If your little baby did not have a healthy bowel movement for over 3 or 4 days now, you must start thinking of alternative options to ease the situation. You may have tried Karo syrup without any good results; you may have tried massaging the tummy but still nothing. Certainly you are worrying a lot about your child’s health, but there are some tips that might help ease the situation. First, you need to search for the causes of constipation. Is it because you have stopped breast-feeding and went on straight to formulas? If so, then you should know that you can only gradually interrupt breast feeding, and let a few days until your baby’s system gets used to the formula compounds. First, combine breast-feeding with formula, until you can stop breast-feeding.
You might also have to change the formula your baby currently gets. For this, you should talk to your pediatrician, and ask for a formula that is gentler with the baby’s digestive system, and which will not cause him or her constipation. It is statistically proven, that children who are receiving a combination of breast milk and formula, have much healthier bowel movements. Extreme temperatures or sudden shifts in temperature might also cause constipation. Make sure that the room where your baby is has a constant temperature. It is difficult for babies to adapt to such sudden changes (hot vs. cold weather, new foods, etc.).
Glycerin suppositories can help occasionally (you should never use them regularly, because your infant will not be able to build a healthy bowel movement program). Before inserting the suppository, you should use a little K-Y jelly on the tip of it, so that it will not cause any irritations to the rectum. Warm baths are also great therapy when you want your baby to relax, and be able to have a healthy bowel movement. You need to take care not to bathe your baby in an interval of at least 2 hours from eating. These are all tips that can help your baby get relief from constipation.