Babies in infancy often suffer from stomach problems. Almost all babies experience intestinal colic and constipation. Of course, this gives parents a lot of anxiety, because I want to rid my child of torment as soon as possible. What are the reasons for such disorders in infants? How can I help and how to choose a laxative for a newborn? Let's try to figure it out and give answers to these questions.
Causes of constipation in children
If the baby is breastfed, then most often problems with the tummy and the appearance of constipation are associated with the nutrition of the mother. If the child is artificially fed, then you need to look for the cause in complementary foods or in the milk mixture. Hard and dry feces can appear when there is a lack of fluid in the baby’s body, and the reason may be that his digestive system is just beginning to adapt to new, unusual food.
When is a laxative necessary?
Constipation causes a lot of inconvenience to young children: the child constantly cries, presses legs to his stomach and does not want to eat. If you began to notice that the baby is tormented by colic, he screams, is pushing, but cannot poke, or the defecation process causes him unbearable pain, you should immediately contact a specialist. If the doctor determines that your baby has constipation, then a laxative for the newborn is simply necessary.
What is a laxative for children
There are many factors that influence the choice of medicines for babies. Sometimes you can do just adjusting the diet, but it also happens that the child needs help immediately, then you need to see a doctor, he will help you choose the medicines. Consider several cases:
- If the baby is breastfed, in order to avoid constipation, the nursing mother must monitor her diet and follow a certain diet. Fiber-rich foods, such as dried apricots, apricots, prunes, and boiled beets, are perfect for her. But from sweet, flour, rice and strong tea should be abandoned. These foods can cause constipation. It is very important to drink more fluids.
- If the baby is fed artificially, then the mother’s nutrition does not play any role. In this case, you should pay attention to the mixture that is fed to the baby, and try changing it to another, you also need to give the baby more fluid. If this does not help, then it is necessary to use a laxative for the newborn.
- If immediate relief is needed, a remedy for constipation in the form of rectal suppositories is usually prescribed. The safest among them are glycerin suppositories, in a pharmacy they can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription. But often this tool should not be used, since it can be addictive in a child, moreover, candles temporarily eliminate only the phenomenon itself, and not its cause.
- To get rid of constipation, there are special syrups, for example, the drug "Dufalac". But it should be noted that such drugs can have side effects, so treatment with these drugs can only be prescribed by a doctor if he considers it necessary.
Doctors, as a rule, prescribe a laxative for the newborn with caution, because any medication intervention at such a tender age can greatly affect the processes that occur in the child's body. Therefore, the baby's parents should first use a natural laxative: drink plenty of water, special tea with chamomile or thyme, children with four months old can be given prune juice diluted with water, and use an enema for severe constipation. The main thing is to help the child in time and not to self-medicate, so as not to harm his childish, not yet strengthened body.