My son is 5 1/2 months old and has not had a bowel movement in 6 days!!!?

Question

I was told by his doc to give him dark caro syup 1 teaspoon to 2 ounces of water but I was researching it and some website say that it could lead to botulism. Has any done this? what has your children doc told you to do for constipation? I have given a warm bath, messages his tummy, given pear juice, given purnes ect. (all of which my doc told me to in order) and none of this has worked now he has told me about caro syrup and after reading about it I am VERY CONCERNED!! Any advice would help me! Thank you!!!

Answer 1

I have never used Karo syrup for the reason you mentioned, and I have known someone who used it and her son did have a terrible reaction to it (although I don't recall the specifics). Yes, it can cause botulism, and in babies that is a big deal.

Before now, how often did your son poop? Does he seem uncomfortable? Not having a bowel movement for a few days is normal, although I agree that, after 6 days, I'd be worrying. Does his stomach feel hard? If he's not uncomfortable I wouldn't be worrying too much, but if he's straining and nothing's happening, I would be concerned and want it checked out (ie to ensure that there's no hardened stool causing a blockage, making it harder for him to poop).

One thing that often works great, actually, is taking the child's temperature (rectally) -- it tends to get things going. When my kids were a couple of months old the nurses showed me how to take a rectal temp (I'd never done it before)....they told me it's also a great thing for constipation and I thought at first they were kidding. Sure enough, minutes after their temperatures were taken both kids pooped! They were younger then, sure, but I've tried it since when they've been constipated and it usually helps.

Another thing, although it may not be helpful any longer (it's very helpful with young infants): when you change him, just spend a couple of minutes with him moving his legs as if he's on a bicycle. Again...helpful when younger, maybe not by now, but worth a try.

How often did/do you do the juice? I started using prune juice to make my son's oatmeal, since he wasn't too keen on the juice by itself. It took a little while but got things going...and I kept using it (not loads, at that point) for a while until things were clearly regular and moving along well.

I hope you get some good ideas here. Good luck!

Answer 2

It's not going to hurt to do what the doctor said once. If it doesn't work, don't try it again. A lot of things are used for a lot of things. Some things, you wouldn't believe how many different diseases and things that they help. If you don't want to give it to your baby don't but something has to give here. You can't keep putting stuff in and nothing comes out. He can get impacted after awhile. I hope he has a bowel movement soon. Let let it go too long.
P.S.: when you researched it, did you read any thing about constipation? I'm sure botulism isn't the only thing that it does.
**You could call your drugist and ask him about it. They know or can look up anything.

Answer 3

For now, get some infant-sized glycerin suppositories (or cut a child-size one in half) at any pharmacy, and stick that thing up his pooper- he needs immediate relief.

The dark Karo syrup is a very old remedy that does work. Karo syrup stays good for a very long time on the shelf, I've never heard of the botulism thing before. I had to put a tablespoon of it in all of my daughter's bottles from about age 2 months to around 7 or 8 months. Works like a charm, as any old lady will probably tell you. If it doesn't, then something else is going on and he needs to see the doctor.

***Just found this info for you:

You can relax. In the past, Karo syrup did contain botulism spores, but hasn't for years now. They changed to a new manufacturing process because of just those concerns -- even though no botulism cases were ever proven to come from the spores in Karo syrup (unlike honey, which should not be used in babies). A lot of people heard the alerts about *Karo syrup in the 90's, but never heard the quieter, less flashy, changed recommendations that followed, so the warnings will still circulate around the net for years to come.

I applaud your reading a variety of sources and comparing to find the truth, and am sorry for the worry this caused. All the best to you and to your baby.

*Note: Children under age 1 should not eat honey because of the risk of infant botulism. Today, corn syrups are manufactured under sanitary conditions to prevent this, but the manufacturers do not make any guarantees. Of course, neither can I. The 2006 AAP Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases states, "Manufacturers of of light and dark corn syrups cannot ensure that any given product will be free of boutlism spores, but no case of infant botulism has proved to be be attributable to contaminated corn syrup".

Here is the link it came from: http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&action=detail&ref=1953

Answer 4

Don't do Karo syrup - there's no evidence it helps. Tummy massage might not help either - and might make it worse. You also don't need to go to the hospital right now - this is not an emergency at this moment. (ERs are meant for emergent things like you have a limb hanging off or can't breathe, not because you can't poop.)

First off, is your son breastfed or bottle fed? That makes a difference. (Breastfed babies are never considered constipated.) Is he trying to go and just can't go - does he look like he's straining and turns red? If he's not, his bowel habits might just be changing and he may not need to go every day.

The quick fix is to try taking his temperature rectally - this usually stimulates them to go. OR, go to the pharmacy and get glycerine suppositories - they'll help him go, and smooth the way so it doesn't hurt. (Some of them are HUGE, so if you need to, break off a chunk and use it.) If that doesn't help, he needs to see the doctor to make sure there's no obstruction in his intestines. (THAT would be an emergency!)

Dietary fix is that he can have one ounce of juice per month of his age up to twice a day. Use prune juice (mix with water if you need to since it can be very thick), cherry, grape, pear, or apple. Start with an ounce once a day and if that works, leave it at that. If it doesn't, try it twice a day. If that doesn't work, you can increase it (I'd do it in half-ounce increments) up to however many ounces he is old - like right now, he can go up to 5 1/2 ounces twice a day - NOT MORE. If he's on foods - increase fiber-y things, while decreasing things like bananas, rice, and applesauce - these can constipate. If this doesn't work, consult his doctor.

Answer 5

Don't give any apples, apple juice, bananas or starches. Pear juice always worked well with mine. Make sure he is drinking plenty of fluids...formula/water. I am not sure about the caro syrup, sorry. I have heard of honey causing botulism. Keep doing everything you are doing and up his water intake. Good Luck.

Answer 6

Also try: bathing just the lower half of his body (waist down) in warm water while massaging his tummy for about 20 minutes (be sure the water is warm the whole time). When finished, using Q-Tip, apply vasaline around and slightly inner side of his rectum. And frequently give him apple, not juice, fresh apple with skin peeled and sliced to good size where his can suck on it. Repeat once a day or more.

Answer 7

Karo syrup does NOT contain botulism. Caro syrup now is processed different and has NO risk of carrying botulisim spores. You need to do it, IT WORKS! Or get your Baby to the doctor.... poor thing needs to poop badly!

Answer 8

Your doctor told you to give him syrup??? That can cause botulism. Do not give baby syrup. It is totally normal to go 6 days without a bowel movement. Some babies go 7 to 10 days, and some have been known to go longer than that. YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED. DO NOT GIVE HIM SYRUP. Your baby will get out his bowel movement in time. Just give him what you always do. Just breast milk or formula. It is totally normal, 6 days is not unheard of, in fact quite common. Don't worry.

IF You are THAT concerned take your baby to another doctor. Please do not give your baby syrup, some of these people answering may have done it and their baby is fine, but that doesn't mean yours will be.

If your son does not seem in pain or uncomfortable, and he is acting normal than is he is probably fine.

Answer 9

I was always told to use the Light Karo Syrup. But I always used prune juice on my daughter, and one time it was so bad she was trying so hard I had to put her knees up to her belly and put my thumbs on both sides of her bitthole and push a little to help her push it out and it worked. It sounds a little sick but sometimes you have to do whatever it takes. Good luck

Answer 10

Dark Karo syrup w/ water is fine. My daughter is 2 now and she never had a problem when I gave it to her. You could even add it to a warm bottle of breastmilk or formula. But I wouldn't give him too many doses.

Honestly, at 5 1/2 months old, your son's digestive system is not regulated at all. That won't happen for a while, so don't panic.

If he seems happy (not fussy, or having pain or a bloated tummy), continues to eat, drink, and have wet diapers then you probably don't have anything to worry about. He'll probably go on his own soon.