Infant constipation is a common phenomenon, but can be troublesome and mysterious especially if you are a new parent. Once your child has transitioned from basic breast milk and is now on baby formula, except constipation to strike from time to time because their digestive systems are just beginning to become accustomed to digesting solid foods. This can cause a child to become listless, feel uncomfortable and cry without ceasing.

Identifying infant constipation correctly

Many new parents are perturbed by their baby's non-stop crying. This can be especially aggravating if it occurs at night and one or both parents has to rise up early. Without the necessary knowledge, the issue can remain unresolved. Many parents simply wake up and attempt to rock the baby hoping that he or she will desist from crying, or will simply cry themselves to sleep. Amazingly, this may work, but in many cases it may not.

Unfortunately when it comes to constipation, children usually suffer longer than is necessary simply due to their condition being misdiagnosed. When a child cannot stop crying, some parents think that this is a condition that has something to do with colic when in reality it is not. When constipation is not dealt with, it causes the baby to strain during a bowel movement causing them further discomfort and pain.

Simple exercises

There are a few remedies that can eradicate constipation in an infant. One of them is examining the diet that the baby is eating. Prune juice is usually a great start. This drink, made of dried plums, can be purchased at most grocery stores. If not, you can check with your local pharmacy. The drink contains a very high fibre content which is necessary to combat infant constipation.

Watch for abnormal bowel movements

When a child is constipated, they cry a lot during bowel movement. This is because their stool is hardened and is causing considerable discomfort. When a child gets off breast milk and goes either into formula or solid food, the frequency of their bowel movements lessens and the stool becomes more solid. Sometimes, the baby can suffer from indigestion which then causes abdominal pain. When this happens, the baby begins to pass hard stool which can get very difficult to pass. This sometimes has been confused. Some parents think constipation refers to the absence of regular bowel movement but the truth is that the regularity can be present but the quality of the stool is the issue. One way to eliminate this is to ensure that your baby drinks lots of fluids.