One-year-olds, like older children and adults, can become constipated if they don't get enough fluid and fiber. Pediatricians define constipation by the consistency of and difficulty passing the stool, not by the number of movements per day or week. Constipation causes hard, dry, stool accompanied by abdominal discomfort, straining and possibly red streaks on the outside of the stool. As long as the stool remains soft and easily passed, your baby isn't constipated. Simple dietary changes usually prevent or improve constipation. Talk to your baby's pediatrician if you think he's constipated and simple measures don't work.
Fruits often come to mind first when it comes to treating constipation, and with good reason. Fruits contain sugar and fiber; both can help prevent constipation. Pediatrician and author Dr. William Sears recommends trying apricots and the four "Ps" -- pears, peaches, plums and one of the most time-honored treatments for constipation at any age -- prunes. If your baby turns up his nose at prunes, mix prune puree with another food, such as applesauce. Avoid bananas, which can worsen constipation.
Vegetables, like fruits, contain fiber, which has a laxative effect, creating large, bulky stools that move more quickly through the intestinal tract. Unfortunately, vegetables often don't make the list of top foods for toddlers. Your 1-year-old might be more willing to eat raw vegetables cut into small pieces on a plate with a little salad dressing for dipping. Bake vegetables into lasagna or add them to rice or noodle dishes. Vegetable soup, whether canned or homemade, can also increase your child's vegetable intake. Cooked carrots can worsen constipation.
Refined grains don't have as much fiber as whole grains. Many ready-to-eat cereals and hot cereals come in whole-grain form. Look for higher-fiber varieties of cereals that your child enjoys as finger food or as a warm start to a cold morning. Choose whole-grain breads and crackers over refined versions. Brown rice and whole-grain noodles provide more fiber than their refined counterparts. Avoid rice cereals, which can contribute to constipation. Try barley instead. Add ground flaxseed to cereal or try flaxseed oil mixed into a fruit and/or vegetable smoothie.
Your baby can become constipated if he doesn't get enough dietary fluids. If he becomes dehydrated, his body removes fluid from the colon, which makes stools hard and dry. When your baby starts eating more solid food, he will probably cut down on his milk intake, which could lead to mild dehydration. If you're increasing dietary fiber to treat constipation, he will also need extra fluids. Give him an extra 8 ounces of water or diluted juice per day to treat constipation. Pear and prune juice do double-duty in preventing constipation. Don't give more than 4 to 6 ounces per day of fruit juice or you can end up with the opposite problem -- diarrhea.
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