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As a mother, seeing your baby grow up healthy gives you the reassurance that you're doing a good job. However, even if you're doing your very best, there may still be some issues that make your little one feel unwell.

One common issue among babies and children is constipation. This refers to a condition in which they have a bowel movement less than twice a week, which causes pain and discomfort. And when they do have a bowel movement, the stool may be hard and painful to pass.

If your little one is suffering from this unpleasant condition, don't worry—there's a solution. All it takes is a few adjustments to their diet, and things will improve. That's why we'd like to recommend foods for babies with constipationthat you can include in their diet.  

What fruits to eat for constipation

If your baby is still breastfeeding, be mindful of your own diet, because if you don’t drink enough fluids or eat certain foods that can cause constipation, your child is likely to experience the discomfort of this condition.

Instead, opt for high-fiber foods, since—depending on the baby’s age—it’s important to include fiber-rich foods in their diet to help with bowel movements, which will benefit their health. Here are a few suggestions:

Fruits for constipation: notably plums, pears, papaya, oranges, pineapple, mango, tangerines, and watermelon. All of these fruits are rich in fiber, which aids digestion.

Berries: These fruits include strawberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, currants, blackberries, grapes, and goji berries. These delicious fruits—known as berries—are excellent for relieving constipation.

Include these fruits in your baby’s diet, as they are not only highly nutritious but also ideal for digestion, helping to promote regular bowel movements and prevent constipation. 

However, if your child is very young and not yet eating solid foods, you can choose to make a puree out of some of these fruits—such as pears and papayas—which are easy to mash. This way, your baby can easily eat them, and they’ll be beneficial because these fruits have a mild laxative effect.

Foods for Constipation

There is a wide variety of foods that act as laxatives. Therefore, if your baby has already weaned off breast milk and started eating solid foods, you can include them in their weekly meal plan. Some of these include:

• Legumes: We find a variety of legumes, such as lentils, red and black beans, peas, and chickpeas. Because of their high fiber content, they help relieve constipation.
• Lean white meats: contain less fat than red meats and are easier for your baby to digest. These include chicken, turkey, rabbit, and fish.
• Soups: are one of the foods for constipation that also promote bowel movements, since their high liquid content makes them easier to digest. You can make soups with some vegetables and a source of protein, such as chicken.
• Purees: Just like the ones mentioned above, these are also great for your baby. You can give your little ones pumpkin or celery purees, which are very high in fiber. 
• Zucchini puree: Because of its smooth texture, it’s essential for your baby to eat this when they’re starting to try new foods—other than breast milk—since it’s very easy to digest.
• Whole-grain flours and cereals: we’re talking about oats, breads made with wheat bran, whole-grain pasta, or brown rice. These fibers speed up bowel movements, making them ideal for preventing constipation.
• Vegetables: These include beets, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, asparagus, corn, lettuce, spinach, and cabbage. There is a wide variety of vegetables, so teach your child to eat them—this will help them combat constipation.
• Yogurt: This dairy product is very rich in probiotics—that is, good bacteria that have a positive effect on your baby’s gut health. Plus, it provides calcium at the same time.
• Olive oil and flaxseed oil: These oils act as mild laxatives. Therefore, adding them to your baby’s food will not only improve the flavor but also help lubricate the bowel movements.

Foods to Avoid If Your Baby Is Constipated

You should be aware that certain fruits and other foods can cause constipation, so you should avoid them. Eating them can make this uncomfortable condition worse.

Keep in mind that some of these foods—depending on how they are eaten—can act as laxatives or cause constipation.

• Apples: We’ve already mentioned that this fruit can help relieve your baby’s constipation, but only if you give it to them raw or with the skin on, since these help promote bowel movements. However, be careful, because this same fruit—if eaten grated or peeled—has the opposite effect.
• Bananas can cause constipation: although this fruit is very good because of its high potassium content, it contains little water, making it very dry. Therefore, your baby shouldn’t eat them too often, since their starch content can make a child’s stools hard.
• Carrots: This vegetable, rich in vitamin A, is among the foods that cause constipation due to its astringent properties. If your baby is constipated, you should not eat them or give them to your baby on a regular basis, so as not to make the situation worse.

Also, avoid letting your baby regularly eat high-calorie foods such as fried foods, sweets, margarine, processed meats, fatty meats, and chocolate, because they have little nutritional value, which can disrupt your baby’s digestion and lead to the unpleasant discomfort of constipation.

In conclusion, make sure your baby drinks plenty of water, eats fruits that promote bowel movements, and gets plenty of exercise. If your baby isn't walking yet, help them exercise and give them stimulating massages. You'll see positive results—your baby will be happy, and you'll have peace of mind.