Does Baby Cereal Cause Constipation? Understanding the Effects on Your Infant’s Digestive Health

Does Baby Cereal Cause Constipation? 

• Babies can have constipation when starting on solid food. 

• There are many reasons for constipation in your baby, and cereals are just one of them. 

• It is rice cereal that can cause constipation. 

Baby constipation after starting solids is common. Some babies have constipation when they switch from breastfeeding to a solid meal. 

The reason is usually a transition from breast milk to solid food. However, rice cereal is more likely to cause constipation than wheat or barley cereals. It’s also best to avoid solid foods like bananas and sweet potatoes which can also cause constipation. 

Here’s why your baby might be getting constipation from eating cereal. Don’t forget to check out the tips to help your baby’s constipation. 

Does Baby Cereal Cause Constipation?

Cereal may not necessarily be the cause of constipation. It usually happens because you start feeding solid foods to your baby. When the baby is around 4 to 6 months of age, they are ready to start on solid. The mistake can be due to using cereals as a substitute for breast milk. 

Even when the baby is eating cereals, it’s important to breastfeed or continue formula as an integral part of their diet. Also, the choice of cereal can cause constipation, and for some children, it’s rice cereal.  Avoiding banana puree and using wheat, oatmeal, or barley is also best. 

Constipation is also linked to how you feed your baby solid food. For example,  putting puree or oatmeal inside a bottle is not a good idea to. Instead, feed your baby using a spoon from a bowl. 

Baby cereal can also cause constipation when you don’t know when  to feed the solid food. Give cereals or solid food when the baby is hungry but not starving. First, feed them breast milk, and when they are still hungry, you can start with puree or cereal. It’s not a good idea to feed cereal when your baby’s full after breastfeeding. 

However, if your baby is reacting to solid food (such as vomiting, diarrhea, or rash), you should stop and consult with a pediatrician. Don’t resume until the doctor recommends it. 

Also, try switching between two or three different solid foods to give your baby a change of taste. It’s best to switch to a new type of solid food when giving it to your baby within 2 to 3 days intervals.; .   

How do You Know if Your Baby is Constipated?

Does baby cereal cause constipation? Since that’s answered, here are a few things to know about your baby’s bowel movement, especially when they are starting on solid food. So, what are the signs of your baby having constipation? The answer is in the baby’s diaper. 

Once the baby starts eating solid food, the change is visible in the poop. The stool becomes darker in color and has a firm consistency. Some parts of the undigested food can also be visible in the stool. 

It’s not easy to identify the signs of constipation in babies. It’s not the number of times the baby must poop. You can  locate by understanding whether it’s easy for them to poop or not. 

Here are the signs outlined by Nationwide Children’s Hospital – 

• Check if the baby is straining more than usual when pooping. 

• Is the baby in pain when pooping? 

•  Does the baby have small pallet-like poops? 

•  If the stool amount is less than the regular amount, 

• Change (decrease) in the baby’s appetite. 

• Does the baby have a swollen abdomen? 

Things That Cause Constipation in Babies

Usually, it’s a change in diet. When breastfeeding babies switch to solid food, constipation may occur. When starting solid food, your baby can have constipation under the following circumstances – 

• Changing from being formula-fed to solid food. 

• Switching from breast milk to solid food. 

• Due to any metabolic disorder.  

• Thyroid deficiency.  

Baby Constipated after Starting Solids: Tips for Introducing Solids to Infants

Here are some helpful things you can do for your baby to relieve constipation once you start solid food.  

Start With More Fluid 

Instead of giving your baby a major portion of solid food , keep breastmilk or formula as a major portion of their diet. Ensure that your baby has enough fluid in addition to a solid meal. You can do so by reducing the amount of solid food meals and increasing fluids to match the deficiency. Also, you can add water (a small amount) to the meal and increase the baby’s fluid intake.  

Offer Food That Contains Fiber 

When starting with a solid meal, give your baby foods that have more fiber.  Include fiber-rich ingredients in both baby’s snacks and meals. For example, you can try oatmeal, nut butter, fruits, vegetables, etc. Food like baby cereal is iron-fortified and can cause constipation. Does baby cereal cause constipation? Well, you know now why it can cause constipation. But look out for the next list of foods if you  will help your baby recover from constipation.  

P Foods

To enrich the amount of fiber in your baby’s diet, you can include any fruit in your baby’s diet. But stick to the “P” foods to  relieve your baby from constipation. These are Pears, prunes, peaches, etc. These fruits are extremely helpful for constipation.  

Movements

You can try out baby massage or similar body movements when the baby has constipation. Physical touch or movement can help the baby with their bowel movement. Well, it doesn’t always have to be a massage. Playing on the floor or the playmat can also increase your baby’s bodily movement and help ease their constipation.  

Tired of Cereal! Here’s an Alternative

We’ve made it clear that cereal, doesn’t cause constipation in babies, but the transition to solid food might. While breast milk is still the best for your baby, you will have to shift to solid food at some point. If not cereal, then what alternative is good for the baby?  

Meg Faure, an Occupational Therapist, is of the opinion that replicating the composition of breast milk can provide a good cereal alternative.  She says, “Breast milk is mostly water with 55% fats, 37% carbs, and 8% proteins. Considering that baby rice and cereal are predominately processed carbohydrates – it is a huge shift for your baby’s gut from what they are used to.” 

The idea is to start with whole processed food. This means you can use different vegetables, fruits, and nut butter as sources of different macronutrients in breast milk.  

For example, if you want to replace cereal, you can opt for mashed sweet potato, or some butternut squash and almond butter mixed with it. A mix of mashed banana and avocado as an alternative to cereal.  

Introduction to Solid Food: When Should Babies Have Cereal?

Make a thoughtful decision on your baby’s diet and only start giving solid food to your baby once they are six months or older. Doctors usually recommend feeding solid food like cereal at six months.  

 Giving solid food before the age of 4 months is not recommended. Your baby will need elements like zinc and iron, only available in solid food. Apart from the nutritional benefits, giving your baby something different at the age of 6 months is important.  

Conclusion

Does baby cereal cause constipation? No, not necessarily, and we have already explained why. However, remember that transitioning to a solid meal alone doesn’t cause constipation. Before the age of 6 months, avoid giving your baby nuts, a spoonful of peanut butter, or whole grapes. Raw vegetables, hard candies, and popcorn are some choking hazards for your baby. It’s best to stick to soft food in small amounts.  

Baby cereals are one of the best starter solid foods for your baby. But remember that transitioning to solid food needs to be gradual and steady. Follow the tips provided here to avoid constipation in babies. Thanks for reading.

Read Also:

• Is Milk Coming Out Of Baby’s Nose? Know The Causes And Remedies
• Can You Overfeed A Newborn? Find Out About Your Baby’s Eating Habits