Baby new to solids, how to keep her from getting constipated? (warning - TMI)?

Okay, so my 6 mon. 3 wk. old DD just started solids 2 weeks ago. She's eating rice , oatmeal, sweet potatos, banans, and I'm introducing her to winter squash later today. She is breastfed and I'm continuiong to feed her on breast before each solids meal, which she gets twice a day and is quite eager to eat. She's also on vitamin and iron supplements due to her mild prematurity (no other health issues).





Like any baby who has started to eat solids, her poop is really starting to change (TMI warning!). It's no longer the diarreah-breastfed-baby consistency and is now more "tubular" but still soft. Still, I worry about keeping her regular. I've had some real painful constipation in the past and don't want her to have the same.





Am I worrying too much?





Are there any foods I can introduce at this stage to help keep her regular?





What should I do if she does get constipated?

Baby new to solids, how to keep her from getting constipated? (warning - TMI)?
I know how you feel! My daughter was breastfed exclusively and when we introduced solids, she was constipated twice. SO sad!! I was nursing her a lot (breastmilk being a natural laxative), and always before each offering of solids, which were lovely fibrous foods like pumpkin, green beans, apricots blueberries, peas, carrots, etc. She still got constipated.


I have a great baby health book written by a mother who is a pediatrician. One thing she recommended (which I like best because my daughter doesn't drink juice or eat much sugar) was milk of magnesia. Just 1/2 tsp every 12 to 24 hours, and my daughter pooped without any struggles or pain within 24 hours both times. I was so happy!!
Reply:yes you are worrying far to much
Reply:I think your baby is fine. The poop does change and by the sounds of it, your baby sounds completely normal and on track. Kudos for still breastfeeding, thats awesome!!





If you are still concerned that your baby may be constipated, the only thing you can really do is give her more fluids. Theres really no foods that can help, just more fluids. And I do think you are worried for nothing. My daughter had the same poop during her transition.
Reply:Oatmeal should help. Also introduce some fruit to her diet.


Pears and prunes work the best. This is the advice we got from our pediatrician.


If she does get constipated, give pear or prune juice.
Reply:Sounds like healthy poop to me...I think your just concerned because it's not as runny as what you are used to, but as long as it is not firm or dried out looking and she is pooping consistently (doesn't necessarily have to be every day) then you should have nothing to worry about.





You should also start her on some nice fiber-full fruits too, try some pears, peaches, prunes, applesauce. (bananas can be constipating...) and you should have nothing to worry about.





If she starts to get constipated, try to back off on the foods that are constipating such as rice cereal and bananas. If that doesn't help then try some warm baby apple juice or pear juice, or warm water (like an ounce) and if THAT doesn't work, then try a tsp of dark Karo syrup in an ounce of warm water. Don't let her go more than 3 days w/out pooping before you consult your doctor, going that long is not life threatening for an infant, but your pedi may wanna know whats up.





Edit - I totally agree with Kanpope that you should be introducing only 1 food per week. Not only does it help your baby grow a taste for it, it also helps to determine which foods she may be allergic to.
Reply:congrats on deciding to continue breastfeeding as it's so good for your baby!! one thing you can do is once a day offer your baby a bottle of room temp water with about 1 ounce of 100% fruit juice in it. the extra fluid will help keep things regular.
Reply:Introduce avacado, pears, peaches. If baby does get constipated bananas and rice cereal are the worst. Switch to oatmeal and add apricots and prunes to babies diet.
Reply:I don't think that you are worrying too much, I think that you are being a concerned, loving mother. I have a couple of concerns. First of all, the rule of thumb is to introduce ONE new food a week in order to monitor your baby's reaction to that food. It sounds like she has had 5 new foods in 2 weeks? You might want to slow down.


Keep in mind that your breastmilk has more nutritional value than any of those foods. Breastmilk should be the primary form of nutrition for the first year of life. You are right to be nursing her first. Let her guide you - she will tell you when she is hungry or not.


If you give her a little bit of watered down pear or plum juice, it will help if she is constipated, but prevention is your best bet. I would suggest slowing down on new foods.


Best wishes!