Constipated, miserable 8 month old help!

[Corilee2806]

Wondering if anyone else has been through similar and can advise? I am also waiting to hear from a doctor but not hopeful they will have much to add to what I already know.

My 8 month old DS was EBF until fairly recently, always fairly regular but sometimes went up to a week without a poo which I was told was quite normal. However recently he has started to go over a week at a time and today he had a record of 9 days! Broken this evening with a very hard, painful and massive poo which was very distressing to get out and has now torn his bottom. So awful for him and for us to see him in pain.

I really want to make sure this doesn’t happen again but I don’t know what’s causing it! He has started on solids but honestly he hardly eats anything so I’m not sure it can be the change in diet? He also has one bottle of formula at night now. Could it be that his digestive system is just really sensitive? I offer water with meals but he doesn’t really drink much.

He has been poorly and teething constantly lately, probably for the last few months but I do feel like he changed a lot in his temperament around the age of 6 months. He is generally very easily agitated and only happy when held but I know that is also down to temperament and separation anxiety.

If anyone has any suggestions of how I can get my happy baby back please share!

Aw it's awful seeing them in pain like that. Avoid banana if ur giving that I've heard it can make them constipated.

My little one really suffered with constipation for a long time. We had to get sachets from gp that u put in cooled boiled water. She was on other medication that was causing it and no alternative available.

HV always suggested a few ounce of cooled boiled water and that did help but she needed it every day so had to get medication. Can fill their tummies up though so not ideal but ok for one off. Another one is cotton bud with Vaseline on the bum to try and get them to go. If u press a little bit it helps. We found this also worked. I actually used to put a wipe over my finger and press gently around the area. You could feel the poo and it was so hard and this always helped her get it out. Watch out though it comes fast!

Oh poor little guy! Plenty of water rich foods will help (melon, cucumber) as well as encouraging water drinking. Things like banana & eggs can cause constipation, "p" foods like plums, peaches and prunes can help with going. I find an easy peeler/satsuma usually does the trick.

You can buy prune purée. That might get things going. It’s horrible when they’re uncomfortable

Glycerin suppositories, stewed prunes.

Lactulose. Glycerin suppositories

My DD had this at a similar age. If she hadn't been I would make her this puree and it works really well, although beware the explosion! She's pretty ok now at almost 2 but does occasionally get constipation. I give her plums/prunes or pear everyday (as pp said the 'p' foods are best) and lots of fluid.
babyfoode.com/blog/pears-prunes-cloves-constipation-cure-puree/

Thank you everyone, it really is horrible and I’m hoping I can break the cycle and fix it! I will look into all your suggestions, have been giving him some prunes and I think that’s what got things moving in the end - will keep trying this and the other Ps. Even though he doesn’t eat much he generally sucks on bits of cucumber, veg, fruit etc so I thought he was getting water that way. Could he be dehydrated?

I will try and get him to drink more water, he’s not really got the hang of the cup yet though.

I second the prune purée. Ellas kitchen do one. I always keep a few pouches in the cupboard even for my 4 year old

Hi there- was there any feedback from this? I am in exactly the same boat. 2nd son and never had this before. Have you considered dairy? It also happened when he went on formula for a bit at 8weeks - he got really backed up. I gave it up for him for 10 days but didn’t seem to make any difference.

I’m plying the poor kid with prunes, water, fruit juice but doesn’t seem to make much difference! Appreciate the feedback!

Higher fat content worked for us too - I’d mix prunes into avocado to get things moving when my kids were backed up. I’d make a purée with quite a bit of water, and give it to them twice a day. Usually worked within 2 days.

I swear by the Ella’s Kitchen prune purée - it works a treat whenever my toddler needs a bit of help!

I'm sure a friend of mine swore by giving them a small amount of Orange juice.

Pear juice works a treat.

Suppositories - you’re joking, right???

@estill88 is LO on follow on milk? If so, it could e the extra iron. I'd swap back to first milk and see if that helps. If you're BFing, try adding an extra feed or two in during the day.

@FrancescaContini

Pear juice works a treat.

Suppositories - you’re joking, right???

Why would it be a joke. If a baby can’t go, just like an older child or an adult, they would need a suppository or an enema eventually and 9 days is a long time. Much better to manage it with prune & pear purée etc but sometimes suppositories are necessary. They make tiny ones for children. The GP prescribed them for my DC once, luckily we didn’t need them in the end.