Most cases can be solved without seeing us.
For infants younger than 4 months, taking cow’s milk products out of a breastfeeding mom’s diet can help. Insert a rectal thermometer into your child’s anus while she is straining to go, and this should help pass the next hard stool. If this doesn’t help, use a children’s suppository from any drug store (cut in half lengthwise for infants 6 months and younger).
If your infant just started solids, pause this process for a week or two until stools return to soft again. Don’t give rice cereal and minimize bananas when you resume.
If stools don’t soften after these changes, and your baby is 4 months or older, start diluted prune juice (2 to 4 ounces daily mixed into any liquid) or pureed baby food prunes or peaches every day to keep the stools softer and moving. Avoid rice cereal and bananas for a couple months.
For babies 9 months and older, and for children, here is a list of more effective remedies:
- Fiber foods – search online
- Magnesium – Vitality Natural Calm brand online – 100 mg daily for toddlers and 200 mg daily for kids 2 and older.
- Aloe Juice – George’s brand is good if you can find it. ¼ cup daily mixed into juice for toddlers, and ½ cup daily in juice for kids 4 and older.
- Benefiber powder – from any drug store. Follow dose on bottle.
- Fruit-Eze – a jelly to eat daily. Find online or in some stores.
- Probiotics – any brand. Follow dose on bottle.
Start 1 or 2 of these daily, or alternate between 3 or 4 of these. Give everyday to keep the stools moving well for 2 to 3 months, then wean off. If problems persist, make an appointment with us.
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