6mo EBF starting solids - seems constipated, what to do?

[Loobylou77]

As above, I've just started my 6mo EBF baby on solids. So far he's taking very little food (a dessertspoon or so) and only once a day for about a week now.

He has had sweet potato, banana and avocado, all of which DS1 found easy to digest and had no problem with, however DS2 seems to be constipated. He is not dehydrated as far as I can tell, his fontanelle is not sunken in at all and he's still feeding as frequently as before.

Any ideas as to what could be the problem and what I should do? He is otherwise happy as usual but is straining to pass only a tiny amount and cries a little bit sometimes when he does so am worried about him. This has been happening sporadically since yesterday morning - it's normal for a week or so to go by between poos so I wasn't concerned by the lack of action earlier in the week. I'm considering taking him to the walk-in GP, do you think this is necessary?

Thanks in advance for any help!

My dd suffered constipation when I started weaning too. I found banana made it worse so I only give this about once or twice a week now. Mango seems to help get things moving again. As does any really juicy fruit like ripe pears.

Will your ds drink sips of water? I think you can add a small amount of prune juice to water to see if this helps or mix prunes with his normal food if you're doing purees.

If what he's passing is dry and hard you could call nhs direct or the out of hours gp and see what they say.

Hope he's better soon. :)

We've been weaning DD2 for about 5 weeks now (also EBF till 6 months ish). She was a regular 2-4 times a day poo-er but started to go a few days between poos when we started solids. She would also have a little cry while pooing as the first hard bit was coming out. If it looked like she was straining but having trouble we would lie her down, remove her nappy and hold her legs in the air - that usually helped.

She is better now - pooing more frequently and not crying anymore.

It is just their little digestive system getting used to things. It shouldn't last too long. Also pear is very good for helping them to go.

No need to offer prune juice to a bf baby. If you are worried offer more bfs and water with his food.

The complaining when he poos could just be him getting used to passing more solid poos though.

All the foods that you have offered can be constipating, have you thought about BLW? You could offer things like plums which would ease the situtation IYNWIM .

Thanks everyone, it's not hard and dry just firmer than before so maybe it is just his system adjusting. I have just given him pear for his solid feed today so hopefully that does the trick, will keep on with it for another couple of days.

Do you think baby massage might help move things along too?

I have thought about BLW but not looked into it properly, thanks for the tip JJJ

Just wanted to let you all know that a couple of days of pear meals has totally solved the problem, thanks everyone :)