Constipation in infants is a health problem in infants that mothers should pay special attention to and observe because it is different from general symptoms that infants will display behaviors to send clear signals. Importantly, parents should learn the correct and appropriate care methods to help their children recover from constipation and return to normal bowel movements.

Generally, newborns up to 3 months old may have about 2-3 bowel movements per day or 5-40 times per week. At 3-6 months old, they will have 2-4 bowel movements per day. Babies 6 months and older may have about 1-2 bowel movements per day or 5-28 times per week. โปรโมชั่นพิเศษจาก UFABET สมัครตอนนี้ รับโบนัสทันที However, babies may not have bowel movements every day. The fact that babies do not have bowel movements does not always indicate constipation. If you suspect that your baby is constipated , you should observe other symptoms along with the characteristics of the stool, whether it is hard or contains blood.

What are the symptoms of constipation in infants?

In general, each baby has a different frequency of bowel movements, depending on whether the baby drinks breast milk  or formula milk, has learned to eat food, and what food they have eaten. Parents should observe for symptoms or abnormalities in bowel movements. Symptoms that may indicate that the baby is constipated are as follows:

1. Infrequent bowel movements. The  frequency of a baby’s daily bowel movements is variable, especially when they are first starting to eat new foods. However, if you notice that your baby has not had a bowel movement for more than 2-3 days in a row, it may be a sign of constipation.

2. Need to strain to pass stool.  Parents should observe whether the child needs to strain more than usual to pass stool or if the child feels irritable and cries during a bowel movement. If these symptoms occur, the child may be constipated.

3. Blood in the stool.  Constipated babies may have blood in their stool because the rectal wall tears from the straining to pass stool.

4. Not eating.  Babies will not eat and often feel full quickly due to discomfort and stomach discomfort from not eliminating waste.

5. Hard abdomen. The baby’s abdomen will be tight, firm or hard, which is a symptom of flatulence that occurs with constipation.

What causes constipation in infants?

Constipation in infants can be caused by many reasons. It can be divided into 2 age groups as follows:

Causes of constipation in infants under 6 months

Infants younger than 6 months may be at risk of becoming constipated due to the following factors:

• Health Problems
  If a baby less than 1 month old is constipated, he or she should be closely monitored by a pediatrician as it could be a symptom of Hirschsprung ‘s Disease (HD), a condition that affects about 1 in 5,000 births and may require surgical treatment.
• Breast milk
  : Most babies who drink breast milk do not have problems with constipation because breast milk contains good bacteria, fats and proteins that help prevent hardening of the stool, making it easier to pass stool. However, babies may not be able to pass stool because they are allergic to proteins in breast milk or certain foods that the mother eats and pass through the breast milk to the baby.
• Premature birth: Premature babies
  who are constipated have worse outcomes than normal babies because their digestive systems are not fully developed, which means that food moves slowly through the digestive tract and is not digested completely, resulting in dry, hard stools.

Causes of constipation in infants 6 months and older

When a baby is older than 6 months, their physical condition and diet may change or they may develop health problems that cause constipation.

• Formula milk:
  Babies who drink only formula milk are at high risk of becoming constipated because formula milk contains ingredients that can make the digestive system work harder, resulting in loose stools. In addition, if the baby is allergic to milk proteins, they may also become constipated.
• Foods:
  Babies may become constipated after switching from breast milk to other foods because their bodies are not getting the same amount of fluids. Also, some foods are low in fiber, making them more likely to become constipated.
• Dehydration:
  In some cases, if a baby is dehydrated or does not get enough water, the body will absorb water from the food they eat, as well as water from waste products in the body, resulting in dry, hard stools that are difficult to pass.
• Constipation
  in infants can be caused by a number of health problems, including hypothyroidism, botulism, food allergies, and metabolic diseases. Other illnesses can also cause a child to eat or drink less, which can disrupt the body’s normal functions and lead to constipation. In addition, the use of narcotic painkillers or high doses of iron can also cause constipation.