How to Overcome Constipation in Babies

Babies who experience constipation or difficulty defecating are often common, but cannot be underestimated or left to drag on. To deal with constipation in infants, it is easier if parents know the cause.

One sign of a baby having difficulty defecating is if he does not defecate at least three times a week. Another feature that is easily seen is hard stool and difficult to get out. Another possibility is when he removes dirt that looks like small and hard chunks.

Find out the reasons for making it easier to deal with

To find out how to deal with constipation in infants, parents must know what factors can cause constipation in infants. Some of the most common causes include:

• New baby in per introduced to solid foodConstipation is common in infants undergoing a transition from consuming only fluids or breast milk to solid food . His digestive system is not familiar with the presence of solid food in the stomach. In addition, also pay attention to risk-enhancing factors, such as the types of solid foods that lack fiber.

• Babies experience lack of fluidsLack of fluid intake can cause dirt to become dry or hard so it is difficult to remove. In addition, sometimes some babies will find it difficult to receive food and drinks because their mouth has problems, such as the growth of milk teeth or the presence of canker sores . Likewise with other things that make children become lazy to drink, causing dehydration, such as colds, ear infections, or throat infections.

• Difficulty defecating due to formula milk Formula milk has a composition of nutrients that is different from breast milk, making it more difficult to digest. This then causes the baby's stool harder, so the baby is reluctant to defecate and experience constipation.

• K ondisi certain medicalCertain medical conditions may contribute to the occurrence of constipation in infants. In infants under 6 months, several common causes of constipation are gastrointestinal organ abnormalities, cow's milk allergy, celiac disease, too high calcium levels in the blood ( hypercalcemia ), hypothyroidism, Hirschprung's disease , and spinal cord abnormalities.

Some other medical conditions that can also cause a baby to experience constipation or difficulty defecating are food poisoning and food allergies or cow's milk.

How to treat constipation in infants

To treat constipation in infants, it needs to be differentiated according to their age group. In contrast to adults, the physical condition of a baby at each development age will vary.

Constipation problems in infants less than 6 months old require treatment as follows:

• Changing or changing formula milkIf all this time the child is given formula milk, discuss it first with the doctor to change the dosage of formula milk or consider substituting formula milk.

• Use fecal softenersCan also use stool softeners as instructed by the doctor. This stool softener can be added to baby's milk to be given three times a day.

Whereas for babies ranging in age from 6 months to 2 years, it is more appropriate to be given the following treatment:

• Get used to sit on the toilet regularlyThis is done about 3-5 minutes after eating. Children are asked to sit on the toilet even though they don't feel like defecating. Create a comfortable atmosphere so that the child feels comfortable every time he defecates in the toilet. In this way the child can learn to respond to his own desire to defecate by always sitting on the toilet.

• Give foods high in fiberAdd fiber from three servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit every day. Prioritize giving him the intake of fiber from skinned fruits that can be consumed directly, such as plums, apricots, peaches, or prunes. Besides fruits, wheat bread can also be given to him. Avoid ready-to-process cereals, such as corn flakes or rice bubbles.

• Limit giving cow's milkIf your child is over 18 months old, cow's milk is given no more than 500 milliliters (ml) per day. Also, avoid giving him sweet drinks before the main meal time.

If constipation in a child does not improve, then a laxative drug can be given in the form of a laxative or fecal softener. However, it should be noted that these drugs should only be given after consultation with a doctor .

If parents have done the way to deal with constipation in the baby above, but there has been no improvement, then never hesitate to ask for help from a doctor. This needs to be done especially if the baby starts showing discomfort due to constipation he has suffered.