How to make a constipated baby poop at home

How do you make a baby poop at home? If you have a small baby, they may often fail to pass stool, especially in the first months of life. Also referred to as constipation. Babies may take a day, or even a week without passing stool. In this article, we will focus on the best available home remedies to help your baby poop.
It may be normal for a baby not to poop for a week, but sometimes you may need to consult a healthcare practitioner. Constipation is defined as the failure to pass stool frequently.

It’s important to note whether your baby passed stool in the first 48 hours after their birth. This is because some babies may have genetic conditions which predispose them to constipation. Most commonly Hirschsprung’s disease. It is a condition characterized by the absence of enteric neurons within the myenteric and submucosal plexus of the rectum or colon.

How do you know your baby is constipated?

• They may be irritable and cry a lot, especially when passing stool.
• Inability to pass stool for a couple of days.
• Babies may strain while passing stool.
• They may pass small and hard stools.

Home remedies to help your baby poop at home.

Exercises. The preferred exercise is known as bicycle exercise. You lay your baby on the back, and gently move their legs in a cycling motion. These may help in promoting bowel movements, and they may help them to poop.

Give your baby a warm bath. Warm baths are therapeutic. They help relax your baby’s abdominal muscles, and they may even pass stool during the bath.

Massaging your baby’s abdomen. This is done by gently moving your hand or a finger in a clockwise direction on the baby’s stomach. This circular movement may help push the stool and help them to pass stool. You can also do it by bringing your babies together and gently moving them upwards towards the stomach. This will help them remove the excess gas in the tummy.

Use of thermometer. The small gadget used to measure their temperature may also help. In this instance, it is usually put in the rectum of the baby. This may help stimulate bowel movements. Remember to lubricate it. Do not use it frequently.

Changes in diet. This applies to breastfed babies, formula babies as well as those that are already on supplementary feeding.

For breastfed babies, consumption of dairy products by the mother may cause constipation to the baby. Mothers are advised to cut off dairy products if constipation is persistent.

For formula-fed babies, you may need to change their formula to a different one. Perhaps a dairy-free one. For babies who are already weaned, feeding them with plenty of fruits and vegetables may help in opening their bowels.

Give fruit juice. The preferred ones are, apple juice, pear, and prune juice this contains a chemical known as sorbitol which acts as a laxative.

Laxatives. These are drugs prescribed to help ease your baby’s constipation. The most commonly used is lactulose.

Constipation is a common health problem, especially in babies. It can be managed at home with the above therapies. However, if your baby’s tummy swells or they start passing bloody stools, you should consult your health provider as soon as possible.