4 natural and safe laxatives for babies and children

Constipation is common in babies and children, especially in the first months of life, because the digestive system is not yet well developed, and around 4 to 6 months, when new foods begin to be introduced. There are some home remedies that are considered safe and can be used to regulate a child’s intestinal transit, helping to treat constipation, such as plum water or fig and plum syrup.

However, in the case of babies under 4 months of age, home remedies may not be indicated, and the pediatrician recommends measures that help improve the functioning of the baby’s intestine and relieve colic, such as massaging the baby’s tummy, and that Avoid consuming foods that can cause gas. See more tips on what to do to relieve colic in your baby.

Even with the help of these home remedies, if the baby does not gain weight, cries in pain and is unable to have a bowel movement, you should be careful to take him to the pediatrician if the problem persists.

1. Plum water

Place 1 plum in a glass with about 50 ml of water and let it rest overnight. Give ½ tablespoon of water to the baby in the morning and repeat the process once a day, until the intestines start working again.

For babies over 4 months, you can squeeze the plum through a sieve and give 1 teaspoon of the juice a day.

2. Fig and plum syrup

Fig and plum syrup is recommended for children over 3 years of age.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup chopped figs with skin;
• 1/2 cup chopped plums;
• 2 cups of water;
• 1 spoon of molasses

Preparation mode

Place the figs, plums and water in a pan and let it rest for approximately 8 hours. Then, put the pan on the fire, add the molasses and let it boil for a few minutes, until the fruits soften and the excess water evaporates. Remove from heat, blend everything in a blender and store in a glass jar with a lid, which has been sterilized in boiling water for 10 minutes.

You can take 1 spoon of syrup per day, whenever necessary.

3. Oatmeal

Replace rice, wheat or cornstarch porridge with oat porridge, as it is rich in fiber that helps improve intestinal transit in babies and children.

Furthermore, it is important to offer plenty of water between meals, which helps to hydrate the stool and make it easier to pass through the intestine.

4. Orange and prune juice

Squeeze 50 ml of lime orange juice, add 1 black plum and blend in a blender. For children over 1 year old, give the juice once a day, for a maximum of 3 consecutive days. If constipation persists, you should speak to your pediatrician.

For children under 1 year old, 10 to 30 teaspoons of just lime orange juice should be offered.

When to use suppositories and take them to the doctor

You should see your pediatrician if constipation lasts more than 48 hours, as he or she may recommend the use of suppositories and intestinal lavage.

If you want to speak to a doctor, use our tool to find a specialist near you:

In addition, you need to be aware of the presence of wounds in the baby’s anus or blood in bowel movements, as dry feces can cause anal fissures. These fissures make evacuation very painful for the baby, and he automatically retains the feces to avoid the pain. In these cases, you also need to see your pediatrician as soon as possible. Find out more about anal fissure.

See other foods that are good for loosening the baby’s intestines.