Is My Baby Constipated?

Question :
My daughter is currently 4 months + and she used to be on Similac Infant until we changed her formula to Enfalac A+ AR upon KKH pediatrician’s advice. She has mild regurgitation. Since the change in formula two weeks ago, she has regular, frequent bowel movements (sometimes 2 movements in 1 day) but her stools have become hard, but sometimes soft and pasty. Is this considered constipation? I read in baby books that infrequent, hard and dry stools are considered constipation. When she was on Similac, her bowel movements were not that regular (bowel movements every 1 to 2 days) and her stools were soft and pasty.

Answer :
A baby is considered to be constipated if his poop is firm, dry and peebly! Crying while having a bowel motion, bleeding from the anus, abdominal pain and reduced appetite can also be signs a baby is constipated.

A decrease in the number of times your baby poops does not necessarily mean he’s constipated!

A decrease in the frequency of bowel motions is often noticeable around 4 weeks of age, particularly when a baby is breastfed. As your baby’s digestive system matures his body is better able to digest and absorb the many nutrients in milk (breast or formula) and as a result there in less waste (poop).

It is around this time that a mother’s breast milk supply settles to meet her baby’s needs, so this also results is less poop.

A reduction in the number of of bowel motions of a formula fed baby may also be seen around this age. However, it generally less obvious than changes seen in fully breastfed infants.

Other times where a change in the amount and how often a baby poops, may occur as a result of changes in diet. A sudden change in the frequency of bowel motions is commonly seen when…

* A baby is switched from breast milk to formula.
* The type of formula is changed.
* A baby first starts to eat solid foods.
* The amount of solid foods is increased.
* When a baby is first introduced to regular cow’s milk.

Formula fed babies are more at risk of becoming constipated than are breastfed babies.

Some types of infant formula can be more constipating than others. Casein dominant formula, lactose-free formula, AR (anti regurgitation) and thickened formulas can be more constipating for some babies. Variations can also occur between different brands of the same type of formula.

Switching formula (or switching to cow’s milk) can lead to changes in stool consistency, resulting in either constipation OR loose runny stools. Most often this change is only temporary, until your baby’s little tummy gets used to the new formula.

Most babies are not truly constipated unless they experience all of the following…

1. Firm, dry pebbly stools.
2. No bowel motions for 2-3 days for formula fed babies OR 7-10 days for breastfed babies; and
3. Strains and cries while having a bowel motion.

Unless your little one has a problem with all three, he’s probably not constipated and you needn’t do anything. If your baby is constipated, treatment may be necessary. We suggest you start with ‘natural remedies’ first.

Please leave a comment for more information on ‘natural remedies’.