Your baby is going to have some tummy troubles as they grow. Constipation is one of the first symptoms your baby will experience and can be incredibly frustrating for you and your little one. Luckily, there are plenty of ways you can help ease the discomfort and pass this test once and for all.
Constipation happens when your baby’s bowel movements become less frequent or harder to pass. The cause of constipation can be different for every child and may even change over time. For some babies, it’s a result of nerves in their colon that aren’t fully developed yet or because they weren’t eating enough fiber before (or both!). Fortunately, most cases of constipation tend to resolve themselves around three months of age — though if left untreated, it can last longer than that.
The good news? Constipation isn’t dangerous for your little one and doesn’t always need to be taken seriously in order for them to feel better. There are however, several things you can do at home to relieve your baby’s discomfort quickly and naturally until the problem subsides on its own.
Pick the right fruit for constipation relief
There are a few fruits that may help ease your baby’s constipation. One is apple juice: one study found that babies who drank a little apple juice every day had fewer bowel movements over the course of three months than those who didn’t drink any. No studies have shown whether other fruits or juices can help, but if you find yourself struggling with constipation and don’t want to use medication, apple juice might be a good choice for you.
What vegetable is best for constipation?
The vegetables that are best for your baby’s tummy would be any of the following:
-Beets
-Carrots
-Celery
-Collard greens
-Kale
-Lettuce
-Mixed vegetables (cooked)
Give your baby probiotics to help with constipation
One of the most effective ways to help with constipation is to give your baby probiotics. Probiotics are bacteria found in fermented foods and supplements. They have a wide range of benefits for babies, including helping the immune system develop properly, helping with gas and bloating, reducing allergies, and even lowering cholesterol levels.
To treat constipation effectively, you should start giving your baby probiotics as soon as they begin showing signs of having problems. The best probiotic to use is Lactobacillus reuteri or Bifidobacterium longum; while there are several other types out there that can be beneficial, these two seem to be the most effective. Make sure you’re giving them orally via drops or capsules, not through their food like some parents may do.
Add yogurt to treat constipation
Yogurt is a great source of calcium and probiotics. Yogurt can also help your baby’s digestive system break down food, which makes it the perfect thing to add to your diet if you want to help relieve constipation.
Also, don’t forget to include fruit in your baby’s diet. Fruit contains lots of fiber and natural sugars that will help get things moving again in your little one’s bowel movements.
Add ginger to combat nausea and help with constipation
Adding ginger to your baby’s diet can help ease their stomach discomfort and decrease the risk of constipation. Ginger is anti-inflammatory and soothing to your little one’s tummy, which can help them better digest their food. Ginger also contains a compound that helps with nausea and bloating, a common symptom for babies who experience constipation. To avoid any potential negative side effects, try adding ginger in small amounts at first — just a teaspoon or two will do the trick! If your baby has any negative reactions to ginger, you might try using peppermint oil instead.
Introduce solid foods slowly to prevent further upset stomachs
It’s best to introduce solid foods slowly and carefully to prevent any further stomach upset or constipation. A gradual increase in the amount of solids your baby eats can help with their digestion, too.
Start with a small amount of pureed or other easily digestible food (e.g. rice cereal, avocado, etc.) and work your way up over time. If you’re not sure what kind of fruits and vegetables your baby should be eating, talk to your pediatrician about what they recommend.
Another good idea is introducing food one at a time rather than all at once so that your little one can better adjust to the transition.
If you’re struggling with how to introduce these new foods without causing more digestive issues, try adding an extra teaspoon of milk or formula before feeding them any new food each day for the first week or two instead of using water.
Conclusion
As your baby grows, you need to introduce them to more food types to help them develop a healthy diet. Introduce different fruits and vegetables until you find one that your child enjoys. It’s important to continue to give your child probiotics for constipation relief, but you should also use yogurt or ginger to combat nausea. Finally, you should introduce solid foods slowly to prevent further upset stomachs.
