Infant constipation while drinking whole milk, need some suggestions please?

Question

My daughter is now 10 months. Since she was 8 1/2 months we have been slowly switching her to whole milk. And yes her doctor knows about this. They said to do it slowly. So we have been doing 7oz formula 1oz whole milk for a week, then it's 6-2, 5-3...etc. The problem is this: when she gets to 4-4, she become badly constipated. I try to continue it for a couple days so she can get used to it, but she only gets worse. The last time it was so bad she slightly bled from straining. Not much, just enough to barely see it on her stool. I've told her dr. about this too. And they say to start over again, it's supposed to help her system get used to it even more. But everytime we get to 4-4, she gets badly constipated. Should we try another milk? Like 2% or something.

she isn't on a cow's milk based formula yet. and when i make her bottle it's not milk and the formula powder. and i trust her dr.very much. she was my pedi when i was little, and my siblings also.

and like i said she does fine until she reaches half and half. oh and it's not every bottle either. i do every other bottle. she has been early for everything. she started baby foods at 3 months and table foods at 5 months.

currently she's not having anything other than a bottle. she's been sick with infections and a cold. so just getting her to take a bottle is a struggle.

oh and mistic: you're the dumbass. i am asking for honest answers. not someone to tell me a bad mom.

Answer 1

it is unsafe to offer any low fat product to a child under the age of 2 years! don't do it. Also note, the lower the percentace of milk fat the more lactose and casein it contains, (meaning the lower fat the milk is the more likely it is to cause digestive problems).

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends NO cow's milk until after the first birthday. if your doctor is going against this I recommend a second oppinion with a professional that has been trained in dietetics (doctors are not)

Cow's milk is more specific to a baby cow than a baby human. Cow's milk formula is based on cow's milk but has been engineered to be closer to human milk (still a ways off, but closer). Many infants still have problems with cow's milk formula (allergies, GI problems, etc.). Babies who are exposed to cow's milk before their first birthday are more likely to be anemic, have diarrhea or vomiting, and/or experience an allergic reaction (the proteins in milk are more numerous than those in other milk products, such as the yogurt). The excessive protein load in cow's milk can also overload a baby's kidneys. It is deficient in vitamins C, E, and copper. It is harder to digest as well, often causing intestinal blood loss. A number of studies have also indicated that early introduction of cow's milk may contribute to the development of Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus.

MY professional oppinion is ditch the cows milk for at least two more months, at that time you can slowly introduce it. if you still have problems have a stool sample done to rule out diary allergy.

Answer 2

Stop being a dumb@ss and giving your baby something that is a) not optimal for infant nutrition and b) obviously making her sick.

Do you have any ACTUAL reason to stop giving her formula?

Edit to add:

Giving milk to a child under 12 months borders on child abuse. When it is obviously causing medical problems, medical problems that have occured more than once it crosses the line into child abuse. If I knew your name and where you lived I would honestly report you to children's services, and I hate children's services they generally do more harm than good.

Sorry but I can not believe you found one doctor who thinks introducing dairy once at that age is a good plan. But to do it more than once when it is causing problems is criminal. Maybe you should talk to a second doctor about it?

Do you have any idea the damage that milk can do to the immature gut? The blood may be from the damage to the intestines not the constipation.

And for the record I didn't call you a bad mom, I called you a dumb@ss. There's a difference, the inability to admit that perhaps almost every other doctor, and certainly every other reputable medical organization will tell you is a bad plan - starting cow's milk before 1 year - makes you dumb. It is probably completely obvious to everyone else reading your question that the milk is the problem and that there is no reason for the milk.

Furthermore you still haven't answered my question so I assume you have no reason, except possibly the cost of formula, to switch to cow's milk at such a young age.

Analyse your motives and the available information and I do not see how you can come to the conclusion that introducing milk at this time is a good idea.

Answer 3

If the cows milk is constipating her then MAYBE she is not ready for it. She should recieve her nutrition from formula and baby food. An infants stomach cannot digest whole cows milk as easily as the food they should be eating. Give her a break and wait to switch to whole milk. 2% milk is not recommended for children under two because up to 24 months a child needs the added fat in whole milk. Hope you work this out and make the right decision for your child.

Answer 4

If she's constipated, then obviously she's not prepared for that amount of cows milk. Stick with a lower amount, I know formula is expensive, but the protein in cows milk will strip the villi (which absorb nutrients) from her intestines, setting her up for anemia and failure-to-thrive.

And I'd find another pediatrician, we've been through four or five and not one has every okayed giving cows milk to a child under the age of one. Just because they saw you as a child does not make them qualified. In fact, if they've been practicing for that long, I'd be concerned that they are not trained with modern medicine, but still practicing under old wives tales. Not being harsh...just realistic.

Answer 5

No 2% wont help constipation. I would continue to use formula until she is a year old then you may have to stop dairy products. Is her formula dairy based or soy based? is there any other food that could be causing this? extra iron (like in vitamins) can cause constipation sometimes. Is she eating many other dairy proucts? like yogurt and cheese ....maybe cut those out first and then see if the milk has the same reaction. Whole milk has the fat babies need and fat is rarely constipating, so i doubt 2% would help.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Apperently your child is not ready for cows milk yet. Most are not until they are a year old. I would recamend waiting until then and trying again. Just becuase your doctor says its ok does not mean that your child will be able to handle it. And I do not recamend 2%. Whole milk is recomended until the age of 2 becuase young children need the fat from whole milk

Answer 8

It sounds like she is getting constipated quite easily from whole milk, you shouldnt go down to 2% it isnt recommended for children under the age of 2, its sounds like to me she just isnt ready for whole milk at all yet, it isnt surpose to be introduced until there about 12 months, so your doctor doesnt know Eff all. I would switch back to mixing her forular with water, she wont get constipated that way, she is only 10 months so she doesnt need to be having whole milk just yet, formular is allready made with cows milk so theer is no need to add more.. try again once she has turned 1.

Answer 9

My daughter is going through the exact same thing! I've tried everything from prunes to corn syrup to increasing her fluids and adding pear juice, nothing is working. I'm now, unfortunately, trying a stool softener. Let me know if there is any thing else that maybe you've heard of or tried. Stef

Answer 10

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