Constipated baby, what am I doing wrong?

amother

OP ↓

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 8:25 am

8 month old has been straining a lot to poop and sometimes even crying since increasing real food. I'm trying to give him lots of vegetables (real ones in addition to purees), not too much dairy (a little yogurt not every day), plenty of nursing. I'm not noticing any correlation yet, there was one day he pooped well but I couldn't remember if he ate anything different when every other day he's having a hard time even with trying to change things.

Any experienced advice please?

amother

Watermelon ↓

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 8:31 am

Are you offering him water during the day? He’s probably nursing less frequently than he was a few months ago and is eating a lot more solids. More fluids will help get things moving.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 8:51 am

He's nursing a lot. I thought babies this age aren't supposed to be drinking plain water? I give him little sips of he seems thirsty during eating

giftedmom ↓

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 8:57 am

His digestive system may not be able to handle so much vegetables yet. Animal protein such as yogurt or chicken soup is easier to digest.

amother

Brunette ↓

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 8:58 am

Are you giving him grains? Babies don't actually have the enzymes to digest them until 12 months

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 9:01 am

giftedmom wrote:

His digestive system may not be able to handle so much vegetables yet. Animal protein such as yogurt or chicken soup is easier to digest.

I was thinking vegetables = fiber and animal = iron which is more constipating? So confused

amother

Pear ↓

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 9:02 am

Water is supposed to be sips while eating at this age. Can’t give straight up water by the bottle it can cause an imbalance. Maybe add fruits to his diet. I’d cut back on grains. Are you giving baby cereal? Those are terrible for them. Switch to all real food no baby food, the jars of vegetables also have added grain often that aren’t good for them.

amother

↑ Pear

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 9:02 am

giftedmom wrote:

His digestive system may not be able to handle so much vegetables yet. Animal protein such as yogurt or chicken soup is easier to digest.

Vegetables shouldn’t be an issue. And yes protein is excellent and should be added in too.

amother

Caramel

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 9:07 am

Per my pediatrician, babies from 6-12 months should be offered 4-8 oz of water in a cup each day. They definitely need it once they start solids, and also when it's warm outside.

amother

↑ Brunette ↓

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 9:10 am

amother OP wrote:

I was thinking vegetables = fiber and animal = iron which is more constipating? So confused

The iron in animal protein is not constipating

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 9:16 am

Ok still a bit confused but it seems like decreasing grains is a strong recommendation.

Problem is they're so easy 😩 right now he's feeding himself Cheerios while I have some breakfast myself. Everything that's not grain takes longer to make and is also more hands on and messy to feed. I know that's life and you do what you need to, but to cut down on grains dramatically is going to be really hard Sad

I'm kind of drowning in life already and not sure how to make this happen.

amother

↑ Brunette ↓

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 9:20 am

amother OP wrote:

I'm kind of drowning in life already and not sure how to make this happen.

Look.for grain free cheerios or puffs. Maybe made from cassava. You can give him flattened chickpeas from a pouch or can to feed himself. Lentil pasta. Avocado. Eggs.

↑ giftedmom ↓

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 9:33 am

amother OP wrote:

I was thinking vegetables = fiber and animal = iron which is more constipating? So confused

Fiber can be pretty harsh on a baby’s stomach. The iron in animal protein doesn’t constipate because it’s easily absorbed. Only iron supplements constipate because the body can’t absorb it.

↑ giftedmom

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 9:34 am

amother OP wrote:

I'm kind of drowning in life already and not sure how to make this happen.

Avocado chunks is easy and healthy at this age

honey36

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 9:36 am

Also oil/fat! It "oils" the system and makes everything go through smoother. Avocados 🥑, olive oil on the veggies etc.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 10:20 am

Where are you all finding avocados, every time I buy them - and they are not cheap! - 3/4 of them are bad!

He doesn't like eggs. I tried.

So we're basically looking at chicken. How do you make meat soft enough for a baby? He didn't seem so successful at eating chicken last time but he liked it better than eggs.

He loved pieces of sweet potato and broccoli but now you're saying vegetable fiber isn't necessarily age appropriate so now I don't know...

He loves Cheerios and crackers, I've been trying to limit them because I don't want him to get too hooked on carbs so young but he loves them and they're soooo easy.

amother

↑ Watermelon

Wed, Apr 03 2024, 10:24 am

amother Caramel wrote:

Per my pediatrician, babies from 6-12 months should be offered 4-8 oz of water in a cup each day. They definitely need it once they start solids, and also when it's warm outside.

I do same. Offer my daughter her sippy cup of water a few times a day.