what can i do for a constipated infant?

Question

my 3 week old son seems to be constipated and has not passed feaces for the past 3 days he feeds normally ?????????????

Answer 1

Apple Juice

Answer 2

Is he breastfed? If so, he is probably fine. If he is not showing any signs of abdominal pain or straining, his body is just using your breastmilk efficiently. It's almost impossible for an exclusively breastfed baby to be constipated. They can go up to two weeks without having a bowel movement and still be just fine.

However, if you formula feed, he could very well be constipated. The best thing to do in that case is call your pediatrician. He's too young for any kind of fruit juice or Karo syrup, and you shouldn't use any laxatives or suppositories without asking a health professional first.

Answer 3

Okay, I am about to get some negative ratings on this one, but I will give you an honest answer:

My daughter was 6 days old and had not had a bowel movement in 3 days. We were on day #4. Her abdomen was distended and she was very very uncomfortable. I called my pediatrician and she said to dilute some white grape juice for her. But I wanted more immediate results. So my mother bought some pediatric fleets glycerin suppositories. I broke one in half, warmed it, and in it went. not 5 minutes later my daughter let loose. She nearly filled 2 diapers. You could see the relief on her face. There was no way I was going to try to wait for juice to work its way through her tiny system. From then on, she had 48 hours to have a bowel movement. If no BM after 48 hours, we used the suppository. We only had to do it 2 more times in three months.

I talked to my mom, my mother-in-law, and my aunt. My baby has acid reflux so she is on Enfmail AR. It is thickened with rice starch. While it works great to sooth her belly, the rice is really binding. But they all said the same thing: Karo. I asked my pediatrician. She said "no" but did not say why. She still wanted me to use the juice. But I did not want my baby to have juice that young. And the Karo had worked so well for all of the now-grown babies in our family. So I followed the "old wives" guidelines and put a tiny squirt of Karo in every bottle. she was going like clockwork ever since. At least once per day. As she got older, the Karo was lessened. When she stared eating baby food, the Karo was decreased to morning and night bottles only.

She is now a happy, healthy 9 month old. She is down to 3 bottles per day and 3 meals. She is now able to go on her own without the Karo.

I know a lot of people seem to be against the Karo syrup. But my mother used it on me, my Mother in law used it on my husband, and I used it on my little peanut. And we all turned out fine.

Answer 4

As a matter of fact people breastfeed babies poop quite often and several times a day especially at just 3 weeks of age. Stools are actually quite loose. So this baby is probably formula fed. If so, then switch to breast milk...if you can't talk to pediatrician. With an infant this small you should not give anything that his doctor does not say is okay.

Read the question ya'll, The baby is only 3 weeks old.....He is not having solids or cereal....or at least he shouldn't be

Answer 5

Without knowing more I'm going to advise you to give his pediatrician a call. But I will tell you what I know and some things that you can do to help your little one.

*Breastfed babies tend to be more prone to constipation when solid foods are introduced than formula fed babies.
*Constipation is a stool firmer than peanut butter.
*It is almost impossible for an exclusively breastfed baby to be constipated.

Have you been giving him cereal? Rice cereal (as well as bananas and applesauce, for future reference) all tend to make baby have firmer stools.

Some doctors suggest one teaspoon of light Karo syrup in 4 ounces of water. Although use caution as The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that due to the potential theoretical risk of botulinum contamination babies should also not be given corn syrup that has not been pasteurized (sterilized) or declared "botulism spore free".

Some things you can do to help:
*Some medical professionals suggest giving your constipated baby a warm bath. *Gently massage and rub baby's tummy in a clockwise direction.
*Move baby's legs as if he is riding a bicycle.
*get formula with less iron as too much iron can cause constipation

Do Not:
*Give your baby water if he is not yet on solids, Babies get all the water they need from breastmilk or properly prepared formula.
*Use suppositories, mineral oil or laxatives. Your baby can become dependant on these.

I hope this helps and I hope your little one is feeling better soon.

Answer 6

I have the same problem now with my 4 week old. My pediatrician told me to use Karo syrup, 1 teaspoon with 2 oz of formula. I wouldn't do anything without talking to your pediatrician first though, all babies are different. He also told me what ever I do don't cut his formula in half because he won't be getting the nutrition he needs to be getting then. If you son isn't going pee as much as he should be he may be dehydrated also. Good luck and hope he gets better soon.

Answer 7

Sometimes infants can go for 1 week without passing and this is normal.

If you are breast feeding try to give more feeds so this will help to flush the system out.

If you are using formula maybe look at trying another brand as some can cause the baby to be constipated.




All the best

Answer 8

As always, check with a doctor if concerned or the baby is crying and seems to have a distended or hard stomach,
remember a breast fed baby may not have much stool as there is little left over from the milk however, a formula fed baby should have a stool. You can try gently rubbing a circle pattern on the stomach. But I would check with the doctor. If you have a cell phone with free minutes call 314-454-kids in the morning CST.
there you can talk with a pediatric RN for free and they will have suggestions for you.

Answer 9

Whatever you do...DO NOT use Karo syrup my ped said that is not safe. She instructed to give my baby 1 oz of baby pear juice full strength because it is for babies its found in baby food section. Give him/her 1 oz 2-3 times a day this should help. My baby is 2 months old and she had me give that to him at 1 month for constipation so its best to use this. If this does not help ask your babys doc he might be getting too much iron in his formula or your not measuring his formula right....never do half scoops always do even # amount of ounces even if hes drinking odd # ounces so that you can be sure that the measurements are accurate.

Answer 10

ALOT OF THESE ANSWERS THAT OTHERS HAVE POSTED ARE WRONG! YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CALL YOUR BABY'S DOCTOR IF YOU ARE NOT SURE ABOUT SOMETHING...WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS CONSTIPATED AT THAT AGE HER DOCTOR TOLD ME TO GIVE HER A LITTLE WATER NOT TOO MUCH(START OFF WITH ABOUT 2 OZ OF WATER) SEE IF THAT HELPS..YOU CAN ALSO CUT THE AMOUNT OF FORMULA YOU PUT IN BOTTLES IN HALF. LIKE FOR A TWO OZ BOTTLE NORMALLY YOU WOULD PUT TWO SCOOPS IN...JUST TRY PUTTING ON E UNTIL THE CONSTIPATION GOES AWAY...THE FORMULA HAS IRON THAT CAN CAUSE CONSTIPATION....DO NOT GIVE A 3 WEEKS OLD APPLE JUICE! AND DO NOT CHANGE THE FORMULA WITHOUT GETTING THE OK FROM YOUR PEDIATRICIAN.....