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“Have you switched her to whole milk yet?” my pediatrician inquired.
“No, I wanted to ask a few questions and was waiting for your go-ahead. Is the change immediate, or should we ease into it?”
My pediatrician nodded. “You can switch today. However, a gradual transition might be gentler on her stomach. Some babies handle it well, while others struggle. It’s hard to predict.”
“And what should I keep an eye on while introducing whole milk?”
“Look out for general constipation. You can use prune juice or mix pureed prunes into her meals to help her out.”
I mentally noted to add prune juice to our grocery list, suspecting this might be a challenging transition for our little one.
Just two days after introducing whole milk, our daughter faced a significant bout of constipation.
To all the new moms out there: no one warns you how deeply you’ll fixate on your baby’s bowel movements. You’ll find yourself discussing poop with your partner, pediatricians, and other parents of similarly aged children. You’ll be cleaning, tracking, and even using an app to monitor their output. When your child has a diaper full of hard stools resembling rabbit droppings, you’ll truly sympathize with them because you understand how tough that was to pass. And when they finally have a healthy movement, you’ll celebrate because you know you’ve been vigilant about their diet.
But the challenges don’t end with the poop itself. When they’re constipated, the whining, crying, and fussiness can feel never-ending. Their appetite may be erratic; one moment they’re hungry, and the next, they’re uninterested in food, likely because their bellies feel perpetually full.
As I juggled a wailing baby struggling with constipation, I was also trying to determine the correct amount of prune juice to give her—enough to encourage movement but not so much that it results in a messy mess. Here’s the truth: there’s no perfect formula. It’s all about trial and error, influenced by what she has eaten and what she will eat.
When our daughter was younger, we encountered similar issues with every new food. Transitioning from breastmilk to formula? We dealt with a week of poop troubles. But eventually, she adjusted to the formula. Introducing purees? We quickly learned to steer clear of apples and bananas. Why? Because apples contain pectin that can harden stools, and bananas are starchy and can back up a baby’s system. (See? Parenting involves a lot of talk about all kinds of poop.)
As the year progressed and my daughter navigated her digestive challenges, I discovered several foods that effectively encouraged smoother bowel movements—some were expected, while others surprised me.
Foods That Help with Baby Constipation
- Prunes: This one is a no-brainer. Almost everyone knows that prunes can help when things get backed up. Pureed prunes can be easily mixed into your baby’s meals. Combinations that have worked well include pureed prunes with cantaloupe, pears, or blackberries.
- Sweet Potatoes: High in fiber, sweet potatoes can be easily combined with everyday foods. They make a great side dish when introducing pureed meats like turkey or beef.
- Pears: Pears are also high in fiber and make an excellent first food for babies. You can pair pears with prunes or sneak in some greens by mixing them with broccoli.
- Peas: Peas provide both soluble and insoluble fiber, which is beneficial for digestion. A puree mix of spinach, peas, and pears is a great option to have on hand.
- Pumpkin: Notice a trend? All these helpful foods start with “P.” Pumpkin is another high-fiber food that’s great to have in your pantry. A sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon adds flavor.
- Peaches: Rich in vitamin C, peaches can have a similar effect as prunes. If I didn’t regularly add peach puree to my daughter’s oatmeal, she wouldn’t touch it. Plus, like pears and peas, they make great finger foods when cut into small cubes.
Incorporating at least one of these items into each meal is simple, thanks to the variety of purees available at the store. And remember, always consult your pediatrician and trust your maternal instincts.
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In summary, parenting comes with its fair share of surprises, and bowel movements are a significant aspect of caring for your baby. Keeping an eye on their diet and understanding the foods that can help alleviate constipation can make a world of difference.
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