A 3 month old baby has constipation. Constipation in an infant (constipation treatment). Rules for performing a tummy massage for constipation in a baby

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Almost all young parents have encountered the problem of infrequent bowel movements in their infants or their absence. Constipation in a baby can be difficult and scary for some new mothers. On almost all forums you can see the question: “If a baby has constipation, what should I do to properly solve the existing problem? How to help a 2 or 3 month old baby?

Many parents want to save their beloved child from any torment, so this problem is quite relevant.

Pediatricians do not recommend the use of folk remedies, as they believe that such help can greatly harm the health of the little person. There have been cases when, after treatment with folk remedies, infants developed hemorrhoids and other unpleasant consequences. However, some young parents buy glycerin suppositories at pharmacies, use various enemas and gas tubes, and do not even think about why constipation occurred and why the baby does not poop.

What is constipation in a newborn?

Constipation is a fairly common phenomenon that sometimes occurs in newborn babies. If for 3 days the baby has rare stools, he does not poop, or certain difficulties arise during bowel movements, then you can sound the alarm. The stool depends on the amount of nutrition and the age of each little person.

For example, if 2 - 3 one month old baby constipation is observed, but at the same time he eats exclusively breast milk, and poops from one, two, or several times during the day. It all depends on the number of meals and its volume. But this option can rightfully be called ideal, and it happens quite rarely in small newborn children under the age of 2-3 months.

The baby, who eats a specially adapted formula, has some difficulty with bowel movements and poops only once a day. As for the consistency, it differs from that observed in a breastfed baby. The stool is hard and has an unpleasant characteristic odor.

To determine that constipation appeared at 2 or 3 months infant, it is necessary to analyze the picture over several days. Maybe one day he drank less milk or slept more. There is no need to immediately sound the alarm and administer various enemas and tubes. Normal stool in a 2-3 month old baby should have the consistency of soft porridge, and hard stool is obvious constipation.

To help with constipation, a baby should be given prunes, pumpkin or beets in a specially prepared form. But such products can be given to a child only after six months, when complementary feeding is introduced. Today, many pediatricians and specialists recommend the use of these remedies, because they maximally stimulate intestinal activity and help soften stool.

Prunes and pumpkin contain a large amount of dietary fiber. These foods contain all the necessary natural compounds that can stimulate smooth muscle motility in the digestive tract. Thanks to this, you can cope with constipation in an infant.

As soon as the child turns six months old, problems with stool will gradually go away, because by this period complementary foods can already be introduced and the intestines begin to function normally. Constipation in an infant, if he is only breastfed, is quite rare. He defecates several times during the day, and the stool does not have any unpleasant odors.

Pediatricians say that cheesy inclusions in newborns are considered normal, that is, small lumps can be seen in the total mass. This indicates that some of the mother's breast milk has not been digested.

Causes of constipation in infants

The following are the main causes of difficulty during bowel movements in newborns:

A rather abrupt and unexpected transition from breastfeeding to specially adapted formulas;
A sharp change from the usual mixture to another brand and manufacturer, as well as a change in number according to age;
Any violation of the diet of a nursing mother or the use of a certain product. You can often encounter the phenomenon of constipation in a newborn due to poor nutrition;
Lack of breast milk may be the initial cause of constipation in a newborn. In this case, all the food received is not fully absorbed and the child has nothing to go to the toilet with. To avoid this phenomenon, it is necessary to carefully monitor your weight gain over the week;
Complete or partial absence of muscle tone in the rectum. To examine and eliminate the cause, a consultation with a neurologist is necessary;
Lactose deficiency;
A cold or infectious disease, which can also significantly affect constipation in an infant;
Water scarcity. If the baby eats artificial formulas, then he must drink a certain amount of water during the day. To determine the daily norm as accurately as possible, it is necessary to take into account age and weight;
Incorrect introduction of basic complementary foods. If a young mother decided to introduce complementary feeding and did not comply with the established norms and deadlines, then constipation in an infant may occur in 95% of cases;
Allergy to cow protein. Statistics show that this is a fairly common and common cause of constipation in newborns and problems with bowel movements. If we talk about artificial newborn children, then an incorrectly selected mixture that contains cow protein provokes a problem. You can cope with it, but you will need to give 1 - 2 one month old baby the right mixture that will fit perfectly.

Treatment of constipation in infants

To get the most accurate information on how to help a baby with constipation and understand why he does not poop, it is necessary to determine its original cause. Otherwise, the treatment will not give the expected result, and all efforts will be unjustified. Only a qualified pediatrician - family doctor should deal with the cause. You should not do such things on your own or trust your relatives. Only after a complete examination and a doctor’s verdict can the prescribed treatment be used.

Treatment for constipation in infants may not be necessary if the infant does not have bowel movements for one day, but the child’s overall health is normal. Young parents need to be patient and wait a while. There are cases when the baby’s body may work slowly due to irregular intake of mother’s milk.

As practice shows, almost all problems with stool can disappear on their own at the age of about 3 months. Only severe constipation in infants 2-3 months of age requires treatment with medications.

Emergency measures:

First of all, you can do a special massage, which will be shown by the pediatrician;
An exercise for a child called “bicycle” will be an excellent way to stimulate the intestines;
Taking a warm bath for mother and baby;
When a problem occurs or before feeding, you can put the baby on his tummy for a few minutes;
Using a glycerin suppository. Today they are sold in pharmacies without a prescription or prescription. But you shouldn’t self-medicate anyway.
Enema. This method is used only in extreme and quite severe cases. To prepare an enema, you need to use a soft syringe or a weak infusion of dried chamomile flowers. For a baby you only need 30 ml. diluted liquid.

Sometimes parents are faced with the problem of anatomical obstruction in the intestines. Such a diagnosis can only be made by a doctor who can prescribe effective treatment.

Preventing constipation in an infant

To prevent constipation in a baby in time, you can periodically massage the tummy and bend the legs towards it. This exercise will help stimulate proper bowel activity.

If the child is 4-5 months old, then you can prepare prune puree for him.

Every mother should monitor her child’s fluid intake throughout the day, in addition to formula or breast milk. For an infant It is not recommended to give boiled water because it does not contain all the necessary minerals. Many pediatricians recommend buying special baby water at pharmacies.

Common cause sleepless nights young parents is a disruption of the developing intestinal tract of the child: colic, flatulence and constipation. According to statistics, every fifth baby suffers from the latter. Artificial children or infants are usually susceptible to this unpleasant disease. mixed feeding, but infants are also at risk. What is the cause of constipation and infants, how to avoid it, what emergency measures can be taken and how to ensure comfortable digestion for the baby - tasks of paramount importance. Parents' non-serious attitude to this problem or the use of medications and treatment methods inconsistent with the pediatrician is fraught with a lot of complications for the baby at an older age.

What can be considered constipation in a baby?

From a medical point of view, constipation in a child under one year of age is considered difficulty in defecation or lack of bowel movements in the last 24 hours. This concept is quite vague, since it is closely related to the specific age of the child: in a bottle-fed baby and in an infant, the frequency and consistency of stool will differ significantly. For example, for newborns under the age of one month, the norm is to have bowel movements in the same amount as there were meals. This is for breastfeeding. For an artificial child, the norm is only 2–3 bowel movements per day.

The instability of the baby's intestines is of great importance. Without the help of a specialist, it is quite difficult to determine when a baby suffers from constipation, and when a decrease in stool frequency is just a physiological feature of the development of a small organism. Therefore, it is important to control not only the number of “passages”, but also the consistency, smell, density and color of feces, and the child’s behavior before and during bowel movements.

Baby stool up to six months has a semi-liquid consistency. It is yellow in color, without an unpleasant odor, and may contain particles of undigested breast milk in the form of curdled inclusions. Artificial feces are denser and may have a characteristic specific odor.

Signs and symptoms of constipation

The main thing you need to pay attention to is the general condition of the child and the consistency of the stool. Symptoms indicating constipation include:

A child with constipation is capricious and cries;
restless behavior of the child during bowel movements: but straining does not lead to any result, expression of pain on the face, pushing, crying;
any attempt to empty the intestines is accompanied by screams and restless movements of the baby;
When a baby is constipated, the feces are hard: either they look like peas, or the first portion looks like a “cork”, followed by a mushy mass;
incomplete bowel movement;
regular stool retention for 1 – 2 days;
restless sleep;
refusal to eat;
absence of gases;
causeless crying;
bloating;
pulling your knees to your chest;
vomit.

The manifestation of one or two of these signs does not mean that the baby is constipated, but if several symptoms are present, you can be quite confident in the diagnosis and begin treatment. First of all, be sure to contact the pediatrician observing the child. It is necessary to exclude the possibility of an intestinal reaction to medications taken, new foods, the start of complementary feeding and other factors that provoke difficulties in the gastrointestinal tract. Be sure to diagnose dysbiosis, allergic reactions and other digestive pathologies. A nursing mother should urgently introduce into her diet foods that activate the motility of intestinal smooth muscles: boiled prunes, beets, pumpkin. For children after six months, in the absence of allergies, these products can also be used as complementary foods.

If the child is calm, does not refuse the breast or bottle, and bowel movements do not cause him discomfort, then this is definitely not constipation. In newborns, mother's milk or formula can be absorbed so well that they simply cannot go to the toilet.

If the listed problems are still present, then before treating constipation, it is necessary to find out the reasons.

Causes of constipation

In the first stages of constipation, it is quite easy to deal with it by simply eliminating the causes that provoked constipation. These include:

Lack of fluid

This is an extremely pressing cause of constipation for bottle-fed infants, especially in hot summers or winters, when the air in the room is dry due to heating appliances. Be sure to increase the amount of water your child consumes. Popular pediatrician Komarovsky strongly recommends supplementing even breastfed newborns.

Poor nutrition of a nursing mother, an adapted formula that is unsuitable for the baby, a lack of foods that stimulate the gastrointestinal tract (beets, pumpkin, dried apricots, figs, apples, peaches, apricots, prunes and others)

Taking certain medications by an infant or nursing mother

Constipation is possible when taking antidepressants and antispasmodics. antibiotics, bismuth and iron preparations, NSAIDs, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants. Taking and stopping any medications, both by the mother and the baby, must be previously agreed upon with the pediatrician.

Breast milk deficiency

Causes so-called “hunger constipation” in an infant. In this case, all the food consumed is absorbed into the walls of the internal organs and blood, and the intestines simply have nothing to process.

Introduction of complementary foods

More often, the introduction of complementary foods helps to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, but it can also cause difficulties with stool. You should carefully monitor your intestinal reaction to new foods. Also, early pregnancy can contribute to constipation.

Abrupt change in nutrition

This is possible when there is a sudden loss of milk from the mother, replacement of one adapted formula with another, or incorrect transition from one type of feeding to another. Constipation usually disappears after adaptation to the new food.

Psychological constipation

This is by no means a myth, as some people think. A child’s body, finding itself in unusual or uncomfortable conditions (for example, when a baby separates from its mother), responds to stress in exactly this way. Also, the child may be afraid to recover because of the pain that occurs at this moment. In this case, you need to try to return the normal mushy consistency to the baby’s stool by following a diet.

There is another reason for psychological constipation - a child can manipulate adults in this way. If any signs of constipation in a baby cause his parents to panic and the parents begin to constantly feel sorry for, console and fuss around the child, then the baby may deliberately hold back stool. The only way to treat such a situation is to take a calm approach to the problem.

Colds or infectious diseases

An increase in body temperature can cause significant compaction of stool and lead to constipation.

It is extremely important that constipation itself may be one of the signs of serious diseases and pathologies, so it is important not to self-medicate, but to consult a doctor. Such diseases include:

Genetic predisposition.
Anatomical defects of the gastrointestinal tract.
Diabetes.
Disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract.
Rickets.
Diseases of the nervous system.
Myasthenia.
Spinal cord dysfunction.
Liver diseases.
Lactose deficiency.
An allergic reaction to a protein in cow's milk.
Food allergies.
Hypothyroidism.

Diseases that lead to constipation. Fortunately, these diseases are uncommon. These include dolichosigma, Hirschsprung's disease and lactase deficiency.

Dolichosigma is an elongation of the sigmoid colon. Bowel emptying is slowed down due to kinks and excess pressure of the sigmoid colon on itself and the rectum;
Hirschsprung's disease occurs due to disruption of the intestinal innervation. This leads to the fact that some parts of the intestine do not work and are in a spasmodic state;
Lactase deficiency occurs due to the absence or small amount of the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar (lactase). In this case, the baby's constipation will be replaced by diarrhea.

Only a doctor can identify such constipation in a baby, and only a doctor can decide what needs to be done in this situation.

Treatment of constipation

The first task in treating constipation is to determine its cause and eliminate it. To establish normal bowel function in a newborn, you need:

Medical examination.
When breastfeeding, apply more frequently to the breast.
For a child on artificial nutrition, supplementation with special baby water (not boiled) between meals, and the volume of liquid should be equal to the volume of one serving.
For an infant over 6 months old, introduce apples and vegetables into the diet.
For a child after one year, soup is a mandatory dish in the daily diet.

General recommendations for combating constipation also include: correcting the diet of the mother and baby, increasing the amount of fluid consumed, changing the nature of complementary foods, or changing the adapted formula to one that contains more lactobacilli.

Separately, we should dwell on the issue of complementary feeding. Independent experts have long proven that store-bought juices, purees and other “jars for children,” regardless of the manufacturer, are made with the addition of quite harmful substances and preservatives and are the strongest allergens for children. Try to find some time to prepare really healthy complementary foods. From ordinary carrots or apples you will get many times more healthy and fortified puree or juice. The money saved on purchasing the dangerous “Agushi” can be spent on a convenient blender or juicer, which will make it easier to prepare foods for complementary feeding.

Enemas and laxatives should only be used as a last resort. They wash away beneficial microflora from the intestines: potassium, vitamins, protein, microelements; contribute to a decrease in intestinal muscle tone, lead to disruption of the natural bowel cleansing reflex, and interfere with the absorption of nutrients. Before using these emergency measures in a panic, you should try softer and harmless methods, which in most cases give a positive result. These methods include:

Tummy massage

It is aimed at relieving spasms, increasing intestinal tone and activating intestinal peristalsis. It is performed by soft stroking with light pressure on the baby’s belly. Movements must be performed clockwise. You can additionally place an ironed towel or diaper on the baby’s tummy. Just make sure that it is not hot, but warm. Warm baths and the warmth of the mother's body also help a lot: just lightly press the baby's tummy against your own stomach.

Abdominal massage for constipation:

Mechanical stimulation of the intestines

It is performed by irritating the anus. Can be done using a cotton swab generously lubricated with baby cream. The stick is inserted shallowly into the anus and gently turned several times. Usually, a bowel movement occurs within a few minutes.

When carrying out the procedure, there is a risk of scratching the epithelium of the anus with the stick, so you need to act extremely carefully, with light movements, and do not abuse this method.

For similar purposes, a special gas outlet tube is provided. It is also carefully inserted into the rectum, which allows you to activate the process of defecation.

Glycerin suppositories

You can use special rectal suppositories for newborns. They quickly soften stool and help cleanse the intestines. For a newborn, 1/3 of a suppository is enough. It must be carefully cut and, smoothing the sharp ends with your finger, slowly and carefully inserted into the anus.

All difficulties associated with dividing the suppository, calculating the dosage, etc. can be avoided if you use special children's glycerin suppositories Glycelax®. The Glycelax® suppository has a reduced size and a children's dosage of 0.75 g of glycerol, so parents do not need to perform additional manipulations - they just need to remove the suppository from the package and give it to the child. 15-20 minutes after placing the suppository, a soft and natural bowel movement occurs. Glycelax® suppositories can be used in children from three months of age; the suppositories are safe and hypoallergenic.

There is an old and supposedly effective “grandmother’s” method of treating constipation, in which a bar of soap is used instead of a glycerin suppository. You need to know that this is a very dangerous method: soap contains alkali and other harmful substances that can lead to burns of the rectum. Even when using baby soap it is difficult to guarantee that it is made without dangerous components.

If an hour after the administration of the suppository the child still has not emptied his bowels, you should call a doctor. Some suppositories can cause unpleasant sensations: burning, itching, allergic reactions, so suppositories are also considered emergency measures. Be sure to study the anatomy before use.

Enema

An enema is considered an emergency measure for relieving constipation. A syringe (20 - 30 ml) with cooled boiled water or a decoction of medicinal chamomile, injected to a depth of no more than 1.5 cm into the baby’s anus and slowly inject all the liquid. The required liquid temperature is about 37 °C. It is advisable to dissolve a pinch of table salt in the enema water and add a couple of drops of pharmaceutical glycerin. When purchasing a syringe, choose a rubber or silicone tip rather than a plastic one; they are less traumatic. First, the tip of the syringe must be generously lubricated with baby cream or oil. Too warm water should not be used: it will simply be absorbed into the intestinal walls, and the desired result will not be achieved.

A modern analogue of an enema with a milder effect, designed specifically for newborns. It is a micro-enema based on a water-salt solution with the addition of glycerin. The effect of Microlax occurs a quarter of an hour after application. You must first read the instructions for use and do not insert the tip into the rectum beyond the drawn line.

These methods can be used as emergency measures, especially for regular constipation. Frequent use of an enema disrupts the functioning and favorable microflora of the intestinal tract and causes dysbiosis, which will have to be treated with probiotics.

Laxatives

Taking laxatives is only necessary when nothing else helps. Most laxatives are contraindicated for an infant under one year of age. An exception is Duphalac syrup and similar lactulose-based preparations. To induce bowel movement, Duphalac must be given to the baby in a volume of 5 ml. If the baby is fed breast milk, then the product can also be used by a nursing mother.

A six-month-old child can take Forlax. Its great advantage is that it can be used for up to three months.

Before using any remedy, remember that medications can only be prescribed by the attending physician, and emergency measures are allowed to be used only if absolutely necessary: when all methods of treating constipation have proven ineffective.

Small children often have tummy pain. How to help a child? What are the best treatments for constipation for an infant? Do I need to use medications or can I use folk remedies? All these questions are answered by Galina Viktorovna Orlova, a pediatrician at the “Home Doctor”:

Preventive measures

The simplest and most effective treatment method is to prevent the disease. The health of children under one year of age requires constant monitoring and attention. Don’t wait for the first signs of constipation; start preventive measures immediately.

Very useful simple but effective way: before feeding, after eating, carry the baby in a column for several minutes;
Do gymnastics regularly. To do this, place the baby on his back, carefully and smoothly lift his legs bent at the knees and lightly press him to the tummy. Repeat several times, avoiding sudden movements. It is also useful to do the bicycle exercise;
Provide the baby with the necessary amount of liquid. Instead of tea and juices, it is better to drink special bottled baby water. There is no need to boil it. When introducing complementary foods, juices must be diluted with water;
If the baby is more than 4 months old, prune juice is an excellent remedy for constipation. Two teaspoons is enough. After six months you can use prune puree. Both fresh fruits and dried fruits are equally effective. You can add prunes to compotes;
Don't wrap your baby up. Overheating, along with dehydration, is one of the main causes of constipation. This is also relevant for colds and infectious diseases: if the baby has a fever, give him food as often as possible, otherwise constipation after illness cannot be avoided;
Effective drinks for constipation - dried fruit compote with dried apricots and prunes, raisin water. To prepare it, just pour boiling water over a spoonful of pure raisins and leave in a thermos;
Give preference to vegetables with a “laxative effect” and high content coarse fiber, fruits rich in potassium. These are figs, green apples, prunes, dried apricots, beets, carrots, peach, apricot, pumpkin. These same products should be included in the diet of a nursing mother;
Preparations with bifidobacteria and lactobacilli are extremely useful for the intestinal microflora, dairy products, natural yoghurts. They are indicated for both the child and the mother;
Try to breastfeed your baby for as long as possible, the first six months are especially important. If this is not possible, give preference to adapted fermented milk mixtures;
If treatment with antibiotics is necessary, at the same time as taking them, start giving drugs to prevent dysbacteriosis.

There is no need to panic if your baby is constipated. The first step to recovery is identifying and eliminating the causes of the disease. But do not self-medicate and do not use grandmother’s treatment methods without consulting a doctor. Most often, it is enough to improve your diet, drink more fluids and do not forget about massage and gymnastics for the disease to recede. In emergency situations, Duphalac, glycerin suppositories or an enema will help. Pay maximum attention to the treatment of constipation. The formation and normalization of the gastrointestinal tract in the first year of life is the key to the future health of the child.

On the topic of newborn stool:

VIDEO: what to do if you are constipated

Constipation is considered lack of regular bowel movements for several days, as well as irregular bowel movements in the form of very hard stools, accompanied by pain.

As a rule, older children suffer from constipation, and they are observed quite rarely in infants. The time intervals during which spontaneous bowel movements should occur depend on the age of the child.

A breastfed newborn will have bowel movements as many times as he is fed. Children under 3 months of age should have bowel movements at least twice a day. Constipation in a 3-month-old bottle-fed child occurs when there is no independent bowel movement within 24 hours.

One of the most common causes of constipation in breastfed infants is a change in the mother's diet. Therefore, you should not immediately give your baby various medications or give an enema, which will only destroy the beneficial intestinal flora. First, you need to enrich your diet with fiber, which helps remove feces from the body. Drinking plenty of fluids for the mother is also recommended.

Constipation in a 3-month-old child can be treated with boiled water, giving it from a spoon. However, you should not do this forcefully. It is also recommended to give weak decoctions of dried fruits(dried apricots, prunes).

It will also be useful tummy massage clockwise, and flexion and extension of the legs. In some cases, placing the baby on his tummy helps.

In any case, if you notice that the child has difficulty or no bowel movements, then seek help from a doctor, you should not give him medications without a doctor’s prescription.

17 Mar 2012 314

Can a nursing mother eat prunes: recommendations for...

13.04.2017

The frequency of bowel movements in children at three months can vary from several times a day to once every two days. It matters what kind of feeding the child is on - natural or artificial. Artificially produced feces are denser. There may be a characteristic unpleasant odor. Color - from yellow to brownish. In breastfeeding babies, the stool is more liquid, the smell and consistency resembles sour cream, and the color is yellow.

What is constipation

Constipation in children of the first year of life is common. Since each body is individual, the frequency of stool may vary in both adults and children. Chronic bowel retention is characterized by the inability to go to the toilet, straining, pain and crying.

Constipation is classified as organic and functional. Organic ones are associated with gastrointestinal diseases, functional ones arise in the absence of anatomical problems.

Among congenital diseases, Hirschsprung's disease can be distinguished. In this rare disease, a child is born with underdeveloped nerve cells in the intestines. Due to improper functioning of the intestines, constant contraction of nerves and accumulation of feces are observed at the site of the lesion. Most children are not at risk of the disease, since, as mentioned, it is quite rare. Treatment requires surgery.

Don't worry if:

the child is active and cheerful,
eats with gusto
the stomach is soft, painless,
the stool is normal, mushy, without changes in color or odor,
if the child develops normally,
does not blush when straining.

If, in addition to constipation, other symptoms appear, this is a reason to consult a doctor. Constipation is a symptom of problems and infections, and not an independent disease. It is worth paying attention to the child’s behavior and signs of illness - nausea, vomiting, fever, weakness.

Causes of constipation in children of the first year of life

At 3 months, constipation may be an allergic reaction to cow's milk. Other causes of constipation include:

abrupt transition from breastfeeding to formula feeding,
replacing the usual formula with baby food of a different brand,
taking medications,
infectious diseases,
endocrine diseases,
diseases of the central nervous system,
anatomical features.

If a child experiences constipation after introducing supplementary feeding or complementary feeding, it is worth returning to the usual diet.

Constipation in breastfed children

Sometimes normal but infrequent bowel movements are mistaken for constipation in a three-month-old child. According to foreign pediatricians, a 3-month-old baby may not have bowel movements for several days, sometimes a week or longer. This is explained by the fact that mother’s milk is ideal for the baby and is well absorbed by his body. Therefore, the frequency of stool may be minimal. If the milk is completely absorbed, the baby essentially has nothing to excrete from the intestines.

Constipation in a 3-month-old child can occur due to the mother's poor diet. If a woman does not get enough fiber and Omega-3, this also affects the quality of her milk. The child must receive the required amount of nutrients, so the mother’s diet should be varied with vegetables, cereals, bran, and herbs.

Constipation in bottle-fed children

Most often, constipation is not associated with diseases, but indicates a lack of fluid and potassium in the baby’s body. A baby who is fed an adapted formula must be given water. It is best to use filtered or special bottled baby water. Boiled water is bad because it does not contain mineral salts, including potassium. Children should not be given running water from a tap.

Lack of fluid is one of the most common causes of constipation in a 3-month-old baby. When dehydrated, peristalsis decreases, so when the child is hot, it is necessary to supplement his food throughout the day. A sufficient amount of liquid is necessary if the family lives in a room with dry air.

Sometimes the reason may be due to improper dilution of the formula. The instructions on the packs are written for a reason and they must be followed exactly.

A stool disorder in a three-month-old child may appear after the early introduction of complementary foods, even recommended baby food (vegetable and fruit purees). Supplemental feeding is not recommended for children under 4 months of age, since the baby’s digestive enzymes in the intestines are not fully formed. Because of this, new food becomes a difficult test for the baby - juices and purees are not digested, the baby experiences discomfort and anxiety.

First aid for constipation

What to do if your child has problems with bowel movements? It’s not worth giving your child several laxatives at once, because the baby’s body is not a testing ground for experiments.

If a child shows anxiety, if he wants to poop, but cannot poop for a long time, a safe way out of the situation is to administer suppositories with glycerin or sea buckthorn oil.

Microclysters like Microlax provoke rapid bowel movements, but can cause allergic reactions in children of the first year of life. Water enemas can flush out beneficial gut bacteria, so using an enema is a cleansing option of last resort.

Of the laxatives, lactulose syrup is recognized as the safest and most effective in the world medical community. Lactulose is not absorbed by the intestinal walls, but works as an osmotic laxative, that is, it retains water in the intestines, relieving dehydration and, as a result, hardening of stool. Treatment should begin with small doses of the drug, since lactulose stimulates increased gas formation. Increased pain is possible, so you should avoid high doses, even if it is prescribed in the instructions. The syrup begins to act 1-2 days after administration; it is after this period that peristalsis is restored. 66.7% syrup is given twice a day before meals, 2.5 ml per dose (daily dose is no more than 5 ml). The drug is administered gradually and gradually withdrawn. Before the daily dose, it is better to give the child 1 ml of medication for a week and observe the reaction.

To facilitate bowel movements, you can touch the baby's anus with the tip of a thermometer lubricated with mineral oil. Oils can be replaced with purified glycerin by squeezing a little substance onto the anus - there is no need to inject the drug inside, only external irritation is necessary. Also, if the mother wants to avoid burns to the mucous membrane, such folk recipes like inserting a piece into the anus laundry soap must be categorically refused. The arguments of grandmothers and other older relatives that everyone used to be treated with soap and everything was fine must be rejected. Modern medicine offers safe and effective drugs to solve the problem.

Doctors also prescribe other medications to help with constipation: Smecta, Espumisan, Linex, bifidumbacterin. They are usually prescribed for colic and bloating. Glycine is used to normalize metabolism and relieve nervousness, since constipation can also be caused by disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system. For normal stool, Hilak forte is prescribed.

It should be remembered that constant stimulation leads to the fact that the child cannot defecate on his own and needs regular additional help.

Preventing constipation

For prevention, the child must be given fluids. This applies to artificial children. Children on breastfeeding do not need supplemental feeding until 6 months of age.

Daily abdominal massage helps improve intestinal activity. Massage the abdomen clockwise with warm hands, perform exercises to bend and straighten the legs: first press the bent legs to the stomach, then straighten.

After the massage, it is good to place the baby on his stomach. The application of heat has a beneficial effect on the condition of a child of this age. You can apply a warm diaper or place the baby on the mother's stomach.

To prevent constipation after antibiotic treatment, a mixture with a prebiotic can be prescribed.

If the mother is breastfeeding, the nurse's diet should contain dishes with dietary fiber: prunes, raisins, figs, dried apricots, dates, peanuts, brown rice, peaches, dried and fresh apples, apricots, lentils, parsley, lettuce. The most useful cereals are oatmeal and buckwheat.

Parents do not know how to cope with constipation in a baby if the baby is not able to go to the toilet for more than a day. Pediatricians advise not to panic. Holding stool is not always considered constipation. To recognize constipation in a child at 3 months, you need to know the rate of bowel movements at this age.

According to accepted standards, a child under six months old should have bowel movements on average 3-5 times a day. Each baby is individual, and the frequency of bowel movements will depend on the type of food the baby eats and the mother’s diet. One baby can go to the toilet up to 5 times a day, another can have a bowel movement once every 2 days and feel fine.
A bottle-fed baby may poop rarely - once every 3 days. In such a situation, you need to pay attention to the general condition of the baby. If he is active, sleeps well, enjoys life, you can forget about constipation.
Breastfed children walk more often, normally 3-4 times a day. E. O. Komarovsky talks about individual characteristics kids. Stool retention can occur even in children fed breast milk, which indicates its nutritional value. The child receives adequate nutrition and the milk is fully digested. The baby smiles and explores the world as playfully as before.

Symptoms of constipation in a three-month-old baby

Parents should be alert to the following signs indicating constipation:

causeless crying of the baby;
inflated, tight belly;
while trying to go to the toilet, the baby bends his legs, his face turns red from the effort;
appears poor appetite;
increased gas formation;
bad dream.

Symptoms should be considered comprehensively. Constipation in a baby is not manifested only by stool retention.

Pay attention to the consistency of the stool. A 3 month old child has mushy stool. The appearance of blood streaks and hardening of stool are signs of constipation.

If a three-month-old child, due to fecal retention, experiences vomiting, bleeding from the rectum, stool changes color, and the abdomen becomes painful, seek emergency help.

Causes of constipation in infants at 3 months

The main reason why a child is constipated at 3 months is considered to be poor nutrition of the mother or baby. Please note the following factors that lead to constipation in infants at three months of age.

During breastfeeding, a mother consumes a lot of foods that have a strengthening effect (potatoes, persimmons, bananas, rich broths, fatty dishes). At 3 months, a child’s digestive system is not yet fully functional; it is getting used to new conditions, and therefore reacts to the slightest changes in the composition of breast milk.
The transition from lactation to artificial feeding makes adjustments to digestion. The body needs to be given time to get used to new food. Adaptation lasts from 5 to 7 days. Afterwards, the stool becomes regular and of the correct consistency.
An incorrectly selected mixture will cause discomfort, cause increased gas formation, and bloating.
Constant change of mixtures. You should not often experiment with the baby's nutrition. It is worth replacing the mixture only if there is a negative reaction to its use. The child's body reacts sensitively to changes in nutrition. Constant replacement leads to prolonged constipation.
Constipation is often caused by organic disorders. In 90% of cases they are detected in the maternity hospital.
Gastrointestinal diseases. A baby may experience dysbacteriosis. Against this background, stool disturbance occurs.

Why is constipation dangerous at 3 months?

Constipation in a three-month-old child is dangerous due to the development of complications. With severe constipation, unpleasant symptoms appear within the first day. If you do not help your baby in time, serious complications may arise:

poisoning by toxins;
weight loss, dehydration;
injuries to the intestinal mucosa;
hemorrhoids, anal fissures (rarely occur with prolonged constipation).

Pediatricians advise not to experiment with therapy if additional symptoms appear that are not signs of constipation. If they appear, you should urgently seek medical help.

Treatment of constipation in children at 3 months

Doctors take drug therapy for infants seriously. You should take medications only as directed by your pediatrician, so as not to harm the baby. Rectal suppositories, enemas, and laxatives are recommended to be used when other alternative methods do not give a positive result.

Medicines

Among the widely available means to help cope with constipation in infants, pediatricians note glycerin suppositories and laxatives. An alternative to classic enema is the drug Microlax.

Candles

Use glycerin suppositories, they are the safest for infants, are not absorbed into the intestinal walls, and have a mild effect. A special children's form is produced - Glycelax suppositories. The suppository is inserted into the anus 15–20 minutes after breakfast. Babies can use no more than 1 suppository per day. The effect of therapy occurs within 5–20 minutes.

When you don’t have special children’s candles at hand, you can use those for adults. To use suppositories for a three-month-old child, divide the suppository into 3 parts, in one of them, smooth all the sides and the tip with your fingers for easy insertion. Adult suppositories differ from children's dosages; do not be afraid to use them in practice when your baby needs emergency help.

Glycerin suppositories have contraindications:

diarrhea;
bleeding;
anal fissures;
age less than 3 months;
intestinal obstruction;
rectal tumors;
inflammatory processes in the intestines;
irritable bowel syndrome;
individual allergic reaction.

Candles can cause side effects:

spasmodic pain in the intestines and abdomen;
rectal irritation;
itching, burning in the anal passage;
allergies;
with long-term use – lazy bowel syndrome.

Laxatives

E. O. Komarovsky advises how to help a child with constipation. The pediatrician draws the attention of parents to children's syrups and drops containing lactulose. They are gentler on the intestines. Such drugs include:

Prelax.

Lactulose syrups act more slowly than suppositories. The effect may occur within a few days, which is why laxatives are given to children for at least 3 days.

The dosage is increased gradually. It is recommended to give the baby no more than 2 ml of syrup once in the first 2-3 days, then increase the dose to 5 ml per day. This is necessary to avoid side effects.

Contraindications to the use of lactulose syrup are:

allergy to the composition;
galactosemia;
intestinal obstruction;
lactase deficiency;
glucose-galactose malabsorption;
Use with caution in diabetes mellitus.

Infants who take lactulose laxatives may experience:

increased gas formation;
colic;
allergic reaction;
stomach ache.

Enema

This procedure should be used in emergency cases. The procedure has a positive effect when the baby cries due to abdominal pain, sleeps poorly, is capricious, but fails to poop for a long time.

For an enema, prepare a special bulb for newborns, they are sold at the pharmacy. Add chamomile decoction or a few drops of glycerin to the liquid. The administered volume for a 3-month-old child should not exceed 60 ml. The optimal dose is 40–60 ml. Water temperature is 25–27 degrees.

Carry out the procedure like this:

Place the baby on a flat, hard surface (changing table) with his back down, and lay down a diaper.
Bend your baby's legs so that your knees touch your tummy.
Press the bulb a little to release excess air.
Treat the tip with Vaseline.
The tip is inserted into the anal passage with gentle rotating movements to a depth of no more than 2 cm.
Slowly press the bulb to release fluid into the rectum.
After all the liquid has been introduced, the bulb is carefully removed back.
Gently squeeze the child's buttocks for a minute to prevent the fluid from coming out prematurely.
As soon as the baby has gone to the toilet for a long time, wash it with warm water.

The effect occurs within 15–60 minutes. You need to give an enema once a day, when the need arises. Abuse of enemas leads to adverse reactions:

leaching of beneficial intestinal microflora - dysbacteriosis;
development of inflammation in the intestines;
the occurrence of anal fissures;
lazy bowel syndrome.

Microclyster

A convenient, practical alternative to an enema is Microlax. It has a number of advantages:

Safe and high quality composition.
Relief occurs within 5–15 minutes.
The drug works locally, in the rectum, but has a comprehensive effect on the body.
Minimum list of contraindications. You cannot give a microenema if:

individual intolerance to components;
presence of anal fissures;
hypersensitivity.

Minimal side effects:

burning, itching in the rectum;
allergy.

One package of the drug contains 4 tubes of solution for the procedure. Their volume is 5 ml each. For a 3-month-old child this is a large dose; it is recommended to administer half the drug – 2.5 ml. It is worth giving microenemas once, when the baby’s stool retention begins to cause severe discomfort. The product does not have a therapeutic effect. This is an emergency measure that helps eliminate the main symptom – defecation disorder.

Non-drug treatment

If a child has constipation at six months, it is important to begin therapy with massage and gymnastics. They are often prescribed to babies from 3 months to relieve muscle tone. Massage during bowel retention differs from the classic one, which relieves excess tension.

Massage

It is important to understand what to do at home if your baby is constipated. When a child does not go to the toilet for 3 days, the main thing is to stimulate intestinal motility, activate the functioning of the organ, and relax it. Massage helps cope with these problems.

Place your baby on a hard surface to prevent damage to the spine. It is advisable to use a changing board for massage. Place a diaper on it, with the baby's back down.
To Small child don’t be afraid of the procedure, talk to him, recite rhymes, sing songs. You shouldn't massage when your baby is in a bad mood.
The right time for a massage is the morning before breakfast, the evening before or after swimming. If the baby has eaten, the procedure takes place no earlier than 1.5 hours later.
A six-month-old baby should not be massaged with pressing, sharp movements. The ideal option is light stimulation of the tummy.
Do not use oils or other emollients for the first time to better control hand pressure.
Place your palm on the center of the abdomen, with the baby's navel in the middle of the hand. From the top, clockwise, begin rotating movements, as if drawing a circle with a compass. Each time the radius should increase. Do not put pressure on your stomach; movements should be light and smooth. Finish the massage by lightly stroking the baby's back.

It is better to do a massage for the first time under the supervision of a specialist or entrust the full course of procedures to a massage therapist. This will eliminate possible injuries, because the skeleton of a child at 3 months is fragile and susceptible to the slightest impact.

Gymnastics

Complete the massage with a set of exercises aimed at restoring intestinal activity during constipation. With their help, gas formation is normalized, peristalsis of the organ is stimulated, and spasm is relieved.

Do the following set of exercises daily with your baby.

At 3 months, babies like to exercise on a fitball. Use it for gymnastics. Place the baby belly down on the ball and rock it from side to side in a circle. Active ball games allow you to tense your abdominal muscles and stimulate your intestines.
Wrap your feet around your baby's legs. When creating support, help him bend his knees one at a time, as if a child were riding a bicycle. Do this no more than 10 times (on each leg).
Grab your baby's knees. Legs should be bent. Make circular movements, moving your knees away from each other. The exercise resembles a frog step. Repeat 5 times.
Take the baby's feet in your hands, bring your legs together and lift them straight up, gently pull the baby's legs so that they touch the forehead in the knee area. Lower back to starting position. Repeat 6 times.

Daily gymnastics is necessary. This is a fun way to have fun with your baby and relieve constipation at home. In combination with massage, the procedure gives a positive result.

Diet of a nursing mother or change of formula

The diet of a breastfeeding woman has a direct effect on the baby's digestive system. If the mother eats foods that strengthen the stool, the baby will suffer from chronic constipation and suffer from colic.

When following a diet, you should pay attention to the list of recommended products:

carrots, pumpkin, beets, zucchini (boiled, steamed, fresh for salad);
dried apricots and prunes (eat a few dried fruits in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening before bed);
oatmeal, rolled oatmeal, buckwheat porridge (preferably cooked in water);
soups (cook soups daily using vegetable or low-fat broth).

Fresh fermented milk products will be useful. Drink fermented baked milk, kefir, snowball and bifidok at night.

The main task of the mother during the period of stool retention in the baby is to exclude the following products from the menu:

chocolate, coffee, cocoa;
baking;
strong tea;
persimmon, pear;
sweets;

Proper nutrition of the mother during lactation is the key to the baby’s excellent well-being. It normalizes the baby’s digestive system, helping it adapt to new conditions painlessly.

Folk remedies

When a baby cannot go to the toilet for the third day, parents often resort to traditional methods of therapy. Pediatricians prohibit manipulation of a small child. Popular advice recommending mechanical irritation of the intestines with a cotton swab and the introduction of baby soap into the rectum often lead to serious complications and intestinal injuries.

What can parents give their child on their own at home?

Chamomile decoction

The plant has a beneficial effect on digestion and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Allowed from birth.

Ingredients:

chamomile flowers – 1 tbsp. spoon;
boiling water – 1 cup.

Cooking stages.

Pour boiling water over chamomile flowers.
Put the mixture on fire.
Boil for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat, cool, strain.

Cooking time – 20 minutes.

Give the decoction before feeding, 1 teaspoon (no more than 4 times a day).

Dill water

You can cook it yourself. The decoction improves digestion and eliminates increased gas formation.

Ingredients:

dill seeds (greens) – 2 teaspoons;
boiling water – 200 ml.

Cooking stages.

Drop the prepared herb or seeds into boiling water.
Place the container with water and herbs on the fire.
Boil for 5 minutes.
Cool and strain.

Cooking time – 15 minutes. Give your baby 1 teaspoon of dill water before each feeding.

Preventing constipation in a three-month-old baby

To prevent constipation, follow the principles:

spend more time with your child outdoors;
do massage and gymnastics daily;
do not give your baby medicine without the advice of a doctor;
when a mother takes antibiotics, give her child medications that restore and support the intestinal microflora to prevent dysbacteriosis;
If you are bottle-fed, supplement your baby's fluids (up to 50 ml of liquid per day);
follow a diet while breastfeeding;
use breastfeeding for as long as possible;
choose an adapted milk formula rich in prebiotics.

Prevention of constipation also includes regular examination of the child by a pediatrician. Do not refuse the help of a doctor. This will help to recognize the problem in time and prevent its occurrence.

Remember!

Even if parents have coped with constipation with the help of medications, they should not put off going to the doctor. Constipation often occurs again if the cause of its occurrence is not treated and only the symptoms are eliminated.