Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
Child Has Hard Stool, Cries While Passing Stools. Due To Solid Food Or Change Of Formula Feed?
Hi, My baby is 6 months 2 weeks old . since last week we changed from nanpro1 to nanpro2. and also for the past two weeks we started giving solid foods also. for the past two days he is getting hard stool and some times cries while going poo. is it because of solid foods or else change of formula feed or else because of journey ?? please help us. ?
Mon, 19 Nov 2012
Hi
The cause of hard stool may be due to all three causes.
You have not mentioned what type of solid foods you have introduced.
Please check his diet and ensure that he get more dietary fiber rich foods (green leafy vegetables, whole and shredded wheat, grains, unpeeled cooked vegetables etc) and less low-fiber foods (like banana, milk and dairy products, meat, refined cereals, white bread etc).
Ensure that he drinks sufficient fluid and water (2-3 small glasses). Dehydration is the cause behind constipation in most cases.
Maintain a good bowel habit. Let your child a lot of time in toilet if he is not passing stool. Retained stool get dried and hardened. It is more difficult and painful to pass a hard stool. The child try to retain that, which actually cause more constipation. Thus the vicious cycle goes on.
Check the dilution of the formula. Prepare the formula as recommended. Don't make concentrate formula solution. Some composition of formula may cause constipation in some babies. The formula should be changed in such cases.
Medicines like lactulose, suppository are available to relieve acute cases of constipation. But don't use these on regular basis.
Constipation is very common at this age. Please follow the recommendations as I mentioned. If still the constipation continues, visit your pediatrician and get your child be examined and treated accordingly.
The cause of hard stool may be due to all three causes.
You have not mentioned what type of solid foods you have introduced.
Please check his diet and ensure that he get more dietary fiber rich foods (green leafy vegetables, whole and shredded wheat, grains, unpeeled cooked vegetables etc) and less low-fiber foods (like banana, milk and dairy products, meat, refined cereals, white bread etc).
Ensure that he drinks sufficient fluid and water (2-3 small glasses). Dehydration is the cause behind constipation in most cases.
Maintain a good bowel habit. Let your child a lot of time in toilet if he is not passing stool. Retained stool get dried and hardened. It is more difficult and painful to pass a hard stool. The child try to retain that, which actually cause more constipation. Thus the vicious cycle goes on.
Check the dilution of the formula. Prepare the formula as recommended. Don't make concentrate formula solution. Some composition of formula may cause constipation in some babies. The formula should be changed in such cases.
Medicines like lactulose, suppository are available to relieve acute cases of constipation. But don't use these on regular basis.
Constipation is very common at this age. Please follow the recommendations as I mentioned. If still the constipation continues, visit your pediatrician and get your child be examined and treated accordingly.
I find this answer helpful
hello there,
it may be because of any of these. as babies who are breastfed or age on milk generally pass slightly loose stool, so when there is transition to semi solid or solid diet there is some change in the consistency of stool.
few things you can try to treat this constipation are:
1. try giving fruits like apple in form of jellies or mashed. oranges, or some pulpy fibrous fruits mashed well. avoid banana as it tends to hold up the bowel
2. you can also give freshly prepared fruit juices without added sugar, they also tend to loosen up stool a bit.
3. give food made of whole grain rather than processed food made from maida etc, like avoid white bread and use brown bread.
4. if there is some acute condition like stool is very hard then you can use glycerine suppository to be given through anal opening, to soften the stool.
5. if nothing helps you can consult your pediatrician who can prescribe you some medicines to soften the stool.
medicines would be only temporary reliever in constipation, the mainstay of treatment would be dietary modification only.
hope you benefit from my answer
thanks
amit
it may be because of any of these. as babies who are breastfed or age on milk generally pass slightly loose stool, so when there is transition to semi solid or solid diet there is some change in the consistency of stool.
few things you can try to treat this constipation are:
1. try giving fruits like apple in form of jellies or mashed. oranges, or some pulpy fibrous fruits mashed well. avoid banana as it tends to hold up the bowel
2. you can also give freshly prepared fruit juices without added sugar, they also tend to loosen up stool a bit.
3. give food made of whole grain rather than processed food made from maida etc, like avoid white bread and use brown bread.
4. if there is some acute condition like stool is very hard then you can use glycerine suppository to be given through anal opening, to soften the stool.
5. if nothing helps you can consult your pediatrician who can prescribe you some medicines to soften the stool.
medicines would be only temporary reliever in constipation, the mainstay of treatment would be dietary modification only.
hope you benefit from my answer
thanks
amit
I find this answer helpful
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Recent questions on Breastfeeding
Loading Online Doctors....