son Ethan also experienced chronic constipation during his first year; the advice we received was to mix 1 tablespoon of stage 1 carrots with his formula before bedtime. You could also try a few drops of olive oil with her formula or breast milk, this is supposed help move things along. If you are giving your daughter formula, you might speak with her pediatrician about a different type such as Enfamil Nutramigen which was easier to digest.

Hi S.,

I have a daughter that kind of did the same thing!! Everytime I gave her a bottle I put about 1/2 inch in the bottom of the bottle of Karo syrup. I spoke with my dr. and that is what he said to do. I did help. I couldnot breastfeed my daughter for only about 2 weeks and then I had to put her on a bottle and that was the only thing that would help!! I also gave my daughter or all of my kids for that matter Oatmeal Ceral of the Mixed grain. If you decide to do formula the Nestle Carnation Good Start is one of the better ones, it breaks down just like breastmilk does. Anyway hope I was of some help!!! C.

I would cut back on the solids. 2 tablespoons of rice cereal in the morning and evening. You can give her prunes this will help move her bowels. Also breast feed and as much as you can this may help also with the constapation. She may just not be ready for all the different foods yet. Also try different foods one at time for one week at a time,and see if this is what is causing her being constapied.

Hi,
I so understand what you are talking about, I finally had to take my daughter to the Dr. and she put her on that miralax, it finally helps her go without it hurting her.. you can put this in anything she will drink for you..she has had constipation since she was really small no matter what i did until the dr.said to try this. I was hesitant but, it does work. ask your pediatrician about it. take care and all my best to you and your little one. I forgot to add that u can sprinkle it on food also.

Keep nursing and try drinking more water yourself. Try adding baby food prunes to her ceral in the morning. Keep trying to push fluids but be carefull about juices. I am glad you already know about the things to avoid, things to help are greens in baby food jars or even just mashed from what you eat. I would not add milk until you get this figured out. Hope this helps!

S.-
There are times that some children don't develop in their body functions as fast as others. Also, your baby could be reacting to the formula. I know you said that it started just as you started food, but as they grow their bodies change and need different things. I do suggest that you try one of two things. You can give her baby prunes it comes in baby food or you can give her watered down prune juice. These really works and it can help relieve her. This is the best natural way to help her. It could also be an allergic reaction. If it doesn't get any better I suggest you take her to the doctor.

My daughter has been struggling with constipation since birth. Early on, the pediatrician recommended dark Karo corn syrup. Finding the right balance with the amount is a bit tricky. Maybe check with your pediatrician regarding an appropriate amount to start with. Our daughter is getting about 3-5 teaspoons per day at this point. If the BM is runny, we back off a bit. If she gets constipated again, we try another teaspoon per day. It changes according to what solids she's eating, but also just the way her body's processing the milk (she's got a very sensitive tummy in general) from day to day. Hope this helps!

I think it is good to stay away from the white flour and other processed foods anyways. I have a sister in law who had a nursing baby that would not poop from the beginning. She is into the natural way and had to occasionally give enemas and also a very mild natural laxitive. THis was also an extreme case. Sometimes it takes a little while for a child's body to adjust to solids and I think if your daugther is happy and satisfied nursing with just one meal a day, then do that. She may just need to start slower. Definitely stick with the fruit and veggies!

Have you tried a little bit of apple juice, I try to stick with 100% juice and all natural, but this has helped me in the past.

S.! My daughter had the same problem when she transitioned from nursing to solids and nursing. Our doctors said to only feed her foods beginning with the letter "P." It sounded funny but it totally worked. Apparently some babies have to develop the muscles they use to have a bowel movement and so they aren't really "constipated," they just aren't used to having to push to have a BM. So we fed her a lot of prunes, pears, sweet potatoes, pineapples, peas, and anything else we could find to laxate her. The doctor said apples are constipating, but apple juice is a laxative, so you can always try that. Good luck!!!

Hey, S.. Don't sweat it. If you don't really feed her any regular meals, just what she wants she will still be just fine. A nursed baby really doesn't need any other nutrients other than breastmilk until they are 1. I would slowly introduce different foods and find out which ones she responds to this way. Everyone is a litte different.
Good luck and as long as she is getting lots of food from you it should be fine.

Hi S.,
My daughter Anya was also constipated all the time after she started eating solids. I was given a lot of great advice that I will pass on; aloe juice added to apple juice (a teaspoon per 8 oz.), baby fish oil caplets that she can chew on (they come in strawberry flavored at Wild Oats), ground flax seed in oatmeal, lots of plain organic yogurt or if she wont eat this, probiotics for lower intestines every day. I sell great probiotics that can be taken by newborns even. It is a small pearl that you pop in their mouth and then latch them onto the breast. The pearl goes down immediately and works wonders for gas, colds, allergies, any skin problems and definitely constipation (works for adults just as well). My website is www.shaklee.net/integralhealing or you can call me at ###-###-####.

if she seems uncomforatble when she eats( whining, throwing up, or seems to start eating a bunch than abruptly stopping during the feeding) i would definitely check her out for food allergies. otherwise, pear juice always worked wonders. since she won't drink, get the canned pears in juice and dice them up to give to her. also, get true whole wheat bread- sunflower market has one and frys has "homestyle" bread in their bakery area. both are just wheat, honey, yeast, etc. no preservatives or anything. i actually have to limit this bread for my youngest beacuse he's so regular, he'll start getting loose stools. good luck!