Constipated baby- foods to ease and avoid

[annatha]

Sorry for the essay!

Dd is 8 months and since starting solids seems to fluctuate between runny poos and poos that are so solid that they cause her bum to bleed. She refuses to drink water- I've tried her with various tommy tippee sippy cups, open cups, even a bottle. The second she realizes its not milk she stops drinking. When she got really constipated I tried orange juice (very diluted) but it was refused in all the cups and I'd rather not give her juice so I don't have a toddler refusing water over sweeter drinks.

Anyway, I asked HV who told me to see a doctor. Dr wasn't very helpful (didn't understand that I was weaning her as in introducing solids, he thought I had stopped milk completely at 7 months old and didn't see an issue with that) but prescribed lactolose. HV told me that it isn't much good as it doesn't soften stools, it just coats them in something so I've been reluctant to try it out. Besides she only has bouts of constipation once or twice a fortnight, the rest of the time its fine or loose.

So, please could you tell me which foods can bung babies up and which can make them more regular? Google is giving me contradictory advice on a lot of foods.

Also any tips to get her drinking water would be greatly appreciated! Thanks all.

[daisydalrymple]

I think potatoes and bananas are supposed to be binding so may cause constipation if fluid intake not good. Ds always seems to have a good clear out after porridge, weetabix. Ready brek etc type cereals, with some fruit squished in (apples. Raspberries, strawberries...) have you tried an open cup for water? Just leave the beaker lid off and hold it to her mouth? (Works well in the bath then the inevitable dribbles don't matter!) it might just help get get familiar with it then she might take more water at mealtimes?

[daisydalrymple]

Ps ds1 suffered ongoing constipation for a few years and I read conflicting advice about a lot of foods - eg Apple. Seems to help ds2 get things moving but it might be a case of trial and error so maybe keep a food diary and see if you can spot and likely triggers when she's bunged up??

[soundsystem]

Prunes are good. I usually have an Ella's prunes prunes prunes in the house which DD will slurp down quite happily and it dies seem to help! Also apricots. Whole wheat apparently bungs them up a bit

[HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs]

Acidic fruit like oranges and kiwis are good. Another vote for weetabix.

[joopy79]

Avoid apples and bananas, eat kiwis and cooked apple.
I find a warm bath helps my baby's constipation

[annatha]

Thanks everyone. She's been on a strict diet of fruit and veg for the last couple of days and it seems to have eased for now. The food diary is a great idea, thanks Daisy. Off to get some weetabix tomorrow so she can have a proper breakfast again.