How can I help my baby poop?!?

Question

My month old daughter is struggling this morning and it's breaking my heart listening to her. I've tried keeping her upright and laying her on her back and belly with no luck.

Answer 1

You have to tackle this from the business end if the baby is just straining to do her dirt. The glycerin supposiories usually work - and the baby size (1 gram) ones can be inserted whole at any age, you don't need to cut a piece off. The "piece of soap" suppository recommended by Lana is a stimulant, not a lubricant, but in the event of a long gap between doodoos it empties the bowel quickly.

Answer 2

If she's a month old, don't give her ANY of that stuff, unless a doctor says it's okay! It could cause way more troubles than a little constipation.

First thing to try is lay her on her back. Take her legs by the ankles and fold her knees up into her chest. One, then the other, or both at once. I usually did both techniques in a random pattern. (When you do one then the other it'll look like she's riding a bicycle...in case I'm explaining it badly.)

If that doesn't work and she's been constipated for many hours, you may want to try a glycerin suppository. You don't need your doctor's permission (though many like it anyway) before using just one, but if you need them all the time, definitely talk to your pedi about it. A suppository if you don't know, is inserted into your baby's anus and will soften her poop so it comes out easier. I know it sounds yucky, but it can make her life a lot easier.

If you don't have any of those, you could also try a little bit of Vaseline. (Some moms discover when taking baby's temperature rectally that this has the same effect...OOPS!) Put a small amount on the end of a Q-tip, lay your baby on her back and lift her legs up like you're about to slide a diaper underneath her. Insert the Q-tip, just a little way, about 1/4 of an inch should be plenty...just to get the Vaseline inside. Spin the Q-tip in a circle, just to make sure it gets all the way around for maximum help, and then remove the Q-tip and throw it away. Put her diaper back on (quickly, just in case) and go back to doing "bicycles."

Please, if someone suggests this, don't give your baby an enema. There can be serious side effects to doing one improperly on a small child, or by doing them to frequently. Before taking such desperate measures, go see your pedi!

Good luck, and enjoy this moment when "no-poop" is your biggest concern! =)

Answer 3

Take it from a mom of six and the oldest child of 7, A little prune juice diluted with water,or a q tip dipped in a lot of vaseline and insert it in the baby's rectum and do not go too far in just a little bit and massage the inside of the rectum and put the pamper back on after it is well well well lubricated because within 10 there will be an explosion.

Answer 4

You can also try bicycling her legs or taking her temp rectally with petroleum jelly, that usually gets them moving. However, unless you are actually having to dig the poo out, she's not constipated. She's just learning how to make the muscles move in the right order and how much fun it can be to make weird noises while she does. I wouldn't do anything or worry much unless it takes a few days. My daughter went through that phase and at nine months she now grunts and groans again, then makes a tigger-like hoo hoo hoo when she's done, LOL. If your daughter becomes truly constipated, you can give her about a tbsp of dark karo syrup in a warm bottle and it will gently help her get going again. Good luck!

Answer 5

What my pediatrician told me for my son who has problems pooing is 3oz of warm water with 1oz of apple juice in a bottle. With her being that young i don't know if juice is advisable. He also suggested taking a qtip with Vaseline(or you can use a rectal thermometer) and insert it into the rectum about half an inch. This will possibly stimulate a bowel movement. you can massage her belly in a clockwise motion or bicycle her legs.

Do NOT give syrup or sugar, this will only make your baby ill.
If your baby is formula fed, the iron in the formula can sometimes make them constipated, you can ask about switching to a low iron formula if she continues to have problems.

Answer 6

Try massaging her tummy, gently and in a clockwise motion below her belly button. It's also ok to try an infant glycerine suppository. You can usually cut a portion off of one if it seems to large...then you kina have to hold your finger over the anus to make sure she doesn't push the suppository back out. Once it dissolves by her body heat, it'll make it a lot easier for her to go. The other thing you can do, is usually just by stimulating the anus, it will cause them to go...try just the tip of your pinky with a little lube on it. I know it sounds crazy, but it works. If she's struggling as if the stool is just to large...either of these will work. Ahhh, the joys of being a mommy! :)

Answer 7

I am watching this 4 month old girl with the same problem and we are giving her 2 ounces of 1/2 prune juice and 1/2 apple juice. Good Luck :)

Answer 8

warm water ,, which has been previously boiled and left to cool down , make sure its stil warm but not so it will be too hot for the baby , keep offering this as a drink and it should do the trick. And about the thermometor think , you should never ever insert anything into your babys bottom , and all the juices people are telling you to try will make the problem worse , your babys stomach can not handle juice drinks , such as prune juice,, stick to water ,, and NO SUGAR

Answer 9

Our pediatrician recommended putting a bit of Vaseline or KY on a rectal thermometer and just slightly insert it and "massage" the rectum for few seconds just to stimulate a bit. Also lay her on her back and move her legs in a bicycle motion for a few minutes. These seemed to work well for our son and didn't involve adding anything new/weird to our sons diet.

Good Luck!

Answer 10

My daughter had the same problem. A old remedy that my family told me is put some KERO syrup in the formula.Just try maybe a small amout in the bottle and see if it works if not just add small amount a a time. This really works. It Worked with my bottle feed one. If breastfeeding try eating more fiber with your meal.