Related topics: •  Campylobacteriosis •  Diarrhea •  Digestive Disorders Center

When it comes to a baby's bowel movements, there's no "normal" number or schedule. Your baby may pass a stool after every feeding, or she may wait a day or more between bowel movements. Her individual pattern depends on what she eats and drinks, how active she is, and how quickly she digests and then gets rid of waste. That said, you should look for these clues that your baby may be constipated:

•Less frequent bowel movements, particularly if she hasn't had one in three or more days and is in obvious discomfort when she has one.

•Dry, hard stools that are uncomfortable to pass.

That depends on how old she is and what she eats or drinks.

Exclusively breastfed babies

Babies who drink only breast milk are rarely constipated. Breast milk has the perfect balance of fat and protein, so it produces stools that are almost always soft -- even if your baby hasn't had one for several days. If your baby does pass hard, painful stools you should consult your pediatrician. It's possible that she has an underlying medical condition. If she does, she's likely to have other symptoms in addition to constipation. For example, if your baby is vomiting greenish yellow material or has a swollen or distended belly, she could have a blocked intestine. If your baby is a newborn and she hasn't passed her meconium within 48 hours of birth, she could be missing the nerves necessary for bowel movements. This rare condition is called Hirschsprung disease.

Formula-fed babies

If your baby is passing hard, infrequent stools and is uncomfortable when she does pass one, the problem could be her formula. Consider trying a new brand. Your pediatrician can recommend a better option. Many parents mistakenly believe that low-iron formulas cause constipation, but research shows that iron content has no bearing on constipation. Find out more by reading our article about choosing a formula that's right for your baby.

Babies transitioning to solids

Mild constipation is common in babies who are stepping up to solid food. That's because rice cereal -- usually the first choice during this transition period -- is quite low in fiber. Switching to barley or oat cereal, or adding pureed fruits or vegetables to regular cereal, can help.

Another constipation culprit is dehydration. If your baby isn't getting enough fluid, her system will respond by absorbing every ounce of liquid from whatever she eats or drinks ¿ and from the waste in her bowels, as well. The result: Hard, dry bowel movements that are difficult to pass. If your baby is constipated and wets fewer than five to six diapers a day, boost her fluid intake by giving her 1 to 2 ounces of prune juice diluted with the same amount of water. (For babies under 3 months make it 1/2 an ounce of juice diluted.)

Lack of activity can also leave your baby prone to constipation. If she's a crawler, encourage her to do a few laps to keep the blood flowing to all her organs. If she's not crawling yet, try pumping her legs as described below.

Here are 10 things you can try at home to ease your baby's bowel movements:

•Bicycle your baby's legs. While she's lying on her back, gently move her legs in a forward, circular motion as if she were pedaling.

•Massage your baby's belly. Measure three finger widths below her navel and apply gentle but firm pressure there with your fingertips. Press until you feel a firmness or mass. Maintain gentle but constant pressure for about three minutes.

•If you feed your baby formula, ask your pediatrician about switching to a new brand.

•If your baby is 6 months old or older and has made the transition to solids, cut down on constipating foods such as rice and bananas. Another option: Mix her cereal with a little bit of apple or prune juice or a few tablespoons of pureed prunes to help loosen her bowel movements.

•For an older baby (7 to 8 months or older) who regularly eats solid food, ask your pediatrician about boosting her fiber intake by adding a teaspoon of bran to her cereal.

•Increase the amount of fluid your baby drinks to help keep her stools soft.

•Talk to your pediatrician about using an over-the-counter stool softener to make bowel movements more comfortable.

•If your pediatrician says it's okay, you could also use a glycerin suppository for a baby who's severely constipated. The suppository will stimulate the rectum and help her pass a stool. While using a suppository occasionally is fine, don't do it on a regular basis as your baby could wind up relying on it to have a bowel movement.

•Inserting a lubricated thermometer into your baby's rectum may bring about the same results. However, some pediatricians discourage parents from using the thermometer technique since your baby could come to need this stimulation to poop. Be prepared for an explosive bowel movement if you try this method.

•If your baby is passing such hard, dry stools that she tears the delicate skin near the opening of her anus (you may see these tears, known as anal fissures, or a little blood) apply aloe vera lotion to the irritated skin to ease the pain.

Reviewed by David Geller, M.D., a pediatrician in private practice in Bedford, Massachusetts, and a member of the BabyCenter medical advisory board.

First published June 1, 1997
Last updated January 1, 2001
Copyright © 1998 BabyCenter, Inc. All rights reserved.

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