Constipation in infants is a common condition in the first days of introducing solid foods. During the baby’s getting used to solid foods, bowel movements may slow down and defecation pattern may be disturbed. Unrest in the baby, hardening of the stool consistency, swelling in the abdomen, defecation at intervals longer than 3 days are the indicators of constipation. If constipation has not developed due to a physiological reason, complaints can be alleviated by regulating nutrition.
Keep breastfeeding!
Probiotics and prebiotics in breast milk support the intestinal health of the baby, regulate bowel movements and thus have a protective effect against constipation. In addition, the motilin hormone in breast milk alleviates the severity of constipation by increasing bowel movements.
Give water after each solid food meals.
The World Health Organization states that breastfed or formula-fed babies do not need additional water for the first 6 months. From the 6th month, you can start giving water. Giving water after each solid food meals and meeting the daily water need prevents the problem of constipation. In babies who receive adequate breast milk or formula, this need is 60-120 ml in the 6-12 month period and 240-950 ml in the 12-24 month period.
Feed your baby with fiber-rich foods.
Include whole grain foods (oats, rye, bulgur, whole wheat flour, etc.), prunes, dried apricots, pears, peaches, zucchini, pumpkin, leeks, spinach, broccoli in the baby’s diet, which can alleviate the severity of constipation.
Watch out for foods that can increase constipation.
Remove foods that can increase the severity of constipation, such as white bread, potatoes, bananas, rice and rice flour, from your baby’s diet for a while. In addition, cow’s milk, which should not be given before the age of 1, can also cause constipation when consumed in large quantities.
Resources:
- de Oliveira, M. B. B., Jardim-Botelho, A., de Morais, M. B., da Cruz Melo, I. R., Maciel, J. F., & Gurgel, R. Q. (2021). Impact of Infant Milk-Type and Childhood Eating Behaviors on Functional Constipation in Preschool Children. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 73(3), e50–e56. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000003163
- https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/breastfeeding
- Ho, J. M. D., & How, C. H. (2020). Chronic constipation in infants and children. Singapore medical journal, 61(2), 63–68. https://doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2020014
- Tabbers, M. M., DiLorenzo, C., Berger, M. Y., Faure, C., Langendam, M. W., Nurko, S., Staiano, A., Vandenplas, Y., Benninga, M. A., European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, & North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology (2014). Evaluation and treatment of functional constipation in infants and children: evidence-based recommendations from ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 58(2), 258–274. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000000266
- Rajindrajith, S., Devanarayana, N. M., & Benninga, M. A. (2022). Childhood constipation: Current status, challenges, and future perspectives. World journal of clinical pediatrics, 11(5), 385–404. https://doi.org/10.5409/wjcp.v11.i5.385
- Stewart, M. L., & Schroeder, N. M. (2013). Dietary treatments for childhood constipation: efficacy of dietary fiber and whole grains. Nutrition reviews, 71(2), 98–109. https://doi.org/10.1111/nure .12010
