When a mom holds her baby for the first time, she immediately starts getting to know all the little faces they make, including the one they make when pooping. The pushing face is quite characteristic if you pay close attention. Now, constipation in babies can make this face even more pronounced, coming together with little groans and different breathing, not to mention body movements to try to force the poop out.

When Constipation Happens

It can happen even in the first week of life, though this is rare, especially if the baby is exclusively breastfed. But knowing when constipation is present is crucial, and identifying the signs1 may not be such an easy task for first-time moms.

There is no standard frequency for pooping, but it’s most common for the baby to poop once a day or every other day, at the very least. Constipation in babies can be characterized as more than 3 days without pooping. Of course, how often these episodes occur should also be taken into account. Another aspect to observe regarding constipation in babies is the texture of the stools.

Main Cause of Constipation in Babies

Normally, a breastfed baby, who receives exclusive breastfeeding, tends to have softer, pastier poop. However, when the baby is formula-fed, the stools may also become drier. In fact, formulas are the main cause of constipation in babies2, which is why, in addition to milk, moms should keep their babies well hydrated to help their bodies eliminate stools more easily.

Important: Only use glycerin suppositories to help eliminate stools as a last resort and with medical recommendation. Constant use can do more harm than good for the baby.

Constipation in Older Babies

When the baby starts eating solid food, they tend to become constipated more often, and certain foods such as potatoes, bananas, apples, rice, and cereals with little fiber, for example, are usually the cause of discomfort.

Another very important factor is hydration, since lack of fluids can lead to drier stools, and can even cause anal fissures like hemorrhoids and bleeding. Other signs of constipation in babies can be observed, such as:

Characteristics of Constipation

  • Straining – the baby gets red, squeezes, but cannot make the poop come out
  • Appearance – poop like rabbit droppings, in small hard pellets
  • Abdomen – the belly may become bigger and harder than usual
  • Gas – in addition to dry stools, constipation in babies can cause a lot of gas to accumulate
  • Diarrhea – constipation can also cause watery stools in very small quantities, as the body recognizes that only liquid can pass by the intestine blocked by hard stool
  • Colic – more common in babies under 3 months, constipation can be the cause of colic

If your baby is drinking formula (breast milk is the best option), it might be worth trying a formula that is more suitable like Nan Comfort and Aptamil which make it easier to have a bowel movement. For older babies, help can come from foods that help loosen the bowels, so that constipation becomes less common or less frequent.

Papaya and lime orange juice, for example, can help, as well as prune juice. Another tip is to replace some foods in their diet with others, to identify if a specific one is causing constipation in your baby. Providing more fluids for your baby can also help, and if nothing works, there are suppositories for this purpose, but they should only be recommended by a pediatrician3.

Mom’s Tip

A simple technique that can help the baby release trapped stool, but that requires extra care and attention so as not to hurt them, is to use a cotton swab coated with baby oil or almond oil. Massage the baby’s anus in circular motions to stimulate the release of poop, you can even gently insert the tip of the cotton swab with great care.

This technique was learned from nursery professionals at Maternidade Modelo in SP and was very effective when I had little babies with constipation. In addition, abdominal massages can also help a lot! Finally, as my grandmother used to say, new food pushes the old one out, so the ideal is to have the baby or child poop right after meals.

Remember: breastfeeding prevents constipation in babies and is essential for their health. Any case of constipation should be reported to your pediatrician, and only they can accurately advise you on what to do.

See also: Meconium, the Baby’s First Poop

Photo: David Goehring