It is normal for a baby to undergo constipation for a day or two. Sometimes the bowel movement might not happen unless parents help out baby and give  a relief from constipation. Several home remedies helps infants to come out from constipation.

When constipated babies might show following symptoms: Hard stool, pellets like stool, lack of appetite, crying continuously, hard belly, not regular stool, smelly and hard stool and sometimes streak of blood in stool

1. Exercise: Give baby exercise and movement that stimulate baby’s bowel. Gently move baby’s legs up and down, in circles. Hold baby’s feet and knee and gently push feet forwards belly.
2. Massaging: Put little oil around baby’s belly and massage in circular motion, in clockwise pattern. Give gently stroke below rib cage up to belly button using finger. This helps to release gas.
3. Bath: A warm bath will help too. Warm bath relaxes abdominal muscles and strain on tummy. It relieves some discomfort related to constipation.
4. Water and liquids: Babies does not need any supplemental liquids. However, small amount of water  or fruit juice (occasionally) will help babies that are over 2-4 months old. Feed baby warm water with help of spoon. Without consulting pediatrician do not give fruit juice to baby. If pediatrician recommends then give baby 100 percent pure apple or prune juice to relieve constipation.
5. Rectal temperature: Using clean, lubricated thermometer take baby’s rectal temperature. It might help to pass the stool. Do not use this method often as it can make baby’s constipation problem worse by causing discomfort.
6. Diet: Baby’s bowel movement depends on type of food both mother and baby take. Mother if breastfeeding baby, then must eliminate certain food. If baby is on formula then to understand constipation problem, talk to pediatrician and he or she might recommend different formula.

Give baby – soft boiled broccoli, skinless apple, whole grain bread, peach, plums, pears, boiled carrot pieces – food be soft and contain some digestive fiber that helps baby to release bloating, gas and constipation.

If you see blood in baby’s stool, baby does not stop crying, and appears to have tummy pain and nothing works out and symptoms does not show improvement in a day – consult pediatrician and understand what is causing constipation in baby and follow the instructions.

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