This is an automatically translated article.
Constipation in a 6-month-old baby is a condition in which a child has difficulty or does not pass stool as often as usual. Some babies have a bowel movement several times a day, others only have a bowel movement every 1 or 2 days. However, it is important that stools are soft and that they pass easily through the anus.
1. What causes a 6-month-old baby to be constipated?
Not enough water in the body and a low-fiber diet are the causes of constipation in 6-month-old babies. Children need to drink enough water and when increasing the amount of fiber in the diet, it is important to increase the amount of water to help process the additional fiber, preventing constipation in children.
Reasons why babies under 6 months of age are constipated include:
Improper formula preparation: Always make sure to add water first, then formula powder to keep babies hydrated and ensure formula not condensed. Milk intolerance or allergy: Certain proteins in formula can cause constipation if your baby doesn't tolerate them well. While rare, breastfed babies can become constipated if they are allergic to certain foods their mother is eating. Solid foods before 4 months: Adding cereal or other solid foods before your baby is 4 months old can also cause constipation and other problems.
Trẻ 6 tháng tuổi bị táo bón là tình trạng trẻ khó hoặc không đại tiện thường xuyên như bình thường
2. What are the signs that a 6-month-old child is constipated?
When a child is constipated, there will be the following signs:
Dry, hard stools with pain when passing Blood streaks along the outside of the stool Abdominal pain with hard stools Stomach bloating or gas Pellet-sized stools Children straining or groaning during defecation Standing on tiptoes and swinging back and forth Squeezing gluteal muscles Stool or urine in underwear Although constipation is more common in toddlers than infants, most cases are not severe. important and usually lasts for a short period of time. While most cases aren't dangerous, it's important not to ignore symptoms or leave them untreated as it can lead to more serious health problems (such as anal fissures and rectal prolapse). colon).
3. What should a 6-month-old child with constipation do?
"What to do with 6-month-old children with constipation" is a question asked by parents who have children with this condition. To overcome constipation in children, parents need to:
Give your baby a warm bath to relax the bowels. Gently massage the baby's abdomen in a clockwise direction. Make a gentle but firm circular motion from the navel outward. Lay the child on his back and gently move his or her legs back and forth in a 'bicycle' motion. Do not give laxatives to your child unless your doctor tells you to. Make sure that your baby gets enough fluids every day. Infants 0 to 6 months should drink 700 ml of fluid per day, either from breast milk or formula.
Nhẹ nhàng xoa bóp vùng bụng bé theo chiều kim đồng hồ giúp cải thiện trẻ 6 tháng tuổi bị táo bón
4. What should a 6-month-old child with constipation eat?
When a 6-month-old child is constipated, parents should change their nutrition to be more suitable. Specifically:
Make your child drink enough water Keeping your child hydrated will help prevent and relieve constipation. Limit beverages such as juice and do not give juice to children under 1 year of age. In addition to fluids, fresh fruits and vegetables can also contribute to staying hydrated.
Increase the amount of fiber in your child's diet The recommended fiber intake for toddlers (1-3 years old) is about 19 grams per day. For babies 6 months and older, simply introduce vegetables and fruits in textures that your baby can hold.
Foods that are high in fiber include apples and pears, berries, prunes, sweet potatoes, peas, broccoli, beans, oatmeal, and whole grain bread or pasta.
Half a cup of cooked beans has about 6-9 grams of fiber, 1 small peeled apple has about 3 grams of fiber and half a cup of broccoli or green vegetables has about 3 grams.
In particular, avoid giving your baby foods that don't have any fiber, including cheese, chips, ice cream, white bread, refined grains, and many processed foods. Try swapping low-fiber foods for high-fiber ones.
Using probiotics or healthy gut bacteria can also be helpful in relieving constipation. Try adding yogurt or other probiotic foods to your child's daily diet.
Breast milk contains both probiotics and prebiotics, which have been shown to benefit gut health at all ages. Research on formulas with prebiotics shows that they can lead to better stool consistency and frequency in infants. So if your baby is constipated and all other dietary changes don't help, choosing a formula with prebiotics can be beneficial.
Besides changing the diet, living habits and exercise, the baby needs to add the necessary micronutrients: Zinc, selenium, chromium, Vitamins B1 and B6, Ginger, acerola fruit extract (vitamins). C),... to improve taste, eat well, reach the correct height and weight, and exceed standards, have a good immune system, enhance resistance to less sickness and less digestive problems.
The improvement of symptoms can take place for a long time, so it is recommended that parents be calm and persistent when supplementing with nutrients for children, even through eating or functional foods. In particular, the use of functional foods should choose those of natural origin that are easily absorbed, do not allow simultaneous use of many types or continuously change the types of functional foods.
For more nutritional knowledge and child care for each age, parents should regularly visit the website vimec.com and make an appointment with the leading doctors, pediatric and nutrition experts of the National General Hospital. Vinmec when needing advice on children's health.
