Some home remedies, such as banana and papaya baby food or sweet potato and carrot baby food, contain a good amount of fiber and are an excellent natural way to stimulate your baby’s bowel movements, helping to treat constipation. According to the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, these remedies can be used from 6 months or when the baby starts introducing new foods, such as a meal for lunch or dinner, for example.
Until 6 months of age, to relieve constipation, it is best to massage the baby’s belly or give a warm bath to stimulate bowel movements, and avoid offering anything other than breast milk. See how to massage your baby to relieve constipation.
Constipation is more common in babies from the first year of life onwards, and is generally related to eating habits, such as low fiber or water intake and, therefore, it is also very important to give the baby plenty of water, to that your intestine is well hydrated and allows better flow of feces. See how much water your baby needs according to his age.
6 home remedies for constipation in babies
Some home remedy options to help treat constipation in babies are:
1. Banana baby food with papaya
Banana and papaya baby food can be made to combat, but also to prevent, constipation in babies, as it has a natural laxative effect and is rich in fiber that helps in the formation of stool.
Ingredients
- 1 slice of seedless and peeled papaya;
- ⅓ of a small banana.
Preparation mode
On a plate, mash the papaya slice with a fork. Separately, on the same plate, mash the banana with a fork and serve the separate fruits to the baby. It is important to check that no pieces of fruit remain intact.
2. Sweet potato baby food with carrots
Sweet potato and carrot baby food has good amounts of fiber, which helps maintain proper bowel function, helping to relieve constipation in the baby. This baby food can be used by adding a protein, such as chicken, meat or fish, and legumes such as beans, chickpeas or soy, for example.
Furthermore, this baby food is rich in beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin B and vitamin C, which help to strengthen the baby’s immune system, as well as being a great source of energy for the baby’s healthy growth and development.
Ingredients
- 1 small sweet potato;
- ½ carrot.
- Filtered water.
Preparation mode
Wash and peel the sweet potato and carrot, cut into cubes and cook in a pan of water over medium heat for 7 minutes or until very soft. Turn off the heat and drain the vegetables.
On a plate, place 1 tablespoon of cooked carrot and mash with a fork. Add 1 tablespoon of sweet potato and mash with a fork. Wait for it to cool down and serve it separately to the baby.
You can also add 1 tablespoon of protein (chicken, beef or fish) and mash or shred and 1 tablespoon of cooked legumes (beans, chickpeas or soy) and mash with a fork.
3. Papaya porridge with oats
Another good option to help relieve constipation in babies is papaya and oatmeal baby food, as papaya is a natural laxative that stimulates bowel movements, without being too irritating for the baby. Oats are rich in fiber that helps the intestine function better.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of rolled oats, flour or bran;
- 1 slice of papaya;
Preparation mode
Mash the papaya with a fork and add the oats. Mix and offer 2 to 3 tablespoons 3 to 5 times a week, depending on the improvement in the frequency and consistency of the baby’s stools.
4. Avocado baby food with dwarf banana
Avocado baby food with dwarf banana is rich in good fats and fiber that facilitate the passage of feces through the baby’s intestines, and accelerate intestinal transit, helping to alleviate but also prevent constipation in the baby.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of avocado;
- 1/2 very ripe dwarf banana.
Preparation mode
Mix the ingredients, knead well with a fork and offer it to the baby immediately after preparation.
5. Pumpkin and broccoli baby food
Pumpkin baby food with broccoli is another option rich in fiber that helps stimulate the baby’s intestinal transit and relieve constipation.
Furthermore, it is a baby food rich in vitamins A, B5, B9 and calcium, which are important for the healthy development of the baby.
Ingredients
- 1 broccoli flower;
- 1 medium piece of pumpkin.
Preparation mode
Cook the pumpkin, preferably steamed, and mash it on the baby’s plate with a fork, adding the finely chopped steamed broccoli. This salty baby food can be used for your baby’s lunch.
Additional help is given by putting 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil over all of the baby’s lunch food to help soften the stool, making it easier to eliminate.
6. Prune juice
Prune juice can help relieve symptoms of constipation, such as bloating in the belly, pain or discomfort when eliminating feces, and can be used from the 1st year of age. Before 12 months, the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics does not recommend giving any type of juice to the baby.
Ingredients
- 3 dried black plums;
- 1 glass of water.
Preparation mode
Add the dried black plums to a glass of water and heat until it boils. Remove from heat and let rest for 4 hours. Remove the plums and offer the juice to the child. Start with 50 mL per day and increase the amount, if necessary, as advised by your pediatrician.
What can a mother consume to relieve her baby’s constipation?
For babies who are exclusively breastfed or who have already started to introduce food and are breastfeeding, some care is also recommended in the mother’s diet to avoid or help alleviate constipation in the baby.
Therefore, it is important to increase water consumption in order to increase milk production, which should be offered to the baby more frequently or on demand, as it helps to keep the baby’s body hydrated, as well as the feces, avoiding constipation.
In addition, you must have a nutritious, healthy and varied diet, including fresh vegetables, greens and fruits, so that the nutrients necessary for the production of breast milk are provided.
