Baby Formula and Constipation: What You Need to Know

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When your baby cries, cradles his legs, and cannot go to the bathroom, he is more likely to be constipated. The frequency of your baby’s bowel movements depends on his or her age and dietary habits. In breastfed children, it coincides with the frequency of feedings. Gradually the frequency of defecation decreases, the stool becomes denser, and after the introduction of complementary food, defecation occurs at least 2 times a day. Children on artificial feeding may defecate once a day. In healthy children in the first year of life, they should be pasty, and fragmented stools at this age are a sign of constipation.

What can cause constipation

Let’s look at some risk factors for constipation in breastfed infants:

• Genetic predisposition;
• Muscular hypotension (rickets, iron deficiency, hypothyroidism);
• Intolerance to cow’s milk protein;
• Insufficient drinking regimen;
• Early (up to 3 months) transition to artificial feeding;
• Use of formula with high iron content;
• Frequent changes of formula for feeding.

Special mixes for troubled tummies

Constipation in an infant can develop for a variety of reasons. And if you think that the formula is the cause of the problems, you should replace it with a special formula enriched with probiotics and prebiotics. Decent and high-quality is the infant formula Kendamil. It is a highly adapted organic formula from a British manufacturer. It does not contain palm oil or sugar, which can be harmful to the baby’s body. The polysaccharide in the formula helps the development of beneficial bacteria in the baby’s intestines and efficient and painless defecation. This helps to strengthen the immune system and reduce colic.

It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when preparing the formula. Sometimes parents change the proportions of powder and water on their own to increase the caloric content of the milk, for example, before the baby goes to bed. This is a big mistake that can cause pain in the baby’s stomach.

An additional source of hydration

As a rule, during infant formula feeding, the baby does not need to be given additional water. The situation changes when the weather is hot or the baby is in a warm room. In such cases, you need to give him water to drink. Also, when there are problems with emptying – liquid is necessary to get the right consistency of feces, which will make it easier to pass. So if you notice that your baby’s stool is hard and lumpy, give him water to drink between meals. Boiled spring water is best.

As for babies over 6 months of age, who are already receiving formula and complimentary food and have tummy troubles, they need to reconsider the products they consume. After all, some of them cause constipation. Such as bananas, white rice, boiled carrots, and white bread. It would be wise to include juices, kefir, and yogurt in their diet.

Insidious constipation causes a lot of unpleasant moments for both baby and parents. The child becomes restless, naughty, crying all the time for no reason, there is a bloated stomach and very thick stools. And as a consequence, bad moods and sleepless nights. It should not be left unnoticed, because if the baby often has problems with the stool, it may develop into chronic constipation (the above-mentioned phenomena are observed for a long period). If you have tried a sour milk formula with probiotics and prebiotics, and there is no result, be sure to contact your pediatrician, and he will help to solve the problem.