Infants usually have a bowel movement 2 to 3 times a day, although each individual is very different. Some infants empty their bowels many times in a day and some only once in 5 days. Constipation is when your child has a hard bowel movement less than once a week and even that is an effort.
What to do against constipation?
Important: if your baby has ongoing digestive trouble, you should speak to a paediatrician about it.
Constipation on introducing weaning food
When weaning foods are introduced the stool often becomes harder and the children don’t have a bowel movement so often. It is normal that the children have to press a bit harder sometimes. As long as your baby doesn’t cry and is not in pain, you don’t need to worry.
Usually the bowel movement is self-regulating after a while and the digestive system gets used to the new food.
To make stool softer, the following tips can help:
- Make sure your child gets enough to drink. Some tea or fruit juices with a stool-loosening effect (e.g. HiPP Mealac) between meals often lead to relief from this problem.
- When it comes to baby food you should use varieties with rather stool-loosening effects (indications are given on the labels), such as e.g. HiPP Mealac or meals with wholemeal cereals (Wholemeal Fruit Paps, Fruit & Cereal).
- Also movement or gentle massages can help digestion. Give your baby enough opportunities for activity. That loosens the muscles and stimulates digestion.
Important: with prolonged stool problems, please contact a paediatrician.
