How To Get A Constipated Baby To Poop

What causes constipation?

Change in diet

It's quite common for your baby to become constipated when they start taking first infant formula (which is harder to digest than breast milk), or eating processed foods. That's just because their body is learning how to cope with digesting new things.

Dehydration

Constipation can be caused by a lack of fluids. There are various reasons why your baby may not be getting enough fluids – they may be teething and finding it uncomfortable, it could be down to illness (a cold, a throat or ear infection, etc), or if they are older, not drinking enough fluids with their food. Lack of fluids can make your baby's poo harder and more difficult to push out.

Lack of fibre

In older babies, it can also be caused by not getting enough fibre, (such as fruit, vegetables and cereals) in their diet. For advice on which foods to include in your baby's diet, have a look at our guide to What to feed your baby.

Treating constipation

baby lying on their back with parent holding their legs

Here are some tips on helping relieve constipation at home:

lie your baby down and gently move their legs like they're riding a bicycle – this can help get things moving. If your baby is happy lying down, give them a gentle tummy massage
if your baby is bottle-fed, try giving them extra water between some feeds
if your baby is on solids, make sure they're getting enough fibre. Apples, pears and prunes are particularly good for constipation. Find out more about foods with plenty of fibre.

It may take a few days to get things moving again, but if things do not improve, speak to your health visitor or doctor. Your doctor may prescribe a laxative, or want to double check that it's not being caused by any underlying medical conditions.