Help, constipated 5 month old...

[MillionPramMiles]

Has anyone had any success with curing constipation in their baby? My dd is combination breast and formula fed and also on 3 solid meals a day (she's a very hungry baby). Since introducing solids her poo has become very hard and dry and she really strains to poo. A couple of times she's even cried. My GP only suggested water and prune juice, have given dd as much as can possibly get her to drink and have introduced green veg into her solids. Have also added water to her formula to get her to drink more that way. It's been two weeks now, I feel so bad seeing her straining and not being able to do anything...

[CagneyNLacey]

I'm pretty sure that altering the ratio of formula powder to water causes constipation so if you stop doing that it could help a bit. Just cooled boiled water will be ok. I added some fresh orange juice to it on advice of doc and it did help but i wasn't happy doing it really as its too acidic for little ones.

Go to gp and ask them to prescribe something like movacol which is what my son now has. His constipation was classed as severe as he only went every 3-4 days.

[CagneyNLacey]

Sorry meant to say my son is about the same age but not weaned yet. Is it possible that she's having too many solids at the expense of liquids and that causing the dehydration and so constipation maybe? Its awful seeing them distressed isn't it? My son did the biggest poo i have ever seen yesterday. I cheered

[Rubytaib]

Hi try brown sugar water my doctor also recommended it and so did a lot of other people and it worked a treat with my lil one.

[Fuchzia]

Yes 1 tsp of brown sugar to 100 ml warm water worked when everything else failed for me. Tip was from an very old ex norland nanny but I'm not sure the HV would approve! I literally tried mixing water with every single type of fruit juice sold but the little blighter wouldn't take it. Your LO does seem to be on a lot of food for 5 months. My DS is 7 months and still mainly fruit and veg until we can get this constipation cracked.

[SuperDuperTrooper]

Definitely try and get her to drink more water. My DS was the same after weaning and we put lots of cooked pear and cooked dried apricots in with his cereal/porridge. We also have found that since he is allowed to have wheat the higher fibre cereals seem to help (e.g. Baby wheat flakes) but I wouldn't advise you try this until she is 6 months as you may cause other problems. At least it's something you know you can try soon if you find no way imminently.

[Iggly]

I'd say three meals a day is too much for a five month old.

She won't be having protein so her meals of fruit and veg will be less calorific ie less filling than formula. So reduce the solids and increase the formula until her digestive system is used to the solids. She also needs plenty of liquid with the solids as well.

[Iggly]

Oh and to get a good clear out (both of mine got constipated in the early days), I stopped solids altogether and gave milk again. They'd be pooung properly within a day or two.

[lola88]

I gave DS 2oz of pure orange juice mixed with 4oz of water nothing else worked. This was on advice of the doctor after many many trips to see him, i found DS didn't like the prune juice so didn't want it but loved the orange. I he had it in a bottle until his first tooth came in then a cup.

[Iggly]

So lola did you have to continuously give orange juice?

If an adult had chronic constipation, you'd change their diet instead of just tackle the constipation.

[NameGotLostInCyberspace]

Stay clear of white bread, white pasta and unripe bananas. All these were factors when when my 2 were small.

[MillionPramMiles]

Thanks all. I started dd on solids and formula on advice of a Hv and a maternity nurse, as dd wasn't sleeping, night or day. Over the last week, since switching her lunchtime feed to formula and introducing solids at lunch and dinner, her sleep has improved massively. I tried baby rice with fruit first and dd really liked it. She's also liked the veg I've given her. Haven't given any protein or other carbs and not yet planning to. Also haven't replaced any of the milk feeds with solids, just supplementing them.
Dd is pooing a few times a day but is just straining a lot. Am giving lots of water and prune juice.
Am a bit worried by some of the comments, confess I never would have started on solids if I hadn't been advised to try them (or if dd had rejected them). Have I done something wrong?
Dd has the following milk and solid feeds, is this too little/too much? I've been driven by her appetite mainly...
Morning - breastfeed, then baby rice with fruit then formula top up (only 2oz)
Lunch - 7oz formula, veg solids (about 3 ice cubes though driven by dd)
Tea - breastfeed, veg solids followed by small amount fruit solid if dd wants it.
Bedtime - breastfeed
11-12pm- formula 7oz

Any advice is really appreciated, thanks,

[Iggly]

Did you introduce formula at the same time? Could be the formula ...

Does she feed in between the main meals?

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

Dr Sears recommends a teaspoon of flaxseed oil

[MillionPramMiles]

Iggly - I'd been topping up with formula at the lunchtime feed since about 12 weeks but still breastfeeding, until a week ago. I started veg solids about a week before that. The straining to poo started before this week so looks likely to be the solids. Am going to keep giving the baby rice with fruit but give the veg a break for a couple of days and see what happens. It's odd cause I just assumed veg would help her poo easier (it does me!).
I'm resigning myself to sleepless days and nights again but hey ho...

[MillionPramMiles]

Ugly - sorry meant to add that those are the only feeds dd has (apart from water and prune juice). She doesn't seem hungry between meals and her weight is very healthy (if anything she's a bit too chubby!).

[Iggly]

Ah ok. I would reduce the quantity of solids a little, even if she seems to want more. Then give more formula. So she's not going hungry and gets more liquid in her.

[Thingiebob]

Stop solids for a day or so and replace with milk. That's a lot of food for one so little.

[vodkaanddietirnbru]

baby rice can be constipating so you may find cutting it out will help. Try just giving straight fruits/veg instead