Good foods for constipation

Howdy girls, I started DS on solids at 5 months, just vegies and some fruits then at 5.5 months I added some oats and brown rice (not iron fortifed I made it myself). Anyway DS has had some problems at different times passing his poops and I'm not sure if I'm giving him something that isn't that good for him or if there are other things I coudl give him to help. I read in another thread that cooked apple and banana can be constipating both of which I've given a few times. I started giving him a sippy cup about 2 weeks ago and thought that the extra water could really help. I'd say that he'll be drinking about 130mls a day from now on as yesterday and today I've offered it to him throughout the day he LOVES it. So far I've been feeding him sweet pot, pumpkin, carrot, beans, zuchini, avo, pear, peach & apple. Yesterday I gave him beetroot and today mango and I plan to introduce squash, brocoli & cucumber over the next week. Any help and thoughts woudl be appreciated... I also wondered if I should give the oats and rice a rest but then think he might get hungry? Should I have introduced the water sooner? TIA

Oh about a week and a half ago I also started adding 1/2 a tsp of organic dark grape juice to his oats or rice to help move things, I thoguht that was working but then today he had trouble again :dunno:

His diet sounds good hon - beautiful selection of goodies :)

DD has had constipation on and off for over four months so we've experimented with all sorts of things. Bananas definitely can block kids up so I'd hold off on them for a while. Apples should be fine though, they actually help get things moving. Pears are generally really helpful and kiwi fruit is amazing so I'd give that a go.

Maybe it would be a good idea to drop the rice and oats for now. He shouldn't get hungry with all the other options you have, especially if you include starchy vegies at each meal. Have you tried yoghurt yet? The good bacteria in good quality yoghurt (we give DD Mundella or Farmers Union or make our own - yum!) can help to move things along too. DD is actually on probiotics as well at the moment to see if that helps with her 'poo' issues.

Will pop back in if I think of anything else.

With my kids, whenever they were a bit constipated, i always gave them something with apricots in it.. always worked a charm. Otherwise brown sugar and water is a great remedy also.

The food itself sounds ok - maybe try less and more milk?

Poor DS!
If you're worried about a certain food being the cause, can you do an elimination and avoid it for a few days to see if that makes a difference? I just read that apples can be 'binding' so maybe avoid those for a few days. Make sure the banana is really ripe and the rice well cooked.
Keep up the pears! The yoghurt, probiotics and dried apricots are all good ideas. Dried apricots are high in iron too. I make a jam out of them that we all eat, just boil with water until they're softened and puree (I just mash now). Great stirred through yoghurt.
He sounds like he's eating so well, and such a great variety! GL

He is a bit young for this suggestion I think - but DD started having trouble last year when it started getting warmer - my GP told me to use pear juice - so I made up ice blocks of half water/half pear juice and gave them to her as a snack and it worked a charm!! She was 4 then though - I hope you find something that works for your poor little man :)

Grapes work a treat here! Has he been on solids long? Sometimes it takes awhile for their bodies to get used to the solid poo.

Diluted prune juice really helped DD do easier poo-poo's after she started solids and had the same problem.
:)

pears or pear juice

I agree that the pear & prune is great. We had constipation issues from birth and tried all sorts of things with varying success, but since introducing yoghurt (we use jalna) & a sippy cup with water her bowels having been working like a champion. My DD goes at least once a day without fail :)



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Kiwi fruit....don't be alarmed if you start seeing little black seeds in his poo either :)

Thanks everyone! I would have tried a smidge of pear juice but I already had puree blocks in the freezer so I got the grape juice (instead of prune) as it's an organic one and a bit softer on the stomach. I thoguth it was working too but I was only giving him 1/2 a tsp a day so maybe I just need to up that to 1tsp.

Hi JLeigh :) Each food is really only given every few days as I have so many things to choose from. I can't put my finger on anything in particular which is why I thought it may just be used to him getting used to solids (it's really only been 5-6 weeks) hence wondering what foods are good for constipation and perhaps some of the ones I have been giving him might be known for it and I just may have not known.

Kiwi fruit! I actually bought some organic ones at the market this morning and forgot to mention that I was planign to introduce that too and rockmelon. Is rockmelon ok? I know it can be bloating, not a great thing if DS is constipated.

An update anyway, he mustn't be too blocked up as the beetroot from last night has come out today! nice red poo LOL

Yeah, I think you're probably right Cherished, it's just taking time for him to get used to the whole change in poos! Lol for beetroot poo!
One bub I know went about 6 1/2 weeks between poos! The dr wasn't at all worried, just said it was bubs getting used to solids. Even with something from the chemist it was another week I think before anything came out! He's great now.
I also meant to say 'bicycle legs'. I know you do massage, the health nurse said to massage in backwards question marks around the belly button, where the colon/intestines are!

6.5 weeks :o that is ages!!! ds went for 11 days I think it was and there was drama getting it out, that is when we started the grape jucie and I also put about 1/2 a tsp of caster oil on his colon area and rubbed it in. The caster oil breaks it up in there without being harsh so makes it easier to move. Anyway that worked a treat and we had movement within 12 hours. Yep we have the 'bicycle legs' along with forwards and backwards rolls and side to side rolls and they all really soothe him and we even have a song that goes with it " roll this way roll that way roll this way again... roll backwards, roll forwards roll backwards again... do the bicycle do the bicycle do the bicycle again and reverse it and reverse it and reverse it again" hehehe I swear DS must think I have a song for EVERYTHING hahah

How's DS? I love that you have a song for everything - I do too! We have the hair-brushing song, the tooth-cleaning song, the face/hand washing chant and "this is the way we...." (to the tune of Here we go 'round the Mulberry Bush) for pretty much everything else!