Constipation among infants younger than one-year-old is common, and causes many parents to worry. Sometimes, your child isn’t constipated but needs to be allowed to establish his routine for having a bowel movement. The stool of an infant is smooth and easily passed. Even if an infant is not constipated, however, his bowel movements could be irregular. In some cases, constipation could be caused by a shortage of nerves or structural issues within the lower large intestine.
You should take your child to an expert if symptoms last longer than two weeks or persist by self-treatment. The baby may be tested for these issues when your doctor believes it’s necessary. Doctors can prescribe medicines, such as Coloxyl baby constipation drops, to cure the problem.
Symptoms of Constipation in Babies
The signs of constipation among infants who are breastfed may be:
- Being too obsessive
- crying for a long time
- refusing to eat
- being a tight, distended belly
- Rectal bleeding from the rectal
- passing bloody or hard passing bloody or hard stools
- crying during a bowel movement
- who are experiencing weight loss or weak gain in weight
The normal bowel movements vary between babies. Parents and caregivers need to monitor the baby’s bowel habits and note any changes. This can aid them in determining the best time to take the infant to a physician.
Causes of Constipation in Children
Constipation usually occurs when stool or waste travels gradually throughout the intestinal tract. This causes the stool to harden and dry.
Numerous factors can cause constipation in children. These include:
Withholding.
Your child might ignore the need to bowelize because they are scared of going to the bathroom or don’t want to interrupt play. Children may not urinate when away from home due to not being comfortable using the toilet in public.
The discomfort of bowel movements caused by hard, large stool can also lead to being unable to drink. If it is painful to poop, the child might try to avoid repeating the painful experience.
Toilet Training Concerns
If you begin your toilet training too early, your child might protest and sit on the stool. If toilet training turns into an argument between the wills, an uninvolved decision to avoid the need to pee can swiftly become an unavoidable habit that’s difficult to alter.
Changes in Diet
Insufficient fiber-rich fruits and vegetables or liquids in your kids’ diet can lead to constipation. One of the most frequent occasions for children to get constipated is changing from a liquid diet to incorporating solid food items.
Routine Change
Any change in your child’s routine, for example, traveling, hot weather, or stress, can impact the bowel’s function. Children are also more likely to suffer from constipation as they begin at a school that is not in the home.
Medication
Certain antidepressants, as well as many other medications, can cause constipation.
The Allergy to Cow’s Milk
A reaction to cow’s milk or eating excessive dairy items (cheese and cow’s milk) often causes constipation.
Family History
Children who have relatives who have had constipation have a higher chance suffer from constipation. It could be due to environmental or genetic factors.
Medical Ailments
In rare cases, constipation in children is a sign of anatomical malformation or a digestive problem, or a different underlying issue.
Constipation Treatment
If your child has reached the age to eat strained foods, you could provide him with fruits and veggies.
If your child isn’t eating baby food in jars yet, you could give him 2 up to four ounces of juices from fruit every day. If your baby’s stool becomes too loose, offer smaller amounts of juice for your child.
If your child is eating cereal made of rice, it might be beneficial to switch to barley or oatmeal cereal. Rice cereal may cause constipation in certain children.
Avoid giving your child laxatives, enemas, or suppositories until you are instructed to do it by your doctor.
When Should You Take Your Child to A Doctor?
Parents and caregivers must talk to a doctor or pediatrician if their child:
- It appears to be distressed or suffering from pain.
- is a hard, distended belly
- It is possible to pass bloody stools
- Rectal bleeding can be seen
- Does not want to take a bite of food
- is suffering from an illness known as fever.
- vomits
- The person loses weight or is not able to gain weight
- There are times when people struggle to pass stools.
A doctor may diagnose constipation in infants by looking over their medical history and conducting a physical examination. Sometimes, doctors require additional laboratory tests like a stomach X-ray to diagnose or rule out other ailments. If home remedies or dietary changes don’t alleviate a baby’s constipation, then a doctor could recommend a mild laxative or Suppository.
Parents and caregivers shouldn’t administer the same treatments to babies without consulting a certified medical professional before doing so.
Final words
Constipation is not a frequent issue in babies who are breastfed. It typically occurs as the result of switching to formula or introducing solid eating food. The infrequency of bowel movements is not always a sign that the infant is constipated. Children who are constipated tend to have a hard, pebble-like stool. The home remedies available can ease constipation for breastfed infants. If a caregiver or parent is worried about their child’s constipation and the accompanying symptoms, they should bring the baby to see a physician.