When a baby isn’t pooping, we immediately suspect they may be constipated: the infamous “constipation” or intestinal constipation1. In newborn babies, this can be even more worrying. However, not every time a baby stops pooping does it mean illness—especially if it lasts just for a few days.
It is worth being concerned if your baby appears to be in pain, has hemorrhoids, or injuries around the bottom, as it may require some form of treatment. Usually, a baby who has intestinal issues is one who has already stopped being breastfed.
Why Isn’t My Baby Pooping?
Most of the time, babies need a diaper change all the time, and when that doesn’t happen, it often causes concern. However, although in the beginning the baby’s bowels work like clockwork and the infant almost always poops just after feeding, this can change between the first and second month of life.
As the digestive system develops2, the child starts to establish their own bowel habits, and these habits vary from person to person. During this transition, the baby may go longer without pooping, and this is absolutely normal, especially if they are exclusively breastfed. For example, they may poop only once a week during this period, which usually lasts about 20 days. After that, it’s expected that pooping will become more frequent. However, if they show other symptoms like pain, irritability, or weight loss, then it could be a sign of illness or constipation.
Main Causes
Check out the most common causes of constipation in babies:
- Poor nutrition
- Stress
- Little physical activity
- Suppression of the urge to poop
It’s normal that when they get a little older and stop consuming only breast milk, the baby may only poop once a day or may poop one day and go up to two days without pooping. Also, their stools start becoming firmer. Again, if your baby isn’t pooping and shows other symptoms, it may be considered a case of constipation that needs treatment.
Warning Symptoms
Symptoms that could signal something more serious, like a congenital disease, are:
- Vomiting
- Rectal bleeding
- Sleeping a lot
- Decreased urination
- Lack of appetite
- Distended abdomen
Take your child to the hospital if they show several of these symptoms at once.
How to Help Your Baby Poop?
Sometimes, your child may have abdominal pain and appear more irritable. If their stools are hard and causing discomfort, or if there’s any bleeding when pooping, something should be done to help your baby.
It’s important to prevent this from becoming a chronic issue. So, always check your baby’s diaper to make sure their bowels are working properly. If they go too long without pooping, or if their stools are dry and hard, this is a sign of intestinal constipation. A newborn who is breastfeeding generally poops several times a day like clockwork and has soft stools. On the other hand, since no other foods have been introduced to their diet yet, there can be less material and fermentation in the formation of the stool, taking longer to produce poop.
In this case, trying to breastfeed more often may help. Another possible cause is the diet of the breastfeeding mother, so it’s important for you to stay well hydrated, consuming 2 to 4 liters of liquids per day. Now, when babies are older than 6 months and have started on other formulas and some foods, the cause may be their body not reacting well to the changes, even with foods considered safe. One way to try to solve the problem is by switching their formula: check the powdered milk concentration in the mix and make sure the formula has probiotics. Also, choose purees rich in fiber.
For a more natural approach, you can add fruits to the child’s diet. The best fruits to “loosen” the bowels are prunes, oranges, tangerines, papaya, avocado, mango, strawberries, and even kiwi. In the case of prunes, a tip is to soak the dried fruit in a glass of water overnight and give your baby just the liquid the next day.
Simple Tips to Help with Bowel Movements
Other simple recommendations to help your baby poop are:
- Breastfeed every hour, every two hours, or every three hours, keeping a regular routine
- Take care with hygiene of the baby’s anal region
- Encourage movement in the baby, especially the “bicycle” leg movement
- Massage the baby’s belly about three fingers below the belly button
Most of the time, it is not necessary, nor recommended, to use suppositories in babies, as they may become dependent on them for their intestines to work. If home remedies don’t work, consult your child’s pediatrician3.
Important Tip: For breastfeeding moms, it is essential to keep your body’s vitamin and nutrient levels adequate. Therefore, we recommend using a suitable multivitamin, such as FamiGesta. You can find FamiGesta here.
