Treatment for Infant constipation

Most breast fed infants have loose stools, but some are prone to infrequent bowel movements. Constipation is most often caused by a low-fiber diet, lack of physical activity, inadequate intake of fluid each day, or delay in going to the bathroom when you have the urge to defecate.

Stress and travel can also contribute to constipation or other changes in bowel habits. Many babies grunt and others turn bright red for a couple of minutes while they pass a stool or pass gas. The first appearance of this behavior may be startling for the parent & your baby is not in distress or is constipated.

The infant with a real bowel problem will have definite symptoms besides the infrequent bowel movement: Pain on the passage of stools, inability to complete a normal movement although the urge is strong and blood in the stools.

For infants constipation treatment: Over 2 months old -- try 2-4 ounces of fruit juice (grape, pear, apple, cherry, or prune) twice a day Over 4 months old -- if the baby has begun solid foods, try baby foods with high-fiber content (peas, beans, apricots, prunes, peaches, pears, plums, spinach) twice a day. DO NOT give laxatives or enemas to children without specific instruction from a doctor. Courtesy US library of medicine