Constipation After Starting Solids: What is Normal?
9/12/2023
Written by Krupa Playforth, MD
Let’s get one thing out of the way: it is absolutely normal for your baby’s stool to change after starting solids. Parents may notice changes in the amount, consistency, odor - even color! There may also be undigested bits of food in the stool. Again, all normal.
But sometimes, babies can also get a little - stopped up - through the transition. Constipation is common, though that doesn’t make it easier as a parent when you see your little one straining or uncomfortable. There’s a good reason why it happens. We’ll explain, plus we have some practical pro-tips to help your baby sail through this transition!
What is constipation?
Many parents mistakenly believe that constipation is defined solely by the frequency of bowel movements (or lack thereof.) The truth is, there’s a wide range of normal when it comes to BM frequency, and it depends on individual factors. Is your baby drinking human milk or formula? How much, and what types of solids are they consuming? For example, exclusively breastfed babies can easily go days or even weeks without a BM, without a problem.
When we think about constipation in infants, what we are looking for is ease of passage of stools. If you see any of the following, your baby may be having an issue:
Straining or discomfort
Pebble-like, hard, or dry stools
Changes from baseline – If your baby is a daily pooper and then suddenly hasn’t had a BM for several days, this may be worth noting and discussing with your doctor.
If you continue to see these signs without improvement, or notice red flags (blood in the stool, continued discomfort or pain, abdominal distention, vomiting) make sure you touch base with your pediatrician.
Why does it happen?
Infant constipation is often a result of the gastrointestinal tract needing to adapt, once they add solid food to their diet. Solid foods contain a variety of harder-to-digest nutrients, like more complex proteins, complex carbohydrates and fiber. An additional factor is the emphasis on iron in early complementary feeding. Iron is an essential mineral for infant needs, but it can be a contributor to constipation.
I think my baby is constipated! What can I do?
It can be very tempting to just stop offering solids when you start to see your baby struggle to poop. Milk is often easier to digest, and while this is one solution, it is probably not the best option because our goal is to continue diverse food exposure within those first few months of complementary feeding.
Instead, here are some strategies:
Increase fluid intake. You can either increase milk (breastmilk or formula) or offer a small amount of water. Infants who are 6-12 months old can have up to 4-8oz of water per day. Remember, infants under 6 mo should not receive any water or juice.
Offer fruit, such as pears and prunes. You can offer purees, or even in juice form at 1 to 2 oz at a time. NOTE: We don’t typically recommend juice for infants, but this is an exception because the sugar in the juice functions as an osmotic laxative and increases water content in the bowel.
Alter the type of food you are offering. “White” foods such as bananas, and simple carbs - bread, rice, pasta - can increase constipation. Add fiber-rich options such as whole grains, or add chia or hemp seeds to the diet.
Promote comfort and relaxation. Abdominal massage or a warm bath can help encourage bowel movement.
Remember, some constipation on and off is not unusual as we start the process! Focus on these strategies to help your baby transition. If you find that the constipation is ongoing, or these interventions are not helpful, it may be time to reach out to your pediatrician.
Ready to learn more about starting solids?
If you found this post helpful, we share more evidence-based best practices for starting solids inside our 101 before one program.
At 101 before one, we believe babies who eat Family Meals from the Start™ will be happy, healthy eaters for life. Starting solids can be intimidating, but we show you how to introduce 101 different foods to your baby before their first birthday, all through simple, easy-to-follow recipes that the whole family can enjoy.