6 Month Old Baby Constipated: Why and What to Do?

Dietary Change

If your baby is introduced to solid foods, the first thing to do is to review his diet. If you find any food item that aggravates constipation, stop that instantly. And replace it with some high-fiber food items. These may include apricot, prunes, peaches, plum, pears or spinach (not too much, a few tbsp. would be enough). Once the constipation is cured, re-add those food items in his diet but in a smaller quantity. If the baby does not take solid food yet, adding one or two ounces of apple, prune or pear juice to his formula milk can stimulate the bowel movement. As the baby grows, you can increase the amount of juice (not without consulting the pediatrician).

Note: With all other diet change, don’t forget to add a frequent amount of water in baby’s diet.

Get Physical!

If the symptoms of constipation persist, add some physical activity to the routine of your 6 month old constipated. Get him laid on his back and move his legs in a way as if he is paddling a bicycle. A tummy massage is another recommended option. Gently rub baby’s belly in clockwise direction. A gentle yet firm hand should be applied on the area around the navel especially the lower left side. Continue this process for about three 3 minutes. Some doctors also recommend a hot bath for the constipated baby. It may help in relieving the bowel movement.

Learn the proper ways to do this by watching the following video:

Avoid Laxatives

Many moms opt for laxatives, mineral oils, stool softeners or enema on their own. That could be risky. No matter how hard it is for your baby to poop, don’t do any of this without consulting his pediatrician. A glycerin suppository is the most commonly used and less risky stool softener that can help the baby passing the stool by stimulating the rectum. But don’t use it regularly and of course, not without doc’s advice.

Way to Poop

A lying down position makes it hard to poop. If you find your baby struggling to poop, simply pick him up, hold his legs against his chest for an easy passing of the stool.

Pay Attention to Fissures

Straining with stool may cause fissures around your baby’s anus. If you find them, simply apply aloe vera lotion to get it healed. Ask the pediatrician for further assistance. Lastly, keep baby dry and clean.

When to Call the Doctor

Situations in constipation where it gets necessary to call the doctor include:

• No proper dietary intake

• Excessive weight loss

• Blood in stool

Introducing Solid Food

Many times, when the baby is introduced to the solid food, baby gets constipated. The reason could be the low-fiber food or dehydration resulted after weaning.

Formula Fed Babies

Most of the 6 month old constipated babies are formula fed babies. Formula milk might have some component that may cause constipation. If you feel so, you better consult your doctor for some other milk brand.

Note: Breast milk has a balanced quantity of fats and protein that makes it more digestible.

Dehydration

A baby with dehydrated internal system absorbs more liquid from all the foods that he intakes. That results in hard and dry stools that ultimately turn into constipation.

Some Medical Conditions

Though it’s very rare but constipation can be the result of some underlying illness like botulism, hypothyroidism, metabolic disorders or food allergies. Some babies are constipated by birth. Their system does not allow them to pass the stool normally. This disorder is known as Hirschsprung's.

“To avoid constipation in your baby, pick the right food items. There are a few items to be avoided that include applesauce, cooked carrots, toast, banana, squash, rice cereal and potatoes. All of it is BRAT diet, used for the treatment of diarrhea. In place of applesauce, I would recommend apple juice as it has the properties to promote bowel movement. For feeding, oatmeal and barley should be preferred over rice cereal. As far as veggies and fruits are concerned, pears, peach, apricots and all the fresh and green veggies should be used.”

“Stop giving them rice cereal immediately. It caused constipation in all my babies. I would rather recommend not to give them any type of solid diet at all. In case you are breastfeeding your baby, keep doing that. Even moms who are feeding formula milk, should try to keep baby on the liquids. In my opinion, babies younger than 6 months is not suitable for solids. As their digestive system is not mature enough to digest them. So, it’s better to wait a bit instead of feeling sorry later on. As far as veggies go, I would say all green vegetables are great, even squash is a YES from me.”

“My 6 month old constipated was in so much pain. I simply breastfed her, no solids. One more thing, I massaged her feet especially the bottom of it, while feeding her. And you wouldn’t believe but she pooped instantly and easily.”