Infant Constipation Remedies

Constipation is a condition occurring in the digestive system of human beings and animals. This condition is characterized by the excretion of hard feces and the difficulty experienced in excreting them. The cause of constipation is excessive amount of water absorbed from the food. Slow movement of food through the gastro-intestinal tract results in the colon absorbing excessive water from food. Constipation is painful for adults, so just imagine the pain it must be causing to an infant! Constipation in infants is caused due to:

• Introduction of solid baby foods in the baby's diet. The infant's digestive system is used to breastfeeding and will take some time to digest solid foods.
• Consuming dairy products in excessive quantities.
• Introducing foods such as bananas, white potatoes, breads, etc in the diet of the infant.

You as a parent would definitely not like to see your baby suffering from constipation pains.

Home Remedies for Infant Constipation

You can help your infant get rid of constipation with the aid of some simple and regular exercises.

Leg Bicycling
Just keep your baby on his back and firmly hold his legs in a half bent position. Next, start moving his legs in a manner, as if he is paddling a bicycle. See that you do it gently. Maintain a steady pace, neither do it too fast, nor make it too slow.

Stomach Massage
A gentle massage to the baby's stomach is a good exercise as it eases the tension out of your baby's stomach. Place your baby on his back and gently massage his tummy in a clockwise direction. Massaging also contributes to the proper growth of your baby, so it is advisable to give him a gentle massage regularly.

Warm Bath
'Getting things in motion' is the idea behind a warm bath. So give a warm bath to your baby and also give him a gentle massage while drying him.

Lubrication to Anus
Another natural remedy for constipation is to take a water based lubricant and apply it to the anus of your baby. This is done in order to lubricate the passage of excretion.

Diet Remedies for Infant Constipation

Constipation remedies for babies differ with age.

• Younger than 2 months - Do not deal with it yourself, call up the doctor, as the child is too young to be given any outside food.
• 2 months and older - A diet comprising about 3 ounces of water on a daily basis could help the baby. About 2 ounces of grape juice or apple juice can also be given.
• 4 months and older - Infants of this age, normally have solid foods in their diet. So if such infants suffer from constipation, a high fiber diet composed of foods such as spinach, peas, beans, peaches could be given.
• 5-10 months old - For an infant of this age, you could feed properly pureed foods. But make sure that there are no lumps in that food.
• 1 year old infant - A baby this old, can be fed mashed food. It is fine if there are some lumps in the food.

Considering the child's age, it is important to think carefully before opting for any curative measure. Remember, that it is your infant baby suffering from constipation and not you. So do not use mineral oil, enemas or any kind of laxatives that are given to adults. These can have adverse effects to your baby's health. The above mentioned remedies for babies would normally work. In case they do not, consult a doctor. After all, you want to see your sweet little angel smiling, always.