My 5-1/2 month old baby's p**p is hard, what should I do?

Question

He's been on rice cereal for a couple of weeks and I've recently added a second meal at night (veggies). He doesn't p**p every day anymore and lately his p**p is more solid than ever before and he only poops a little at a time because he seems to struggle to get it out. He doesn't seem too fussy or like he is any pain, but I worry that it may get worse. Is this normal?

He is breast fed and does not like drinking from a bottle (I've tried every freaking brand imaginable), so he doesn't drink water. I gave him pedialyte diluted with some water from a dropper today.

Any one else had to deal with this before? What should I do?

Answer 1

Check with his pediatrician to see what he or she would recommend.  This is normal for the stools to change as you add solids to his diet.  Decrease the amount of rice cereal and try giving him some nursery water in a sippy cup.

Answer 2

I had bottle issues also.  Finally, he just settled on the playtex nurser.  It took a long while for this to work itself out.  He just wanted the breast!  

I've always been told that a baby doesn't need water until later on in the first year.  I guess their systems aren't equipped to process it early on. We are just now introducing it to our 8 month old from a cup.. he loves it. It makes a mess, but it's so much fun for him.

But, the p**p... Now that your baby is eating real food he will start producing real p**p.  This scared us, too.  Our little man didn't p**p for almost 9 days one time and it was finally starting to get to him.  By the way, rice cereal, bananas and I believe apples can be constipating so watch those.  Introduce pears, prunes or peas.  This helped for us.  As long as your baby's p**p is just solid and not really hard.. I wouldn't worry.  Just make sure he is getting enough breastmilk to stay hydrated... which means you should also be getting plenty of water.  Good luck.

Answer 3

my son went through the same thing. try apple juice or prune juice or prune baby food. if that doesn't work ask your doctor about miralax. the doctor prescribed that to my son and it has worked very well since. it is over the counter so you can get it at like rite aid or even wal mart. my son is 2 now and i haven't had any problems,  

Answer 4

I would back off on the cereal- cereal they don't need anyways. It is the fruits and veggies that he will get the most benefit out of. I don't know why they say cereal first. They don't need anything, but breastmilk or formula that first year of life. Also make sure you aren't eating things that could constipate him. Up your fruits and veggies too and that should help.  

Answer 5

apple juice is right but not to much or it will pour out.

Answer 6

Like Zachary's mom said, apple juice is good, as is any fruit juice.  Prune juice is the best, but it's sour so mix it with something sweet.  My son liked it mixed with soy milk.

If your baby doesn't like the bottle, try going straight to a cup.  Most babies don't fuss about sippy cups especially if they have juice in them.  Find one that doesn't have the spill-proof guard and hold the cup for him since he's probably too little to figure it out for himself.

Answer 7

If he is constipated try brown sugar water it has always worked for me.Just put 1 tablespoon in 2 oz of water and he will p**p within 6 hours. I never had any luck with Karo. This advice was given to me by my sons ped.

Answer 8

when my daughter had contipation i added alittle kayo syrup to their bottles.  there are some liquid that you can buy in the pharmacy section for contipation. it says on the box for 2 year old and up but my doc told me that i could give it to them at 6 months... but you could try it. i still use them and they are one now..

Answer 9

Try feeding him more veggies and less cereal.  The cereal is usually iron fortified and iron can cause constipation.  

Answer 10

Try apple juice... that always helped my little guy.  If you notice him getting diaper rash, though, you'll want to switch to pear or white grape juice... but apple usually works better.

Answer 11

Back off the cereal and see if that helps, the cereal can cause constipation issues for many babies so you may need to not give that every day and work in more veggies and/or fruits to help his tummy do better.

Answer 12

My baby was completely breastfeed & started eating solids at 5 months too.  when she first started she had a similar problem.  I just added some pureed prunes to her cereal & it helped alot.  pureed green beans also seem to help my daughter.  Anyway, after a week or two she was regular again & we haven't had to use the prunes since.  I guess their digestive system just needs an adjustment period to the new food.  

Answer 13

My daughter had the same problem. Just give your baby water or pear juice. Pear juice is better cause it tastes much better than any other juice. But don't give hime too much about 4 oz a day is good. Make sure you dilute the juice (half and half). The rice cereal is getting him constipated. Sometimes you just gotta make it kinda watery not thick and don't give him cereal every meal time. Also give him prunes and applesauce. Prunes will do the trick. All docs say babies don't have to p**p everyday just as long as he doesn't p**p for days.