Having a newborn in the house can be scary, especially if this is your first child. It can be difficult to know what is right when it comes to the health and well being of your baby.
Knowing the right and wrong things to do in certain situations will not only make you feel more prepared but will also make life much more pleasant for your child. Today we are going to discuss a health issue that is not only very common among new born babies but also something that may be a bit difficult for parents to diagnose and care for, baby constipation. Learn how to identify this problem and care for it to help your baby avoid this terrible discomfort.
It Be Hard Enough To Deal With Constipation As An Adult
As adults, chances are, that you have dealt with constipation at some point in your life. This is a very common digestive issue that is not only uncomfortable, but at times can also be quite painful. As adults we can easily communicate our problems and there for seek out the treatments that are necessary to eliminate them.
When it comes to babies, especially newborns, it can be almost impossible to know what it is that is causing them pain or discomfort. When a baby becomes constipated it can be extremely painful. Their bodies are just stating to develop and changing drastically each and every day. This can also make difficult to know whether or not your child actually is constipated. Because newborns live off on a liquid diet, they will have liquid-like or very loose stool. While this makes much more difficult for infants to become constipated it may also make it hard to tell when they do. It is perfectly normal for a baby to go from filling up a diaper 3 to 4 times per day to once a day.
Most people confuse constipation with a lack of going to the bathroom. The truth is that constipation can occur when one does not have healthy bowel movements. Basically, all of the waste is not leaving your body. When we, as adults, become constipated we begin to feel bloating and discomfort we also notice that we are not going to the bathroom like we regularly do. This is something that is much more difficult to distinguish with a child.
In this post we are going to discuss several ways that you figure out whether or not your baby is indeed constipated and what it is that you can about it to easily and safely cure what is ailing them.
A Babies Digestive System
Before you can begin to learn how to tell if your newborn is indeed constipated, you may want to learn a little bit about what is going on in their bodies at this delicate stage in their lives. As I mentioned before, babies live on a completely liquid diet that can, at times, be quite uncomfortable for them. Between gas, constipation and diarrhea, this is the time in a child's life when their digestive systems are most unpredictable and can cause the most distress. Changes in the way their digestive systems work and process their food is perfectly normal and sometimes can even cause some upset or constipation.
Another thing to keep in mind is that when solid food are introduced, there can be serious or moderate changes in the solidity of your babies stool which can also often cause discomfort and bowel problems.
While constipation and other stomach upsets are more than normal in babies, you will want to know what to look for when it comes to baby constipation and baby constipation remedies.
How To Know If Your Baby Is Constipated
As I mentioned before, every infant is different. Normal bowel movements will depend on what is "normal" for your baby. Your baby will have to have a bowel movement after every feeding, this could be within the hour, or within the day. This makes it much more difficult to tell when a baby has become constipated or if the infant is suffering from these types of digestive related symptoms.
This is when common sense comes into play. If your baby usually has 2 to 3 bowel movements per day, and then does not, there is a chance that you child is constipated. The same can be said for babies that usually have bowel movements once per day. If you see that your child has not gone to the bathroom in several days, there is a good chance they are suffering from constipation.
Another thing to keep in mind is that your child's regularity may fluctuate at this time in their lives. If your baby does not seem to be in any pain and is feeding regularly, you probably have nothing to worry about. On the other hand, if it has been a substantial amount of time since the child's last bowel movement, there is a good chance that they are backed up. Again, this all boils down, so to speak, to common sense and what you know about your baby.
Why Is My Baby Constipated?
There are four main medical reasons why your baby may be constipated. While it is true that babies that are breast fed have a much lesser chance of becoming constipated, those that are fed formula are consuming much less natural meals and it is very possible that there is an ingredient in that formula that is effecting your child's digestive system in a negative way. Many times you can solve baby constipation by simply switching your brand or type of formula.
Another common reason why your infant may be suffering from constipation is that they are being introduced to solid foods. At a certain age it is important to begin introducing a small amount of solid foods into your child's diet. This is something that can often take the babies digestive system by surprise. During this period, your infant's stool will begin to be much harder and more dense. This is one of the more common causes of constipation in babies and infants.
Although it may be hard to believe that a baby can become dehydrated because their diet either completely or mostly consists of liquids, it can happen at times. If you child is even slightly dehydrated, their body will begin to absorb moisture from every where that it can, including your baby's stool. Dry stool is always harder to pass and can easily lead to constipation.
No one wants to hear that their baby is suffering from an illness but this can sometimes also cause constipation. Whether it is a cold, allergic reaction or some other health issue, many times constipation is a sign of a much more serious problem and is why it should always be taken seriously, especially when it occurs in babies and young children.
Some Natural Baby Constipation Remedies
Although it is never a good idea to give your baby any type of medication for constipation, unless advised by a medical professional, hydration is always a safe and natural baby constipation remedy. Try to feed your child some water if they are not producing bowel movements regularly or their stool seems overly hard or rigid. Water is perfectly natural and will not harm your baby in any way. By keeping your child hydrated, you will hopefully be able to cure their digestive related problems.
Aside from hydration, another natural cure for constipation is to increase one's activity, this can also be done with babies and infants. Make sure that you baby is getting enough exercise and moving around. Play with them and encourage them to use their developing muscles. If your baby is crawling, motivate them to do so. If not, try exercising your baby's legs by moving them as if they were riding a bicycle while on their backs. This not only healthy but can often be a great way to help increase healthy bowel movements.
Attempt to massage your babies lower stomach gently. This may help them to push through any stool that has become trapped or is moving through the intestines sluggishly.
If you notice that your child's stool abnormally hard and it is causing them discomfort or even pain, you can attempt to lubricate the anus by applying a small amount of Vaseline. This will not only help to heal and protect any abrasions that have appeared due to the hard stool but also make bowel movements less unpleasant.
When Should You Start To Worry
Usually, in adults, it is perfectly reasonable to wait several weeks before seeking out medical attention for constipation. This is not the case for babies, especially if your child seems to be in any type of pain or discomfort. If a few days have passed since their last bowel movement or your child seems to be in pain, you should seek out medical attention immediately. Although most of the time you will need to wait out constipation, it is better to be sage than sorry, especially when dealing with small children and babies. Make sure to tell your child's pediatrician about any problems that they are going through or any changes in their diet that may have caused this upset.
How To Avoid Constipation In Babies
Unfortunately, all that you can do to help you baby avoid constipation is to keep them properly hydrated. Since babies thrive on either breast milk or formula, it is impossible to change their diet much. By feeding your baby water, you may be able to help regulate their bowel movements as well as cleanse their systems. As always, if you believe that your child is suffering from any health issues, even something as common as constipation, you should seek out the advice of a doctor and see what they believe the best course of action is.
Knowing the right and wrong things to do in certain situations will not only make you feel more prepared but will also make life much more pleasant for your child. Today we are going to discuss a health issue that is not only very common among new born babies but also something that may be a bit difficult for parents to diagnose and care for, baby constipation. Learn how to identify this problem and care for it to help your baby avoid this terrible discomfort.
It Be Hard Enough To Deal With Constipation As An Adult
As adults, chances are, that you have dealt with constipation at some point in your life. This is a very common digestive issue that is not only uncomfortable, but at times can also be quite painful. As adults we can easily communicate our problems and there for seek out the treatments that are necessary to eliminate them.
When it comes to babies, especially newborns, it can be almost impossible to know what it is that is causing them pain or discomfort. When a baby becomes constipated it can be extremely painful. Their bodies are just stating to develop and changing drastically each and every day. This can also make difficult to know whether or not your child actually is constipated. Because newborns live off on a liquid diet, they will have liquid-like or very loose stool. While this makes much more difficult for infants to become constipated it may also make it hard to tell when they do. It is perfectly normal for a baby to go from filling up a diaper 3 to 4 times per day to once a day.
Most people confuse constipation with a lack of going to the bathroom. The truth is that constipation can occur when one does not have healthy bowel movements. Basically, all of the waste is not leaving your body. When we, as adults, become constipated we begin to feel bloating and discomfort we also notice that we are not going to the bathroom like we regularly do. This is something that is much more difficult to distinguish with a child.
In this post we are going to discuss several ways that you figure out whether or not your baby is indeed constipated and what it is that you can about it to easily and safely cure what is ailing them.
A Babies Digestive System
Before you can begin to learn how to tell if your newborn is indeed constipated, you may want to learn a little bit about what is going on in their bodies at this delicate stage in their lives. As I mentioned before, babies live on a completely liquid diet that can, at times, be quite uncomfortable for them. Between gas, constipation and diarrhea, this is the time in a child's life when their digestive systems are most unpredictable and can cause the most distress. Changes in the way their digestive systems work and process their food is perfectly normal and sometimes can even cause some upset or constipation. Another thing to keep in mind is that when solid food are introduced, there can be serious or moderate changes in the solidity of your babies stool which can also often cause discomfort and bowel problems.
While constipation and other stomach upsets are more than normal in babies, you will want to know what to look for when it comes to baby constipation and baby constipation remedies.
How To Know If Your Baby Is Constipated
As I mentioned before, every infant is different. Normal bowel movements will depend on what is "normal" for your baby. Your baby will have to have a bowel movement after every feeding, this could be within the hour, or within the day. This makes it much more difficult to tell when a baby has become constipated or if the infant is suffering from these types of digestive related symptoms.
This is when common sense comes into play. If your baby usually has 2 to 3 bowel movements per day, and then does not, there is a chance that you child is constipated. The same can be said for babies that usually have bowel movements once per day. If you see that your child has not gone to the bathroom in several days, there is a good chance they are suffering from constipation.
Another thing to keep in mind is that your child's regularity may fluctuate at this time in their lives. If your baby does not seem to be in any pain and is feeding regularly, you probably have nothing to worry about. On the other hand, if it has been a substantial amount of time since the child's last bowel movement, there is a good chance that they are backed up. Again, this all boils down, so to speak, to common sense and what you know about your baby.
Why Is My Baby Constipated?
There are four main medical reasons why your baby may be constipated. While it is true that babies that are breast fed have a much lesser chance of becoming constipated, those that are fed formula are consuming much less natural meals and it is very possible that there is an ingredient in that formula that is effecting your child's digestive system in a negative way. Many times you can solve baby constipation by simply switching your brand or type of formula.
Another common reason why your infant may be suffering from constipation is that they are being introduced to solid foods. At a certain age it is important to begin introducing a small amount of solid foods into your child's diet. This is something that can often take the babies digestive system by surprise. During this period, your infant's stool will begin to be much harder and more dense. This is one of the more common causes of constipation in babies and infants.
Although it may be hard to believe that a baby can become dehydrated because their diet either completely or mostly consists of liquids, it can happen at times. If you child is even slightly dehydrated, their body will begin to absorb moisture from every where that it can, including your baby's stool. Dry stool is always harder to pass and can easily lead to constipation.
No one wants to hear that their baby is suffering from an illness but this can sometimes also cause constipation. Whether it is a cold, allergic reaction or some other health issue, many times constipation is a sign of a much more serious problem and is why it should always be taken seriously, especially when it occurs in babies and young children.
Some Natural Baby Constipation Remedies
Although it is never a good idea to give your baby any type of medication for constipation, unless advised by a medical professional, hydration is always a safe and natural baby constipation remedy. Try to feed your child some water if they are not producing bowel movements regularly or their stool seems overly hard or rigid. Water is perfectly natural and will not harm your baby in any way. By keeping your child hydrated, you will hopefully be able to cure their digestive related problems.
Aside from hydration, another natural cure for constipation is to increase one's activity, this can also be done with babies and infants. Make sure that you baby is getting enough exercise and moving around. Play with them and encourage them to use their developing muscles. If your baby is crawling, motivate them to do so. If not, try exercising your baby's legs by moving them as if they were riding a bicycle while on their backs. This not only healthy but can often be a great way to help increase healthy bowel movements.
Attempt to massage your babies lower stomach gently. This may help them to push through any stool that has become trapped or is moving through the intestines sluggishly.
If you notice that your child's stool abnormally hard and it is causing them discomfort or even pain, you can attempt to lubricate the anus by applying a small amount of Vaseline. This will not only help to heal and protect any abrasions that have appeared due to the hard stool but also make bowel movements less unpleasant.
When Should You Start To Worry
Usually, in adults, it is perfectly reasonable to wait several weeks before seeking out medical attention for constipation. This is not the case for babies, especially if your child seems to be in any type of pain or discomfort. If a few days have passed since their last bowel movement or your child seems to be in pain, you should seek out medical attention immediately. Although most of the time you will need to wait out constipation, it is better to be sage than sorry, especially when dealing with small children and babies. Make sure to tell your child's pediatrician about any problems that they are going through or any changes in their diet that may have caused this upset.
How To Avoid Constipation In Babies
Unfortunately, all that you can do to help you baby avoid constipation is to keep them properly hydrated. Since babies thrive on either breast milk or formula, it is impossible to change their diet much. By feeding your baby water, you may be able to help regulate their bowel movements as well as cleanse their systems. As always, if you believe that your child is suffering from any health issues, even something as common as constipation, you should seek out the advice of a doctor and see what they believe the best course of action is.
