Infant Constipation: Prune Juice for Constipation in Infants

The bowel movements of a baby start with dark and sticky tar-like stools, which is called meconium. After a few days, the stools become mustard-colored in case of breast-fed babies and tan-colored in formula-fed babies. This is usually soft, seedy and runny. In general, the frequency of bowel movements in newborns is high, as they pass stools after every feeding. This frequency lessens as the baby reaches one month of age. As compared to formula-fed babies, breast-fed babies pass more stools per day. But some babies may not pass stools for several days and this condition is rare in exclusively breast-fed babies, as compared to formula-fed babies. A few days without any bowel movements is not a cause of worry, in case of infants. But if there is any other symptom, like irritability, vomiting or constant crying, you have to take your baby to a pediatrician immediately. For others, a few days without bowel movements is considered to be a normal condition, which may or may not amount to constipation in babies.

What is Infant Constipation?

It is a misconception, that a baby who does not pass stools for more than two to three days, is suffering from constipation. As long as the stools are soft and watery, even if it happens at an interval or three or more days, it is not constipation. If the stools are very hard, dry and pellet-like and the baby is straining a lot to pass it, then the condition is called infant constipation which has to be identified by the parents. It is normal for an infant to grunt and strain while passing stools, but if he is experiencing constipation, he/she will strain more to pass the dry and hard stools. There can be bloating and loss of appetite too. Your baby may become irritable and may also have a tight abdomen. In some cases, there will be blood streaks in the hard stools, which causes anal fissures. Infant constipation is a condition, which can be addressed with some exercises, massages, dietary changes and some home remedies. If you are looking for a home remedy for infant constipation, prune juice can be a good option.

Prune Juice for Constipation in Infants

Prune juice is manufactured by steaming prunes (dried plums) and then extracting the puree by putting them through a pulper. This extract, called prune juice, is very high in fiber content and is popular for its laxative effect. It is one of the widely accepted home remedies for constipation. In case of infant constipation, prune juice is found to be very beneficial. It can be fed to babies, who are above the age of six months. Mix one ounce of prune juice with one ounce of water and feed the baby, twice a day. This solution should be given to the infant, in addition to the daily food or breast milk. If you can make natural diluted prune juice, it will be much better. Otherwise, any regular bottled prune juice can be used, but make sure that the bottle is fresh, by checking the date of manufacture and expiry. Avoid adding sugar to the prune juice solution, which is made for the baby. This solution will loosen up the bowel and triggers bowel movement. In case of newborns and babies below the age of six months, consult your pediatrician regarding infant constipation and the remedy. It is always better to seek the opinion of your baby's doctor regarding the administering of prune juice for constipation in babies, even if your baby is above the age of six months.

Prune juice for constipation in infants is an age-old home remedy, but some babies may refuse to ingest it. In such cases, you may resort to other remedies, like baby massaging, warm baths, exercises like leg bicycling, etc. Now that you know the benefits of prune juice for babies, you can try this remedy the next time your baby gets constipated.