Chronic constipation runs in the family I have it and my 6 yr old too, we have to follow a high fiber diet and even supplement with diet with fiber and/or bulk forming laxatives. My 5 1/2 month old baby stared to want food at about 4 mo, he would cry and scream when anyone ate close to him. He would scream and open his mouth waiting for whatever he would see someone eat. But we waited until now. My baby was only breast fed until 4 month I take medication for thyroid and could no longer breast feed, the formula was changed until we found one that would not constipate him. I was afraid the cereals like rice would cause constipation like they did with my 6yr old. So we tried green vegetables and all 4 times he has gotten severely constipated passing painful large hard balls and even having some rectal bleeding. The doctor had recommended trying green vegetables if that did not work to go for fruits but I'm so scared to give him anything else that will cause him pain and rectal bleeding. I want to try fresh home cooked instead of the baby foods. What would be some good home made foods I can try that are easy to digest?
Squashes...might be a good place to start. Butternut, acorn..I bake up an acorn with cut up apple in it, throw it all in the food processor and my little guy loves it.
I'd also do pear and avocado. With the pear, I just lightly simmer it before blending.
You could also try egg yolk maybe.
Maybe try some beans. They are fibrous and are easy to pass. Children love them. You can make a pot and then puree them to make it easier to swallow. I don't suggest giving him whole beans at this age. Have fun with it. Throw in some cooked veggies with the beans so he is getting a variety. Even if you think the green veggies are constipating him, they are still good and healthy for a growing child and they need to get used to the tastes. Avoid bananas. They are binding and can cause constipation. Maybe mix some apple juice with water in a bottle and let him drink that. Maybe pureed prunes or prune juice. Mix with water though. About 1 part water, 1 part juice. If the problem persists ask your doctor for a prescription of Lactulose. It is non habit forming and I had to put my daughter on it for a few months until her poop got regulated naturally. I didn't give the recommended dose. It was too much for her and gave really loose stool. My doc said that I can just adjust the dosage amount until I get the right one that just helped her poop. I was very thankful for this medicine. We had nights of crying because of constipation and me having to do the unthinkable. Yes, I had to massage the poop out. Yuck!!!! The things we do for our children. Ha Ha Ha.
My babies loved raw avocado blended up with raw apple. Delish!
Try pears first. Fruits usually keep the stools pretty soft. However, avoid applesauce and bananas. I read a post to try egg yolk. I think they can have it before the age of 1 but I think 5 months is a little young. I would definitely ask your pediatrician to refer you to a RD (registered Dietitian) or some sort of specialist. Fortunately, my kids have never suffered from this problem but my best friend's oldest did. It is difficult and I'm sorry you and your family have to deal with it. With a proper diet, I'm sure you can keep it under control. Good luck!
Hi,
I honestly think you should puree some organic sweet potatoes. I really think you should just make your own baby food. When you buy canned or jarred baby food the veggies and fruit have been pureed and strained and jarred. When you actually make it at home. you are just smashing or purring fresh veggies or fruit all the fiber is still there. I recommend just smashing sweet potatoes or bananas with a fork. Good luck!
First: Hard for me to understand that no one has sought out a gastrointestinal doctor to find out why teh constipation exists in so many. Is is a physical thing or ? (BTW, my granddaughter was found to have a too-small anus at age 1.5 months or so. The doctor waited til 3 months to do a little 6 minute operation to correct it and said it wasn't uncommon.)
Another thing: I accidentally found out that lots of magnesium makes me regular. I was taking meds that made me constipated but my blood test showed that my magnesium was low so I was prescribed it and wow, it worked better than fiber and loads of water. I'm not recommending it but I guess I'm saying that you might want to see if her magnesium is low or if magnesium supplements would hurt.
Some fruits cause regularity or diarhia in some people. Why not try those? For some, apples, grapes, dried apricots, dried prunes -- and I don't know what else.
Ask the pediatrician if you guys should see a specialist because you shouldn't live with something you don't have to.
we do not have the same problems. every once in a while my son will get constipated. we will give him sweet potatoes. my husband calls them "poop roots" they seem to do the trick. also drinking LOTS of water helps. i dont think at 5 1/2 months your suppose to give him water. ask the pedi about it first.
Your pediatrician doesn't have any other suggestions for you? I find that odd.
Karo syrup, watered down prune juice or apple juice can help with constipation, but I would try to push harder with your doctor to find the cause. Painful bowel movements that cause fissures are really not normal in babies and if you don't figure it out now it's only going to get worse.
You may want to try the rice or oatmeal cereal with karo syrup mixed in or followed by some prune juice. Also at 5 1/2 months it is really not necessary to start solids, so his body may not be ready to process solids yet. As long as he is getting plenty of formula then solids are not necessary.
My son didn't start on solids until he was 8 or 9 months, he just wasn't ready until then.
Good luck!
My daughter has the same problem. I never made home cooked food for her when she was that age. Her doctor suggested some apple juice with water. Half and Half. That didn't do anything for her. So they suggest to add just a little dark karo syrup into her milk and that seemed to help for a while. You could try some pureed prunes as well. They seem to help my daughter now at 15 months. :)
I take levothyroxin for hypo thyroid all through my pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you want to try to get back to breastfeeding, find a lactation consultant. They know more about medications being transferred through breastmilk cause they deal with it all the time. There are ways to increase your flow that they can work with you on. Feel free to contact me w/questions re. my breastfeeding experience. Your hospital or ob/gyn should be able to refer you to a lactation consultant. Sorry I can't help with the food/constipation thing.
Taking medication for your thyroid isnt bad while breastfeeding thats what the wic, told me, so u should try and breastfeed her again, i also ave thyroids so i know. I stopped breastfeeding cuz my baby had an allergic reaction to brstmlk, and the bby formula prosobee, and they change her to nutramigen which help her alot, right now the pediatrician told me to try prosobee again to see how well she takes it, yesterday she was so constipated and had also a bit rectal bleeding, so i personally switched her back to nutramigen, seeing her push and cry made me cry, i give her water so that helped a bit, but still was hard for her. So i suggest u try giving her nutramigen, yes i know its expensive, but try it for a while!!! Good luck to ur child and u!! BTW: TRY APPLE PRUNE JUCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
