Many mums who choose to exclusively breastfeed for the first six months look forward to introducing their babies to solid foods as an addition to breast milk. In most cases, the foods are in puree form for easy swallowing and are usually accompanied by water to help with digestion. However, the majority of mums still complain that their baby gets hard stool which results in crying and discomfort whenever they have to relieve themselves.
Most times, the cause of the hard stool is constipation that can be relieved in a number of ways and make the beginning of your weaning journey much easier. Here are some effective ways you as a mum can help relieve constipation in their babies.
• Increase water intake
Regular intake of water is very important for your baby’s digestion process. It is therefore important to give them water throughout the day to ensure that they drink as much as possible. In most cases, it is advisable to offer spoonfuls of water regularly as they are unable to take a lot of water at once.
• Introduce fruits to their diet
Fruits are also good for easing constipation especially if they have fibre in them. Some of the popular fruits in Kenya that can be introduced in the baby’s weaning diet include apples, bananas or even pears that can be pureed for easy eating.
• Use glycerin suppositories
If constipation continues even after applying the simple methods to help relieve your baby, you might need to use glycerine suppositories for infants. Consult with your paediatrician on the best ones and have them demonstrate how to insert them so that they can be effective. When using the suppositories expect your baby to experience some discomfort which will turn to relief soon enough.
Click here https://www.motherhood101.co.ke/tools to download our solids feeding guide and notes for Mum when introducing complementary foods
