Breast milk is a natural laxative; however a breastfed infant may become constipated due to the introduction of foods or formula. Formula in particular is constipating. If you have recently started giving your baby formula, this may be the reason for the constipation. The single best remedy is simply more breast milk.
In the first two or three days of life, it would be typical for a baby to wet only one or two diapers per day. As the mother's milk increases, his urine output will increase markedly. Newborns in the first few days after birth will pass dark, tarry stools called meconium, the substance he has stored since before birth. As the baby receives milk, it clears the meconium out of the intestinal tract, so that within a few days the stools will become softer and much lighter in color. The stools are normally yellow, yellow-green or tan. It's not abnormal for an occasional stool to be green. The odor should be mild, and not particularly unpleasant. The consistency may be described as being similar to scrambled eggs, custard, pea soup, or even prepared mustard. There are often small, seedy-looking solid particles in the stool.
Fiber is only found in plant foods such as cereals, fruits and vegetables. Babies over 6 months with high intakes of formula or cow's milk (only recommended after 12 months) often experience constipation. It's NOT the milk itself that causes this, it's simply that the child fills up on milk which means he will have LIMITED appetite for other foods that provide fiber.
Exercise- A little exercise can sometimes work out the excrement. Try bicycling baby’s legs or if he has one, try the Jumperoo or Exersaucer.
Massage- Infant massage can be a natural cure for many ailments and there are plenty of techniques for tummy upset.
Try to solve the problem quickly - the longer your child remains constipated, the worse it may become and the longer it may take to treat.
Establish a regular toilet routine. ‘Bowel training’ requires motivation and encouragement. Use a star chart system of rewards to help your child to go and sit on the toilet. This will help your child get used to doing a bowel movement at a similar time each day.
Glycerine suppositories are sometimes recommended. It is important to note that these suppositories are not drugs. Glycerin is actually found in candy, so it is a type of food. Glycerine enemas, like Babylax can work wonders, and they are usually simple to use. You should not change your baby's formula to one that has less iron, however. The amount of iron in formula is not enough to cause constipation, but your baby needs an iron-enriched diet. Finally, if the constipation continues, or if your baby hasn't had a bowel movement in several days and appears to be in pain, see your doctor immediately. While bowel obstructions aren't all that common in infants, they can lead to serious medical problems if left untreated.
Breastfed Infant constipation rarely constipated.They can go ten days or more without a BM. The only way to tell if a baby is constipated is if they have a BM and it is very hard and pellet like.
Try 1part apple juice with 3 parts water. Sometimes all they need is water but the apple juice helps get the bowels moving.
To help reduce your baby's gassiness, try nursing more frequently, so he will take in slightly less at each feed. Combine this with good positioning and attachment at the breast (no clicking or smacking sounds), and a slightly upright hold, and you may find your baby is not quite as uncomfortable.
