Baby constipation can be stressful for parents, especially when your little one seems uncomfortable, is straining, or has gone longer than usual without pooping. But not every change in poop frequency means something is wrong.
Many babies who seem constipated have functional constipation, which is the most common type of constipation in infants and can happen with diet changes, a growth spurt, or an immature digestive system.1,2 Some straining can also be normal for newborns, especially if the stool is still soft.2
Knowing your baby’s usual bowel movement pattern can help you recognize what is normal for them, what may be constipation, and when it is time to call your pediatrician.
Key Takeaways
- Baby constipation may include hard, pellet-like stools, fewer bowel movements than usual, belly bloating, feeding changes, or crying with hard stool.2,3,4,5
- Straining alone does not always mean constipation, especially if the stool is soft.2
- Constipation can happen after diet changes, formula changes, illness, or starting solids.3,4,8
- Some remedies, like bicycle legs, warm baths, tummy time, and gentle belly massage, may help.
- Always check with your pediatrician before giving water, juice, cereal, suppositories, laxatives, or enemas.
Signs of Baby Constipation
How do you know if your baby is constipated? There are several signs to watch for:2,3,4,5
- A smaller number of bowel movements than normal
- Stools that are hard or shaped like pellets
- Large, difficult-to-pass stools or occasional watery leakage around hard stool
- They’re straining more than usual
- Fussiness or crying when baby is making a bowel movement, followed by hard stool
- Swollen or bloated belly
- Eating less than usual or refusing feeds
- Vomiting
- Blood in the stools (often from an anal fissure)
How Often Should a Newborn Poop?
Each baby develops bowel movement patterns once they consistently eat the same food, formula, or breast milk. So, you will notice any difference in your baby’s pattern. Of course, their pattern can naturally change with age and the types of food introduced into their diet. For example, it is normal for exclusively breast-fed babies to pass gas frequently but only have a bowel movement every four to seven days.5 However, some breastfed babies poop after every feed!
Most formula-fed infants have anywhere from one to four BMs per day. Some infants will have a BM with every feeding, while others may go every one to three days.3,6 Just be aware of your baby’s BM pattern and watch for changes.
Related: 12 Types of Baby Poop and What They Mean
What Can Cause Baby Constipation?
Baby constipation is most common when there is a change in the baby’s diet. This includes changes from breast milk to formula, from one formula to another, and when solid foods are introduced. If you see a difference in your baby’s pooping pattern, or if the stool (poop) is hard and not easy to pass, your baby could be constipated.4
Some other causes of newborn constipation could be:3,4,8
- Not drinking enough fluid
- Low fiber in the diet
- Immature digestive system in newborns
- Weak abdominal muscles in newborns
- After an illness
- A medical disease or anatomical malformation, such as Hirschsprung’s disease
Regardless of the cause of your baby’s constipation, if it doesn’t resolve after two weeks with home remedies, you should contact your provider.7
Related: How To Do Infant Massage (And Why It’s Beneficial)
When To Call the Doctor About Baby Constipation
If you decide to use a home remedy to help with your baby’s constipation, you should always follow your provider’s advice. If the home remedies don’t produce results after two weeks, contact your provider for further instructions. But if you see any of the following signs or symptoms in your baby, call your doctor immediately:1,4
- Blood in the stool, which could indicate an infection in babies
- Black-colored stools, which can mean there is blood in the digestive system
- Large, bloated, and distended belly, along with not wanting to feed, and signs of constipation
- Vomiting develops after symptoms of constipation and belly bloating
Safe Baby Constipation Remedies
If your baby seems uncomfortable and is struggling to poop, start with gentle measures such as bicycle legs, tummy time, warm baths, and belly massage before considering dietary changes.
There are many ways to help your baby poop. One of the easiest ways to relieve baby constipation is to adjust the diet.2,4,5 Remember to experiment with the amounts of added food or liquid items. It is best to change only one thing at a time, and no more than one thing per 24-hour period. You do not want to give your baby diarrhea.
Important: Always check with your pediatrician before giving your baby water, juice, cereal, suppositories, laxatives, or enemas, especially if your baby is very young or has other symptoms.
Here are some simple ways to help your baby’s constipation:2,4,5
- Ask your pediatrician whether a small amount of water is appropriate for your baby’s age and situation. Water is not recommended for young infants unless directed by a healthcare provider because too much can be dangerous.
- Ask your pediatrician whether a small amount of 100% apple, pear, or prune juice is appropriate. If recommended, go slowly and follow your doctor’s instructions.
- Increase fiber in their diet by adding wheat, oatmeal, or barley cereal. Avoid rice cereal, as it might cause constipation, and there are concerns that it contains inorganic arsenic.9 Limiting this is also essential as these increase calories that are not particularly beneficial to growth.
There are also other ways to help with baby constipation that don’t include a diet change to help your baby pass their stool (poop). Certain body positions may help babies pass stool more comfortably by reducing pressure and encouraging movement through the bowels. For example, you could try body positions to help the newborn poop, the belly press trick, and rectal/anal stimulation:4,5
- Give the baby a warm bath: It can help relax them and make it easier to pass the stool.
- Exercise the baby’s legs as if they are pedaling a bicycle: This can help stimulate the bowels.
- Position or push the baby’s knees up to the chest: This puts the body in a squatting position (even while lying down), which helps release stool from the anus.
- Gently massage or press on the belly: Start at the lower right corner of the abdomen. Move upward in a straight line, then across the belly at the belly button level toward the left side and down to the left corner.
- Use a rectal thermometer to stimulate the anus: Put the thermometer in the anus as if you were taking their temperature. You can also do this with a cotton swab by adding some Vaseline to the swab and inserting it into the anus — only insert the tip of the swab. Do not use rectal stimulation unless your pediatrician recommends it. If they do, follow their instructions carefully.
You must contact your provider if none of the above home remedies relieve your baby’s constipation. They may suggest using a baby glycerin suppository or an enema.
Related: When Can Babies Have Water?
Ways To Help Reduce the Risk of Baby Constipation
Because babies’ digestive systems are still developing, constipation can happen from time to time. Rather than trying to prevent it completely, focus on healthy habits that may help reduce the risk.
One way to help reduce the risk of baby constipation is to follow your provider’s feeding recommendations and pay attention to changes in your baby’s bowel habits. Here is a list of some general guidelines you can follow to try and help prevent baby constipation:7
- Ensure plenty of fluid intake: Your baby should be fed the appropriate number of times per day for their age. Your provider can give you this information.
- Use proper amounts of fiber in the diet: Different baby foods contain different amounts of fiber. Pears, peaches, plums, and prunes (or any of their juices) contain high fiber.
- Frequent monitoring of stools: It’s easy to monitor your baby’s stools since you and your family are the ones who change diapers most often. If there are fewer dirty diapers than usual or the stool seems hard and pellet-like, that’s the time to help your baby with constipation.
- Regular exercise and tummy: Exercise for babies includes tummy time. This is where you lay them on their belly for a small amount of time, a few times a day, moving their legs in a circular motion as if peddling a bike. Do this while playing with them or during a diaper change, and some of the swings and bouncy seats give your baby a chance to exercise.
Related: Benefits of Tummy Time for Newborns and Babies
Helpful Tips To Help Your Baby Poop
As a pediatric registered nurse, I have heard many parents over the years mention the fastest or most effective way to help their baby poop. Here are some of the “winners” of the “I got my baby to poop” category:2,4,5
- If your newborn is passing gas but not pooping, they will be pooping soon. The gas indicates the intestines are working and moving the stool along. Be patient.
- The general rule for fruit juice is to give a baby 1 oz for every month of life. So, a 2-month-old can have 2 oz of fruit juice per day.
- If your pediatrician recommends rectal stimulation, follow their instructions carefully. This technique should not be used routinely without medical guidance.
- Make sure the baby gets regular exercise and tummy time.
- Never give a baby a stool softener, laxatives, or an enema without contacting your provider.
Baby constipation can be frustrating, but learning your baby’s normal poop pattern can help you notice changes sooner. Many babies respond to simple comfort measures, like movement, tummy time, warm baths, or gentle belly massage.
Because babies are still developing and constipation can sometimes signal a medical issue, always reach out to your pediatrician if symptoms persist, your baby seems very uncomfortable, or you notice warning signs like vomiting, blood in the stool, feeding refusal, or a swollen belly.
