Question
My baby is 2 months old and has been constipated since starting on oral liquid after the 42-day check-up. What should I do? I stopped giving it to her after only 3 days, and her bowel movements have not been normal since then. Sometimes she strains to have a bowel movement, and the stool is greenish. She is breastfed. Should I continue to give her the oral liquid?
Answer
Children’s digestive system is not fully developed, their spleen and stomach function is weak, and gastrointestinal motility is slower, so constipation may be caused by poor gastrointestinal absorption. External use of soap bars can help with bowel movements for babies with constipation. It’s also important to ensure they drink plenty of water, consume probiotics, and drink some juice appropriately. Dietary adjustments can generally treat constipation at its root, and massaging the abdomen can help accelerate intestinal motility.