Essentially speaking, infant constipation is basically the same as adult consideration, in that the infant will experience difficulty in passing stools. Contrary to what some may believe, infant constipation is relatively common, particularly between those who have just been weaned off breast milk, and also between those who are just starting to eat different foods from the table.

As you may well already know, infant stools differ in appearance depending on her child's age. Babies which are being breast fed tend to have soft, yellow to orange stools, often with white flecks visible. Babies which are bottle fed on the other hand tend to have greenish gray stools with a paste like texture. The stools of bottle fed babies are also often brown or yellow in color.

Babies which are still on the breast will for the most part have a bowel movement either once each day or sometimes only once every two days. Those who are on solid foods will pass formed stools, although they will of course still have a paste like texture in that much of the foods will be undigested. The frequency and color will also depend largely on what type of foods have been eaten and how often they have been eaten. Parents will also notice that when their baby begins eating solids, the number of bowel movements decreases.

One of the most noticeable characteristics of infant constipation is that the stools will often be hard and dry, and they often resemble small pebbles. Because of the discomfort experienced when passing such stools, infants were often begin crying, and in severe cases, there may also be some bleeding. As such, parents should be vigilant with regards to the amount of food their baby is eating, in that if they suddenly begin eating less than they were before, it could be an indication that the child has infant constipation.

There are several factors which can trigger infant constipation although the most common reasons would include:

ü Insufficient fluids

ü Insufficient fiber

ü Introduction of new foods

ü Weaning off breast milk and starting on formula

ü Medications

As a general rule, you should check your baby's weight regularly, as a sudden drop in weight could be an indication that there's a problem. Additionally, if your baby is receiving enough fluids and yet they are using less than five diapers per day, there may also be a chance that they are suffering from infant constipation.

You also need to bear in mind that babies who are on formula tend to become constipated more frequently than breast fed babies. Also, there are several different types of formula which are known to cause constipation. These would include any formula containing casein or any anti-regurgitation ingredients. Lactose-free formulas are also known to cause constipation in infants.

Additionally, there are several different medications on the market, such as antibiotics, pain killers, and iron supplements, all of which are known to cause infant constipation.

Contrary to what you may believe, if your infant doesn't have a daily bowel movement, it doesn't necessarily mean they have infant constipation.

Something else to bear in mind is the fact that many newborn babies will go through a transition period during the first few weeks of their life, at which time a decrease in bowel movements is perfectly normal. Unfortunately for parents, this is also a time when babies become noticeably more irritable. Parents will also notice that they may begin straining during this period, but it is not indicative of infant constipation. To the contrary, straining is perfectly normal for a baby, in that it's how an infant learns how to control the muscles required for passing stools.

The bottom line is; unless all three conditions are present, in that your child's stools are hard and pebbly, and bowel movements are accompanied by crying, your baby does not have infant constipation.

If your child does in fact have constipation you should try to give them plenty of water to drink, sugar, and fresh juice. You may also want to consider giving them some probiotics in that these have been found to be beneficial in terms of correcting the balance of bacteria in the body. Interestingly enough, it is said that babies who are fed with formula and probiotics tend to have the same intestinal microflora as babies who are fed breast milk. At present, the most common and most popular probiotics in baby formula is bifidobacteria.

In very severe cases where an infant has simply not responded to any type of remedy, then it's advisable for you to let a doctor examine them, in which case, the infant may be given a laxative.