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Constipation is a problem for most infants, especially when introducing new ingredients to a toddler’s diet. In the case of constipation in an infant, it is very important that the parents react quickly. So how do you recognize constipation in an infant? What are they triggered and how can you help your baby get constipated?
The causes of constipation in infants
The most common cause of constipation in infants is the expansion of the diet with new products that may cause allergies, result from lactose intolerance or be caused by insufficient development of the digestive system. Constipation can also occur in babies who are breastfed as it depends on the mother’s diet how it will be absorbed by the infant. If the diet of a nursing woman is greasy, difficult to digest and full of ingredients that make the infant constipated, the probability of constipation in the infant is higher.
Constipation can also be caused by a disturbance of the gut microflora caused by an antibiotic given to the baby after birth or if the woman was taking an antibiotic during pregnancy. The problem of constipation is much more common in infants born after a caesarean section. Infant constipation may also be caused by stress, insufficient fluid intake, potty bedding too early, or feeding the infant poorly prepared formula.
Constipation in infants is rarely caused by congenital anatomy of the digestive system, nervous system or abnormalities around the anus.
Symptoms of constipation in an infant
Infant constipation is characterized by a reduced number of bowel movements, where the stool is compacted and the bowel movement is painful. What frequency of bowel movements is normal in babies? In the case of children up to 18 months of age, bowel movements should occur at least once a day when breastfed, and at least 2-3 times a week if they are fed with modified milk. A symptom of constipation in a child is often visible discomfort of the child during defecation, characterized by crying, a bloated hard belly and a toddler’s heavy effort trying to defecate.
Stool consistency in constipation it is hard and very compact, and blood may also appear as hard stools can damage the delicate mucosa of an infant’s anus. If, in addition to the characteristic symptoms of constipation, the infant develops weakness, lack of appetite and weight loss or constipation for a long time, consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Treatment of constipation in infants
Treatment of constipation in infants should be consulted with a pediatrician, especially if the toddler cannot defecate for a long time and home remedies do not work, blood appears in the stool, vomiting and flatulence occur. After diagnosing the causes of constipation, the doctor will adjust the appropriate treatment path. Most often, the pediatrician recommends a lactulose-based drug that has a gentle laxative effect.
When constipation occurs in an infant, it is worth looking at the dietary errors of the child and the breastfeeding mother.
Long-term constipation in infants may require an enema of saline or phosphate solution, causing the stools to soften and consequently to defecate more easily. It is worth enriching the diet with foods containing large amounts of fiber, such as brown rice, whole grain bread, raw fruit and vegetables, and give a milk-fed infant boiled water and chamomile tea to drink. The discomfort of constipation in infants can be alleviated by massaging the tummy clockwise 4 to 5 times a week.
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