Newborn Constipation Remedies Moms Can Find at Home

Constipation may occur for several reasons. One of those reasons is the type of formula your baby is drinking. Not all formulas are created equal. If you think your baby may be constipated because of the formula, you can switch to a soy based formula. Try this for a few days to see if the constipation clears up. If it does, you will know that was the cause. If not, you can try one of the remedies mentioned below.

-Give your newborn some water. Place 2-3 ounces of water in a bottle and feed it to your newborn once per day. One cause of constipation is dehydration. Once your infant gets some water it should make going to the bathroom much easier. They will be totally re-hydrated and the water is perfectly natural and safe for your newborn.

-Use prunes to help bowel movements to soften and come on a regular basis. Newborns cannot chew prunes, but there are two options you can use. I used both of these with my second daughter and they worked like a charm. First, you can give your newborn 2-3 ounces of prune juice in a bottle once per day until they start passing their bowel movements naturally. Newborns who reach the age of 4 months can get a jar of Gerber or Beech Nut prunes. Spoon feed one jar of prunes to your newborn each day until they are no longer suffering from constipation.

-Puree some peas, spinach, or broccoli with a little water and feed to your newborn after they reach the age of 6 months. These green vegetables contain fiber which promotes gastrointestinal health. They will keep your baby on a regular cycle so that they don't end up getting constipated.

-Once your newborn reaches the age that they can eat baby foods and pureed foods there are some foods that you will want to avoid if your newborn is prone to constipation. Rice, bananas, and diary products all have the ability to cause constipation. Avoiding them may be enough to keep the constipation from returning.

If none of these methods work, you pediatrician may allow you to use a suppository. These are relatively harmless and will help your newborn pass his or her stools when in a bind.

Tips:
You can substitute apple or pear juice for the prune juice. They may not work as quickly, but they can help.

Warning:
Do not follow the old wives tale that babies should be given Karo syrup. This syrup can contain a bacteria that causes botulism. Newborns are not equipped to fight this type of bacteria off until after their first birthday.