The most common triggers of constipation are transitioning to solid foods from breastmilk and formula, potty training, and starting school. Starting solid foods can lead to reduced fiber and fluid intake causing harder stools.
If your baby is starting to have hard, small, ball, or pebble-like stools, she could be constipated. For children under 2 months old, you should talk with your pediatrician for advice on how to treat constipation.
If your baby is not eating baby food yet, you may give 1 to 2 ounces of 100% fruit juice (pear, prune, cherry, or apple) once a day. Stop the juice if their stools become too loose. If they are old enough to eat baby foods, feed them pureed pears, peaches, or prunes instead of giving them juice.
Rather than liquidy, seedy, pasty stools, the constipated baby's stool will be more like little clay balls," says Jane Morton, M.D., a clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, "though it is extremely rare for an exclusively breastfed baby to be constipated."
Small children who are afraid of painful bowel movements will receive medicine to soften their stool. Mineral oil is very effective for this, because it helps the stool slide out more easily. Fiber, which helps keep water in the stool, may also help wit this.
Constipation is when a child has very hard stools, and has fewer bowel movements than they normally do. Constipation can be caused by a child's diet, lack of exercise, or emotional issues. Once a child becomes constipated, the problem can quickly get worse.
After the introduction of solid foods:
Baby poop will change in consistency with different foods. There may be stretches of 2-3 days between stools, and stools vary from runny mustard to soft play dough. If stools are hard/pellet like, the child likely just needs more fiber in the diet.
Introduction of solid foods or new foods. Excessive amounts of yogurt, cheese and milk. Foods such as bananas, applesauce, cereals, breads, pasta and white potatoes can cause constipation or worsen it.
Surgery: If your clay-colored stools are caused by obstructing gallstones, after an ERCP, your doctor might recommend surgery to remove the gallbladder entirely (cholecystectomy) to help prevent recurrences. In some cases, surgery is required to remove gallstones if ERCP is unsuccessful or unavailable.
Once babies start eating solid foods, around age 6 months, regardless if they're breastfed or formula-fed, their stools will become more solid and formed. As long as they aren't producing hard balls, this is normal and not constipation.
If your baby becomes constipated, use whole wheat or barley cereal instead of rice cereal and avoid bananas and sweet potatoes, which are constipating. All the fruits which begin with “P” (prunes, plums, pears, peaches) will help soften your baby's stool, so give them often if your baby is having hard stools.
The most common cause of constipation usually stems from a diet that is low in fiber, but it can also be caused by drinking too much milk (12-16oz/day) or not drinking enough water.
Whole milk can initially cause constipation in some children. Make sure not to exceed the limit of 24oz of whole milk daily and include a diet high in fiber as well as other sources of hydration like small amounts of water.
Foods like applesauce, bananas, and cereals are very binding and can cause constipation in babies. Instead, choose more fiber-filled fruit or vegetables to help loosen her stool. Foods like fiber-rich cereals or fruits like prunes, peaches, or pears can help the stool pass through the intestines quicker.
Teething and constipation
If your baby is teeth or not feeling well, they may refuse food and drink which can cause dehydration and lead to constipation. Teething alone, does not cause constipation.
Baby poop can vary greatly. However, a milk allergy or lactose intolerance may cause poop to be more watery and frequent than usual. Cow's milk allergy is the most common food allergy in infants. It affects up to 3% of babies in developed countries by the time they turn 1 year of age.
The liver releases bile salts into the stool, giving it a normal brown color. You may have clay-colored stools if you have a liver infection that reduces bile production, or if the flow of bile out of the liver is blocked. Yellow skin (jaundice) often occurs with clay-colored stools.
The main signs of constipation are hard, dry poos. The following are other signs of constipation: Your baby may show signs of straining when trying to pass a poo. Your baby may be unsettled, may seem fussy or irritated.
Pebble poop—small, hard poop that's shaped like pellets—is usually a sign of constipation, or infrequent bowel movements. Most often, constipation happens if your diet is low in fiber. Hydration and physical activity can also play a role.
Start with your child's diet.
Remember that foods like starches (wheat, bread, cereal), dairy, and certain fruits (like bananas) are naturally binding. Related: I talk through foods to help your child poop and simple recipes in one entire section of my e-course Potty Training Solutions.
But you may not have to give up dairy -- just eat less of it and change your choices. Try yogurt with probiotics, live bacteria that's good for your digestive system. It may help relieve constipation.