Poo Help Please - 7 month old

My 7 months old poo habits have changed in the last few weeks and he seems to be really struggling to push poo out (sorry TMI). He has gone from having 2-3 soft semi liquidy poo's a day to pushing out solid pellets (they are softish - eg I can squeeze them in the nappy and they are like playdoh consistency)- anywhere from the size of a 5-20cent piece. He has been on solids for 2 months and his diet hasn't changed in the last few weeks other than the fact that I'm no longer puree'ing everything so much - we are feeding him the same but with soft lumps - eg mashed with a fork. To paint the picture of his diet - He still has 4 bottles a day/night so drinks about 600-700mls milk per day. A usual diet is fruit for breakfast with farex (eg peaches), yoghurt for lunch, sheppard pie or chicken casserole for dinner followed by fruit - eg mango, apples etc (all homemade). He drinks water with his meals and in between also.

The only thing thats changed is that he has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia and has been in a hip brace for almost 2 weeks so his leg movement is restricted (he can only move his lower legs) so perhaps the reduced mobility is affecting him? (eg I cant do the bicycle legs to get things moving IYKWIM). He is REALLY straining to push it out, and then only poo's out a small nugget maybe 3 times a day.

I guess at some point poo's get more solid - is this normal?

Today he seems to be in a bit of pain - so have given him the brown sugar/water remedy and have some braur's stomach relief - but any advice would be most helpful as I hate to see him in discomfort

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The only thing thats changed is that he has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia and has been in a hip brace for almost 2 weeks so his leg movement is restricted (he can only move his lower legs) so perhaps the reduced mobility is affecting him?

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I reckon this is probably the main reason for the change. Maybe some pruny type fruits to help get him moving again?

His diet sounds pretty good and he seems to be drinking enough. The only food that you listed which can contribute to constipation is farex. It might be an idea to leave that out and just give fruit instead, or perhaps introduce some wholemeal toast or something.

You are doing a fantastic job hun - all the important early foods such as meat, fruit and veges seem to be well covered. Well done!

BTW, it is normal for the poo to become a little harder as they increase their solids, but the pellets you describe do sound like constipation.

I agree with the PP. The limited mobility is probably the cause. We are always told a bit of exercise helps get the bowels moving so if he hasn't been able to move around as usual, then his bowels wouldn't be moving as easily as usual either. Definatley add more high fibre foods to his diet while he is in the brace.

Thanks Ladies :) Appreciate the advice, Thanks

He used to be pretty active with his legs - lots of kicking, wriggling, rolling etc, so the sudden (and extreme) change with the brace certainly cant be helping :( DOH (just another reason to hate the bloody thing)

I might skip the farex for now and mix a bit of prune juice in his water and see if that 'loosens' him up a bit - cheers for the heads up

Naomi

We have softer poo - yaaaah

good news!

Great stuff hun! Well done.