Re: Baby is constipated! How can I help him?
Baby gets constipated when the muscles at the end of the large intestine tighten, preventing the stool from passing. That slower passage allows more water to be drawn off from the stool through the bowel wall into the bloodstream, making the stool harder and more compact (and thus more painful). Natural food “looseners” include fruits such as prunes, apricots, plums, raisins, cherries, and blueberries; high- fiber veggies, including peas, beans, and broccoli; and whole-grain cereals and breads. Extra water also helps for toddlers on up. However, too much water for newborns and infants can get their electrolytes out of whack. For a baby, a doc may have you add 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 teaspoon of Karo corn syrup to one bottle of formula or stored breast milk a day, which draws water back into the bowel. Or if your child is four months old, the doc may ask you to give her 1 ounce of water a day, either separately or added to a bottle of formula or stored breast milk, to lubricate the GI tract.
Answer excerpted from You Raising Your Child
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| November 08 , 2010 2:02 PM