How to relieve constipation in babies: a parent’s guide

When your baby’s constipated, it can feel worrying to see them in pain or discomfort – especially if you’re a first-time parent. But rest assured that baby constipation is relatively common, and there are several things that you can do to ease the symptoms.

Here we’re looking at what causes constipation in babies, what the symptoms are, and some top tips for how to relieve constipation in babies quickly and gently – including baby massages and foods that can help get things moving. You’ll also find guidance on when it’s best to seek medical advice. 

Many possible things could leave you dealing with a constipated newborn or older baby. Here are some of the most common¹.

If your baby has been poorly or teething, they may have been drinking less fluid, which could leave them a little dehydrated. Dehydration can cause constipation by making your baby’s poo harder and more difficult to pass.

If you’re exclusively breastfeeding, you could try offering your baby more frequent feeds to help them get more fluids.

When it comes to how to help a constipated baby who’s formula-fed, you could try giving them small amounts of cooled, boiled water between their usual feeds². Weaned babies can have small sips of water with meals to help them stay hydrated³.

Changes in your baby’s diet – for example, moving from breastmilk to formula milk, or introducing solid foods for the first time – can upset their digestion at first. It can take some time for their body to get used to the change, and sometimes, this can lead to constipation. 

When making any changes to your baby’s diet - for example, if they’re ready for solid foods - take things gradually. This will give your baby’s body a chance to adjust. You can also use some of the gentle techniques below for how to relieve constipation in babies quickly if your little one needs a little help. 

If you’re thinking about changing your baby’s formula milk, or you’re introducing formula for the first time, always speak to your midwife or healthcare professional first.

Just like adults, babies need fibre to support their normal digestion. Once you start weaning your baby onto solid foods, they may become constipated if they’re not getting enough.

Fibre is found in lots of foods. Fresh, frozen, puréed, and chopped fruits and vegetables can all help pack your baby’s diet with the fibre they need and help prevent constipation.

If you have a constipated newborn or older baby, they may show symptoms such as¹:

• Pooing less than 3 times per week
• Struggling or straining to poo
• Having poos that are bigger than usual, or having dry, pellet-like poos
• Wind or poo that’s smellier than usual
• A firm tummy
• Being less hungry or grumpier than usual

When it comes to poo, what’s considered ‘normal’ can vary a lot between babies, just like it does for adults. Rest assured you’ll soon get used to what’s typical for your baby, and be able to spot the signs that they’re not feeling 100% themselves.

Can breastfed babies get constipated? The simple answer is yes. However, breast milk is a natural laxative, meaning that it’s less common for breastfed babies to become constipated^4,5, but it can still happen from time to time. 

Whilst some breastfed newborns will poo after every feed, as your baby grows, they can go as long as a whole week without having a poo. If your baby’s poo is soft, it’s unlikely that they’re constipated⁴.

Remember that if you’re breastfeeding, your baby won’t need anything other than breastmilk (including water) until they’ve started eating solid foods, when they’re around 6 months old³.

Constipation tends to be more common in formula-fed babies than in those who exclusively breastfeed^4,5. If you’ve introduced formula into your baby’s feeding routine, you may notice a change in their poos as their tummy adapts.

When preparing a formula feed, be sure to follow the instructions on the pack exactly, so you always use the correct number of scoops and the correct amount of water. This is because too little formula milk powder won’t provide the nutrients your baby needs, and too much can cause constipation or make your baby ill⁴.

If your baby is a little bit older and has started their weaning journey, you might find that the change in their diet leads to a change in their toilet habits too. 

It’s important that your baby gets enough fibre in their diet, so you could try giving them more fibre-packed foods like cereals, fruit and vegetables alongside breastfeeding or formula milk to try to move things along². Sips of water with meals can help, too. 

Let’s take a look at some more gentle home remedies for how to relieve constipation in babies.

If you’re wondering how to relieve constipation in babies quickly, rest assured that you’re not alone, and there are a few gentle home remedies you can try when it comes to baby constipation relief.

Remember that all babies are different, and while you should hopefully see an improvement in a couple of days, constipated newborns and babies can sometimes take a little longer to get back on that regular track.

Once they’ve started weaning, there’s a wide variety of tasty foods your baby can eat to both help prevent constipation and ease the symptoms.

Some fruits contain sorbitol, which is a polyhydric alcohol, derived from glucose that acts as a natural laxative and can help ease constipation. Fruits high in sorbitol include⁶:

• Apples
• Apricots
• Grapes and raisins
• Peaches
• Pears
• Plums
• Prunes

Depending on how far along your baby is on their weaning journey, you could purée high-sorbitol fruits or cut them up into small pieces before offering them. Dried fruits can contain 5-10 times more sorbitol⁶, but they’re also often high in sugar, so only offer them in moderation and at mealtimes⁷.

Many vegetables are also high in fibre, and can help ease or prevent constipation in your weaning baby. 

These include⁸:

• Carrots
• Swede
• Peas
• Avocado
• Cooked broccoli and cauliflower 

Vegetables also make tasty purées for babies trying solid foods for the first time. You can offer a variety of puréed veg in your baby’s weaning diet to give them lots of flavours and textures, as well as sources of fibre to try.

If you’re baby-led weaning, offer your baby soft-cooked vegetable sticks to munch on.

Fruits and vegetables aren’t the only foods that can help relieve constipation in babies. Starchy foods like cereals, wholemeal bread, pasta and rice are also great sources of fibre, which is really important for a healthy and balanced weaning diet.

Wholegrain foods (like brown rice and wholemeal bread) are particularly high in fibre. While, in theory, this is great news if you’re wondering how to help a constipated baby, it can also mean they feel full before they’ve got all the essential nutrients they need from their food. Offering some wholegrains is fine, but you should avoid giving your baby only wholegrain starchy foods until after their second birthday⁹.

Fruit, veg, and other fibre-filled foods are great for weaned babies. But how can you help a newborn with constipation? 

When exploring how to help a newborn poop, try these gentle movements and massages to help your baby’s digestion. 

• Gently move your baby’s legs as if they’re riding a bicycle while they’re lying down¹.
• If your baby’s happy lying down, you can give them a tummy massage with the pads of your fingers. Gently stroke their tummy in a clockwise direction, avoiding their rib cage and lightening your pressure over their bladder area¹⁰.
• Encourage plenty of tummy time to help your baby’s system get moving!

Your healthcare professional can give you more advice about how to help your constipated newborn if you need it.

Often, constipated newborns and older babies can be treated at home. But sometimes, you might need to visit a GP for some additional advice and support. 

Contact your GP if your baby^4,5:

• Hasn’t had a poo for 2-3 days
• Seems very distressed
• Isn’t gaining weight
• Has very pale poos
• Has blood in their poo
• Is being sick a lot
• Has a very hard or swollen tummy

Remember, you know your baby best, so trust your instincts. If you’re worried, it’s always best to talk to a healthcare professional for advice about how you can help a newborn with constipation. 

If your baby is still constipated after you’ve tried some simple home remedies, your doctor may prescribe laxatives called Macrogols to soften your baby’s poos and make them easier to pass¹¹.

Always follow your GP or pharmacist’s instructions when giving your baby any medicine, and never give any medication to your baby without first speaking to your healthcare professional.

If your baby is exclusively breastfed, they won’t need any other liquids (including water) until they’re eating solid foods³.

If your baby is under six months old and is formula-feeding, you can offer small sips of cooled boiled water in addition to their usual bottle-feeding routine if they’re experiencing constipation.

Once your baby has started weaning, they can have sips of water at mealtimes. If they’re over six months old, you won’t need to boil the water first³.

It’s never advisable to give a constipated newborn or baby sugar water. In fact, you should avoid adding sugar to your child’s diet in general due to the risk of tooth decay¹².

Instead, you can offer more fluids in the form of:

• Additional feeds for exclusively breastfed babies
• Small amounts of cooled, boiled water between feeds for formula-fed babies
• Sips of water with meals for babies who are weaning

You may have heard that prune juice is an effective way of relieving constipation in babies. This is because of the natural laxative, sorbitol, which is found in prunes⁶. However, healthcare professionals advise against giving your baby fruit juices if they’re under 12 months old³.

If you do choose to give your baby prune juice (or any other fruit juice), always dilute it to one part juice, 10 parts water, and only offer it during mealtimes³.

Your baby can also benefit from the laxative effect of prunes by eating them chopped or puréed as part of their weaning diet.

Laxatives, such as glycerin suppositories, should only be used when prescribed by your doctor. In general, they’re not recommended for babies who haven’t been weaned¹³.