General Health Information

One
of the surest ways to spot baby constipation is within the stool
itself. Dry or hard stool is a definite indication of constipation
caused by lack of fluid. Also, if the stool size has decreased and a
lot of little “pellet-like” pieces are present when
changing a diaper, baby constipation should be suspected.

Believe
it or not, baby
constipation may be present if your baby has a diaper rash. One
of the well-known causes of constipation is delaying bowel movements.
When a baby has a diaper rash or even a cut on the anus, baby
constipation may result because the child will withhold bowel
movements to avoid the pain. This will actually worsen the
constipation and lead to an even greater blockage.

Finally,
a parent should definitely notice if their infant is not having the
frequency of bowel movements as they used to. In general, baby
constipation will be diagnosed if 4 or more days have gone by without
a movement. The exception to this rule is for babies who have been
breast fed as they can go 7 days between movements and be considered
normal. Still, a parent will know when their child is going longer
than normal between bowel movements and should consider it a possible
sign of baby constipation.