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My Baby Is 7.5 Months Old. I Started Solids After
Question: My baby is 7.5 months old. I started solids after completion of 6 months. I started with fruits and veggie purees along with little lentils. I have recently introduced Ragi and homemade cerelac (includes rice, ragi, 3 types of lentils, Cumin, carom seeds, coriander seeds). Since introduction of these new foods, he has been having constipation. He tries very hard to pass motion and sometimes I can see tears in his eyes due to the force he has to exert. Lately his poop has become more pellet like which has got me more concerned. He does not drink much of water which is probably making things worse. Please suggest how can I get him to drink water? Do sippy cups help? I have also tried natural remedies, giving him banana, papayya, black raisin water and that has also not helped much. Do I need to give him medicine to relieve his problem? Is it true that foods like Ragi/Apple/Pomegranate can cause constipation? Please help!
Brief Answer:
Fibre content of diet needs to be increased
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for using the Ask a Doctor service.
I have gone very carefully through your query. Incidentally, constipation in children has become a very frequently encountered problem these days. The primary reason for the same is lack of adequate play and/or the lack of adequate amounts of fiber containing foods in diet. Foods like Ragi/Apple/Pomegranate are in fact beneficial in PREVENTING constipation and therefore it is definitely not true that they cause constipation.
Going through the following link should help:
http://patient.info/health/constipation-in-children-leaflet
You need to give a fibre rich diet. Try to make use of these ingredients when you prepare a meal for him.
Fiber rich food items include:
* Apples, pears, parsnip, berries, raspberries, kumquats, guavas, squash, oranges, passion fuit, avocado, blackberries, pomegranate, currants, persimmons, kiwi fruits, figs, bananas, blueberries, cherries, apricots, strawberries, tangerines, papaya, mangoes, pineapple, plums, litchi, grapes, watermelon
* Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, brussels sprout, carrots, leafy vegetables and spinach, amaranth, artichokes, green peas, collard greens, XXXXXXX sweet potato, okra, fennel, eggplant/brinjal, sweetcorn, beets, turnip, asparagus, onions
* Legumes, beans, lentils, chickpeas, celery, soybean, navy beans, cranberry beans, french beans
* Whole grains, quinoa, brown rice, millets and oats, squash and pumpkin seeds, seasame seeds, dried coconut, almonds,
* Mushrooms
Unfortunately there is no shortcut to making a child drink water. You need to make sure that he drinks plenty of water and that might not be easy. Sippy cups can help. You also need to ensure that he is made to sit for passing stool at a regular time every day (irrespective of whether he feels an urge to pass). This will demote stool holding habits and would promote regular bowel habits.
As of now I do not think that medicines are needed. If you still feel the need, feel free to give lactulose syrup.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Fibre content of diet needs to be increased
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for using the Ask a Doctor service.
I have gone very carefully through your query. Incidentally, constipation in children has become a very frequently encountered problem these days. The primary reason for the same is lack of adequate play and/or the lack of adequate amounts of fiber containing foods in diet. Foods like Ragi/Apple/Pomegranate are in fact beneficial in PREVENTING constipation and therefore it is definitely not true that they cause constipation.
Going through the following link should help:
http://patient.info/health/constipation-in-children-leaflet
You need to give a fibre rich diet. Try to make use of these ingredients when you prepare a meal for him.
Fiber rich food items include:
* Apples, pears, parsnip, berries, raspberries, kumquats, guavas, squash, oranges, passion fuit, avocado, blackberries, pomegranate, currants, persimmons, kiwi fruits, figs, bananas, blueberries, cherries, apricots, strawberries, tangerines, papaya, mangoes, pineapple, plums, litchi, grapes, watermelon
* Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, brussels sprout, carrots, leafy vegetables and spinach, amaranth, artichokes, green peas, collard greens, XXXXXXX sweet potato, okra, fennel, eggplant/brinjal, sweetcorn, beets, turnip, asparagus, onions
* Legumes, beans, lentils, chickpeas, celery, soybean, navy beans, cranberry beans, french beans
* Whole grains, quinoa, brown rice, millets and oats, squash and pumpkin seeds, seasame seeds, dried coconut, almonds,
* Mushrooms
Unfortunately there is no shortcut to making a child drink water. You need to make sure that he drinks plenty of water and that might not be easy. Sippy cups can help. You also need to ensure that he is made to sit for passing stool at a regular time every day (irrespective of whether he feels an urge to pass). This will demote stool holding habits and would promote regular bowel habits.
As of now I do not think that medicines are needed. If you still feel the need, feel free to give lactulose syrup.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Can you also please suggest the dosage for Lactulose syrup? How much quantity is to be given and in what timeframe, for how many days? Thanks! Appreciate your response.
Brief Answer:
2.5 ml once daily
Detailed Answer:
You can give 2.5 ml once daily at night for the duration you want ease from hard stools. Use it intermittently if the child has constipation. In the meantime, eventually include the fiber foods in diet.
Regards
2.5 ml once daily
Detailed Answer:
You can give 2.5 ml once daily at night for the duration you want ease from hard stools. Use it intermittently if the child has constipation. In the meantime, eventually include the fiber foods in diet.
Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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