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My baby is constipated

Constipation is when your baby’s poo becomes hard and becomes difficult to pass. They may go several days without having a poo, their poos may look like firm dry pellets that do not soak into their nappy and they may become very unsettled. Fortunately, constipation is usually easy to treat at home. Your baby is not constipated if their poo is soft, even if they have not had a dirty nappy for 1 or 2 days.

There's no 'normal' when it comes to how often babies poo. Breastfed babies rarely get constipated because breast milk contains a natural laxative. They tend to have yellow-coloured seedy poos that are often quite soft. Newborn breastfed babies may poo after every feed. Older breastfed babies may go up to a week without pooing. Formula-fed babies tend to have bulkier poos and generally go several times a day; this reduces as they get older. You'll quickly get used to your baby's bowel movements, so you'll be able to tell what's normal for them.

If you are formula feeding, make sure you use the correct number of scoops of formula to water according to the packaging. 

It is normal for babies to strain and look like they are trying to poo more often. This is not usually a sign of constipation but just them getting used to the feeling of poo/wind forming and moving through their bowel.

What causes constipation in babies?

There are a variety of reasons why your baby could be constipated, including a lack of fluids (dehydration). There are various reasons why your baby may not be getting enough fluids – it could be down to illness. Lack of fluids can make your baby's poo harder and more difficult to push out.

If your baby has any of the following:

  • Dark green vomit 

  • Breathing very fast, too breathless to feed

  • Working hard to breathe, drawing in of the muscles below the ribs, or noisy breathing (grunting)

  • Breathing that stops or pauses

  • Is pale, blue, mottled or feels unusually cold to touch

  • Difficult to wake up or very sleepy

  • Weak, high-pitched cry or can’t be settled

  • Has a fit (seizure)

  • Has a rash that does not disappear with pressure (the ‘Glass Test’)

  • Has a temperature more than 38°C or under 36°C (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red or amber features

You need urgent help

Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999

If your baby has any of the following:

  • Your baby does not pass their first poo in the first 2 days of life

  • A very swollen tummy

  • Their bottom (anus) looks abnormal

  • Not gaining weight

  • Poos that are very pale in colour

  • Blood in poo

  • Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe

  • Dry skin, lips or tongue

  • Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 8 hours

  • Poor feeding (less than half of their usual amount)

  • Irritable (Unable to settle them with cuddles, toys or feeding)

  • Getting worse and you are worried

You need to contact a doctor or nurse today.

Please call your GP surgery or contact NHS 111 - call 111.

If symptoms persist for 4 hours or more and you have not been able to speak to either a member of staff from your GP practice or to NHS 111 staff, recheck that your child has not developed any red features.

If none of the above features are present

  • Continues to feed well

  • Has plenty of wet nappies

  • Baby wakes up or cries regularly for feeds

  • Additional information is available about infant crying and how to cope – click here

Self care

Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your baby, speak to your health visitor or local pharmacist

 What should you do?

Here are some tips on helping relieve constipation at home:

  • Lie your baby down and gently move their legs like they're riding a bicycle – this can help get things moving. If your baby is happy lying down, give them a gentle tummy massage

  • If your baby is bottle-fed, try giving them some extra water (cool boiled or sterile water) between some of their feeds

  • Breastfed babies do not need extra water but should be offered additional breastfeeds instead

It may take a few days to get things moving again, but if things do not improve, speak to your health visitor or GP surgery.

Where should you seek help?

For wear and tear, minor trips and everything in between

Self-care

You can treat your child's very minor illnesses and injuries at home.

Some illnesses can be treated in your own home with support and advice from the services listed when required, using the recommended medicines and getting plenty of rest.

Sound advice

Children can recover from illness quickly but also can become more poorly quickly; it is important to seek further advice if a child's condition gets worse.

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

Pharmacists are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.

Sound advice

  • Visit a pharmacy if your child is ill, but does not need to see a GP
  • Remember that if your child's condition gets worse, you should seek further medical advice immediately
  • Help your child to understand - watch this video with them about going to the pharmacy

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

The 0-19 Service for children and young people is delivered by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and offers a single point of access for Health Visiting, School Nursing and the Family Nurse Partnership. You can contact the teams using the details below:

Single Point of Access (SPA): 01865 903 800

Email: cyp0-19@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Chat Health Parentline

Text us any time for confidential advice and support and you will have a response the next working day (Monday-Friday exluding Bank Holidays).

Parents and carers for children aged 0-4: Text 07312 263 081

Parents and carers of children aged 5-11: Text 07312 263 227

Young people aged 11-19 and their parents and carers: Text 07312 263 08

Health Visitors

Health visitors are registered nurses or midwives who have additional training in community public health nursing. They provide a universal service, targeted to individual needs for children aged 0-5 years. Learn more about the Oxfordshire Health Visiting Service here!

School and college Health Nurses

School Health Nurses are specialist public health nurses and have offices across Oxfordshire. They work very closely with Health Visitors to support school aged children. They are available for young people to access in secondary schools and colleges, and offer a service to children who are home educated. They work closely with children, young people and their families to support and promote health and wellbeing. Learn more about the Oxfordshire School and college Health Nursing Service here!

Family Nurse Partnership

The Family Nurse Partnership service supports parents who are aged 19 years or under at conception, or under 21 years if they have been in care. The Family Nurse works alongside younger parents in their home, offering health, wellbeing and development support and information from the early stages of pregnancy, usually up until your child is two. Learn more about the Family Nurse Partnership service here!

Midwives provide advice, care and support for women and their babies during pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period. They provide health education and parenting advice until care is transferred to a health visitor. This usually happens when your baby is about 2 weeks old.

Sound Advice

A midwife is an expert in normal pregnancy and birth.

You can find out more information about your local midwifery team by clicking here.

GPs assess, treat and manage a whole range of health problems. They also provide health education, give vaccinations and carry out simple surgical procedures. Your GP will arrange a referral to a hospital specialist should you need it.

Sound advice

You have a choice of service:

  • Doctors or GPs can treat many illnesses that do not warrant a visit to A&E
  • Help your child to understand – watch this video with them about visiting the GP or going to a walk in centre

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

If you’re not sure which NHS service you need, you can call 111 or use 111 online.

Please note that 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

An adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need, or direct you straightaway to the best service for you in your area.

Sound advice

Use NHS 111 if you are unsure what to do next, have any questions about a condition or treatment or require information about local health services

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

Emergency Departments (A&E) provide vital care for life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped. If you’re not sure it’s an emergency, call 111 for advice.

Sound advice

  • Many visits to A&E and calls to 999 could be resolved by any other NHS services
  • If your child's condition is not critical, choose another service to get them the best possible treatment
  • Help your child to understand – watch this video with them about going to A&E or riding in an ambulance
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