Is MILK causing CONSTIPATION in your baby? (Straining while pooping is NOT normal!)

[@AimanNazri]

My baby is breastfed and milk as part of his diet. As he grows older the percentage of milk vs breastfeed gets bigger, we startef to see he only poops after 3-4 days 1 shot. At first we thought that it was because of cow's milk, then we changed to soy milk. Now with soy milk the poops gets harder, he struggle to poop. May i know what should i do?

[@AskDrChristian]

Hi there Aiman, and thanks for reaching out. I have some personal concerns about soy milk for developing kids, as my understanding is that it has a high amount of oestrogen in it. There are also studies that show a fairly high cross-reaction between soy and cows milk proteins, and this may be triggering a bit of a response as well. How old is your bub?

[@AimanNazri]

@@AskDrChristian 2-3 month now

[@AskDrChristian]

So just to be clear as well, he is breastfed and formula top up? Any dairy in mum's diet? Milk, cheese, cream, chocolate, yoghurt...? It takes one teaspoon to initiate an allergic response! If you are using a soy-based formula, my suggestion would be to consider changing to an "HA" branded formula (these ones do not contain the casein that tends to constipate babies), or a rice-based formula. Best person to talk to about this would be a child health nurse or your medical practitioner.

[@melizabourne731]

Dear sir my baby is straining and pooping yellow n little bit why's that?

[@AskDrChristian]

Hi there Meliza, How old is your baby? What are they eating? Could be a case of allergy, could be another process called dyschezia which is where a newborn is still learning how to poop! I'd need more information to help you better :) Thanks! Christian

[@sannazahid1633]

Hello Dr Christian My toddler (19 mo) had been potty trained. But since a month he tells me when he feels like popping but then struggles in the bathroom. And ultimately he has large n hard poop only in the front rest of the stool comes out soft. Now yesterday could see some bleeding because of the large stools What should I do? I use cow' milk to make porridges etc as he doesn't like to have it as a drink. Please help

[@AskDrChristian]

Hi Sanna, This could be from something dietary, or he could have had a fall onto his backside and affected the "freedom of movement" downstairs. I'd consider giving him a bit of extra vitamin D (no greater than 5000IU please!) as this can have a laxative effect. If its continues for much longer, I'd be having a chat with a health professional to see if there's anything else to be done. All the best! Christian

[@kashishmalhotra4517]

did it get better. my daughter having same. she is two and a half year. any help. thanks

[@risetolearn5184]

Hi doctor. My daughter 3 and half year old is constipating for more than an year now. She was on formula milk for last 3 years. Now we started giving fresh cow milk. Her diet now improved alot, she started eating solid foods. But yes, she dnt eat enough veggies and fruit. We are really tired giving laxative. Even laxative dnt work now and she has given anemia twice within 2 weeks time.

[@AskDrChristian]

Hi there! That sounds like a really rough run. Depending on what we eat, we can easily inflame the lining of our gut. Once it becomes inflammed, everything can slow down, which causes more water to be absorbed out... Which slows things down further. I would really recommend getting your daughter's diet assessed by a dietician/naturopath and see if there are some avenues that can be explored along that line, as well as a good review by a health care professional to ensure there is nothing else going on causing this presentation. Thanks for the comment! Christian

[@RS-gh4ui]

My toddler has been having constipation on and off for the past few months. I've tried changing his diet, giving him more water nothing works. Maybe I should stop giving him cows milk and see if that works.

[@AskDrChristian]

It certainly worth exploring! You will need to be doing this for at least 2 weeks to start seeing a change, and make sure he has plenty of greens and protein in his diet as well! (If it's really bad - you can also give a bit of extra Vitamin D as this may help gut inflammation) Let me know how he goes! Christian

[@matthiast3606]

My baby is one years old and he start cow milk and constipated very much and is that okay if I give him toddler formula?

[@AskDrChristian]

Hi there Matthias, Thanks for reaching out. If he is reacting to cows milk, then you will need to look at what is in the formula, as they are often made from cows milk so you may experience the same problems! (Also - is there a reason for the toddler formula?) Thanks! Christian

[@boitumelomokonyane7680]

I have a 2year old toddler who likes milk and she always gets constipated... I don't know which milk can I try because she also has eczema. Please help

[@AskDrChristian]

This is a tricky process because milk can almost become addictive! There is a scale of sorts. In Australia, we have a lot of milk variety, so I would be trialling a few with each step reducing the loading of the casein protein: Full/Normal Milk --> A2 Milk (no A1 protein) --> Goats Milk --> Milk Alternatives (Almond/Oat/Coconut depending on allergy/tolerance). The biggest concern I get from parents is nutrition, but you can get calcium from vegetables (you absorb calcium better from brocolli!), and fats/proteins from other sources. Now you will need to be patient as well, it can take up to 2 weeks for changes to become apparent! And as always, when working with a child's diet, be sure to get this process reviewed by your health practitioner first as I don't know your childs specific needs!

[@uklmngubane5661]

What occurs when a baby is born one week premature: am unsure as to what we should do;

[@AskDrChristian]

Hi there Uklm, Could you tell me more? Is your baby only one week premature? As in 39 weeks? And constipated?

[@sannazahid1633]

​@@AskDrChristian hello dr Christian.. My toddler us 19 months old. I used to give cows milk mixed in porridges that i make for him. But since last 2 months, I have started noticing change. He doesn't poop as he used to earlier and struggles and ultimately has large stools. I wouldn't say constipation as he poops every day but struggles. Please tell me what should I do?

[@EarmuffHugger]

Cheese also is like concrete.

[@ninacuk]

Dear Sir, My baby is having once per day Aptamil Allergy care milk that has extensive hydrolised aminoacids... Do you think that still causes straining?

[@AskDrChristian]

Hi Nina, and thank you for reaching out. This depends - what is she having for the rest of her feeds during the day?

[@ninacuk]

@@AskDrChristian my milk + thickening powder coz of reflux, but i am on a dairy free diet for years... It's just that the first month she did take normal cow milk formula... It made her constipated and i switched to allergy care... Now i wonder if even extensive hydrolised milk is doing harm??? She keeps straining throughout the day. But when eventually does poop, she doesn't seem happy and soon starts to strain again. Poop is soft. She might not know how to poop, but she is 6 month old already. Could be Hirschsprung's too though.

[@AskDrChristian]

Hi Nina, OK. So at 6MOA Hirschrungs is quite rare - it is usually picked up quite early. Good to have on the list, but I'd have it as a possibility not a probability. With the gut, I'm thinking one of two pathways; control and inflammation. Could it be a control issue? Are displaying any other indications of control problems - not yet rolling, head position preference, using one arm more than the other, etc. Inflammation may show elsewhere - congested/mucousy, cradle cap, eczema. Is there mucous in her poop? Have you started with solids? Has this always been the case or is t a relatively new development? The formula does contain fish, and some babies are sensitive to fish. You could certainly look in to formula that does not contain fish, but when playing with formulas in a bub with concern, I'd be having this guided by a health professional face to face. Thanks again! Christian

[@heatherrosa7966]

😂 that same face!