Top 10 Most Effective Ways to Treat Infant Constipation

Dehydration is a common issue when infants are constipated. Infants suffering from constipation need to be adequately hydrated. Dehydration occurs when infants are unable to defecate, feel bloated due to constipation, and refuse to drink water, leading to water deficiency. To address this issue, mothers can give infants a little carbonated mineral water.

This method has been proven to be more effective in reducing constipation than plain water, and can be applied to infants with both acute and chronic constipation, including those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Note that mothers should only use carbonated mineral water and avoid carbonated soft drinks, as they can exacerbate the infant's constipation.

For infants over 6 months old, mothers should start introducing water to the infant with a few spoonfuls initially, then gradually increase the amount of water according to the infant's needs to ensure adequate hydration. Additionally, mothers should supplement a small amount of fruit juice, such as apple, pear, grape, or prune juice, into the infant's diet to stimulate digestion and soften stools. However, mothers should consult a doctor before giving the infant fruit juice for the first time.

Experts recommend that babies suffering from constipation should consume plenty of fruits and vegetables to supplement their bodies with enough fiber, vitamins, and essential minerals. Increasing daily fiber intake will support bowel movement, making stool easier to pass, thereby improving constipation in babies. A recent survey has shown that up to 77% of constipated babies showed positive signs when this method was implemented by their mothers.

Therefore, parents need to pay attention to developing a suitable diet to improve constipation in babies. Mothers can incorporate some fiber-rich foods into their baby's complementary feeding diet, such as: broccoli, pear, dried plum, apple, peach, papaya, banana, pumpkin, carrot, oatmeal, whole grain cereals,... This will help form bulkier stools, stimulate stronger bowel peristalsis, making food move through the intestines more easily, thus alleviating constipation in infants. In addition, these foods also create conditions for the growth of beneficial bacteria, balancing the gut microbiota, and keeping the digestive system healthy.

However, mothers should also pay attention to the way they prepare vegetables to preserve the maximum fiber content and provide enough fiber for their babies. Specifically, when processing these types of foods, mothers should avoid overcooking, which can reduce the fiber and vitamin content. Additionally, mothers should let babies eat both the flesh and skin to ensure they absorb enough nutrients contained in these foods.

When choosing milk for a constipated child, parents should prioritize products with high fiber content, soft, and easily digestible milk. Constipation is a common issue in children, but if the right milk product is chosen, and a scientific diet is established, it not only helps improve the condition of difficulty in defecation but also reduces digestive problems for the baby. In addition, mothers can consider some types of milk specifically designed for constipated infants to quickly improve the condition.

In addition, mothers should note:

• Choose soft, small, easily digestible milk
• Contains soluble fiber GOS
• Milk has a natural light taste
• Choose milk supplemented with HMO
• Milk must have clear origins and sources;
• When mixing milk, mothers need to follow the correct ratio between milk and water as instructed on the packaging;
• Do not mix milk with fruit juice, diluted rice, thin porridge, or other food scraps;
• The baby's bottle needs to be cleaned and sterilized before and after use.

Probiotics, also known as beneficial bacteria, offer many health benefits for infants in the early years of life. Probiotics function to maintain a healthy intestinal environment by inhibiting the growth and development of harmful bacteria. Additionally, they help reinforce the intestinal barrier and improve the quantity of beneficial bacteria after treatment with antibiotics.

When probiotics enter the intestine, they increase the production of antibacterial substances and stimulate the secretion of mucous layer, which helps limit the adhesion, growth, and development of harmful bacteria, thus preventing diseases in the child's digestive system. Infants supplemented with probiotics in the form of digestive enzymes help the intestine enhance nutrient absorption from the outside by breaking down food into smaller parts such as: Amylase, peptidase, protease,... This division process helps the intestine to digest and absorb nutrients more quickly and effectively.

Constipation in children may be related to an imbalance in the intestinal bacteria. Therefore, when a child is constipated, mothers should supplement probiotics through some probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, probiotic drinks, probiotic gummies,...

Massage is one of the simple, cost-effective methods to support infants with constipation that parents can practice at home. The basic benefits of massage include improving circulation in the body, stimulating bowel movement, and making it easier and more frequent for the infant to have bowel movements. In addition, massaging a constipated infant helps the baby relax, enhances interaction between parents and the infant, and increases maternal milk production while providing the infant with opportunities for rapid communication development. Parents should express their love for the baby during massage by looking at the baby smiling or singing gentle songs. Massaging a constipated infant can be combined with massage oil or essential oils with pleasant fragrances and low skin irritation. Massage for constipated infants should be performed daily and at least 3 times a day.

The best time to massage a constipated infant is right after waking up in the morning or before bedtime or before bathing in the evening. Avoid massaging the baby when the baby has just eaten or when the baby has open wounds on the abdominal skin. Wait at least 45 minutes to 1 hour after eating before massaging a constipated infant.

How to massage the abdomen for constipated infants:

• Place the baby on its back, place your hand on the baby's stomach;
• Use your fingertips to make circular motions clockwise and gradually move down from the ribs to the colon;
• Use the edge of your fingers to gently stroke from the rib area down to the lower abdomen;

For infants and young children, establishing and maintaining regular toilet times is crucial, helping them develop proper toilet habits to prevent various gastrointestinal disorders, such as constipation.

One of the useful tips to help children go to the toilet regularly every day is to guide and train them to develop the habit of going to the toilet at the right time, in the right way, and to create reflexes for them.

Parents should teach their children how to use the toilet and encourage them to go to the toilet at a fixed time each day, preferably in the morning or about 30 minutes after a meal. Note that during the child's toilet time, parents should not allow the child to use electronic devices as it may distract them.

In the body, the stomach, intestines, and liver play vital roles in the digestive system. Regular exercise not only improves health and enhances the functioning of these organs but also aids in the treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal disorders, including constipation.

Regular daily physical activity can stimulate the bowel movements of children, creating strong squeezing forces to propel food through the intestinal system, making stool expulsion quicker and easier. Therefore, mothers should create opportunities for daily physical activity for their children. However, for infants who cannot crawl yet, mothers can assist in exercising with a bicycle pedaling motion:

• Lay the baby on their back, gently hold both of their legs
• Move the baby's legs up and down as if pedaling a bicycle
• Maintain this motion for 10-15 minutes
• Regularly exercise the baby twice a day

Note: Mothers should avoid exercising the baby right after they have eaten a full meal. Exercising at this time can cause the baby to vomit, adversely affecting the digestive system.

Dairy products such as cheese, cream cheese, fresh milk, and formula milk... can contribute to slow digestion in the intestines due to their high calcium and protein content. The reason is that these foods often lack fiber, and the more children consume them, the poorer their digestion, leading to constipation.

Some children may experience constipation due to their body's sensitivity to milk protein, which affects absorption and bowel movements. For these children, mothers should temporarily remove milk and milk-based products from their daily diet. Instead, mothers should supplement their children's diet with calcium-rich foods to provide adequate calcium for their development.

Giving your baby warm baths can help alleviate constipation in infants. Warm water helps relax your baby's abdominal muscles, reduces constipation symptoms, stimulates bowel movements, and activates the muscles around the anus to help your baby pass stools more easily. However, mothers should note to only bathe their baby for about 5 to 10 minutes, avoiding the risk of waterborne infections or chills.

Below is a safe way to prepare bathwater for your baby:

• Prepare bathwater in a separate tub for your baby. Never turn on or off the water while bathing your baby, as accidentally switching to hot water can cause burns;
• Adjust the temperature of the water heater or hot water dispenser to below 49 degrees Celsius to ensure safety for both infants and adults;
• You can use a thermometer specifically designed to measure bathwater temperature. Nowadays, these thermometers are not only designed for temperature measurement but also serve as convenient toys for babies.

In addition, you can let your baby sit in a basin of warm water to gently relieve tension in the pelvic muscles, making it easier for the baby to defecate smoothly.

Most cases of infant constipation can be treated with natural remedies at home. However, when these methods are not effective, mothers should take their baby to the hospital for examination and treatment, avoiding prolonged constipation affecting the baby's health and overall development. At this point, mothers can give their baby medication as prescribed by a doctor. However, this should be the last resort as some medications may have side effects affecting the baby's development and health.

Parents should take their baby to the hospital for examination and treatment if the baby shows the following symptoms:

• Bloody stools;
• Prolonged constipation;
• Baby cries in pain severely;
• Weight loss;
• Dehydration;
• Weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite…
  

Note: Mothers should not buy laxatives at pharmacies and give them to their baby without a doctor's prescription.