How young can babies have juice or prunes?

[ClarabelleCowFan]

DS has been having tummy issues lately and things aren't moving through him as fast as normal (he is breastfed mainly and supplemented with Alimentum).

I can remember giving my girls baby food prunes or some diluted apple juice in a bottle to help get things going but I don't remember how old babies should be before they are introduced to these things.

Is there any reason I shouldn't give my 4 month old a bit of apple juice?

 

[noahdove]

No, go ahead and give him prunes. They do make them for babies, so he shouldn't have a problem. I had to add them to my daughter's bottle many times. also, dark karo syrup, except that is too sweet, but it does work

 

[Princess Roo]

I would call your pediatrician. It's normal for breastfed babies to go as long as a week or so without a BM.
If you decide you want to introduce something else, my sister's ped. just recommended diluted pear juice (Gerber makes some) when her 6 month old was constipated.

 

[ohiominnie]

Diluted juices or baby juices aren't concentrated enough to have any effect on the bowels (juices work b/c the concentration of the juice pulls water into the bowel, making the stool softer--diluted "adult" juice or baby juice won't do this)

You may find this article helpful:
http://www.pediascribe.com/20060705/baby-poop-what-new-parents-need-to-know/

It is the #1 reason people find my blog. Of course, this article was written by my pediatrician husband before he got to busy with his podcast.

 

[ohiominnie]

Btw, karo syrup and honey (sometimes used for constipation) has the risk of passing botulism to infants under 1 yr of age. I'd stay away from that.

(if you think about it, karo syrup and honey work by the same process as full strength juices....they are concentrated sugars and pull water into the intestine)

 

[bookgirl]

Btw, karo syrup and honey (sometimes used for constipation) has the risk of passing botulism to infants under 1 yr of age. I'd stay away from that.

(if you think about it, karo syrup and honey work by the same process as full strength juices....they are concentrated sugars and pull water into the intestine)

I know botulism is a risk for honey but I've never heard of it with Karo. It had to do with honey being unprocessed, but Karo is heated so any botulism should be destroyed. Might be something to double check but I know of parents who use Karo on the advise of a ped.

 

[fun4disney]

If it were me, I would call the pediatrician. Even on the weekend! I have always been told not to put juice into a bottle. But that is just what I would do. you should do what ever you feel is the right thing for your little guy. Hope he feels better soon.

 

[Hannathy]

According to the Karo web site the FDA cleared Karo in 1991, just google Karo and go to FAQ.


Sometimes just some plain warm water in a bottle will help little tummies and the rest of the GI system.

I know I was giving mine juice in a bottle by 4 mos.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

We did talk to the Ped yesterday about 430pm and she told us to take him to the ER to have an x-ray to see if he had a partial obstuction since he has been spitting up (reflux) and has had slow BMs. We went to the local ER (the only one in the area) and waited 3 hours and no one had gone back to see the doctors so we left.

He has had a BM about every other day although he used to have a huge blowout daily and now he is having very small BMs 1/2 as often. The poor little guy seems so uncomfortable and even a glycerine baby suppository (BabyLax) doesn't stimulate him to go.

Things are still moving - just much slower than usual. He hasn't had as much reflux today as the past few days which is good.

If he is still having issues we will call back but I know she wants an x-ray of his belly which we can only get on weekends at the ER. The local outpatient clinics won't see him because of his age.

 

[ohiominnie]

According to the Karo web site the FDA cleared Karo in 1991, just google Karo and go to FAQ.

From the Karo website....(emphasis by me)

Q. Should Karo syrup be used for infant feeding?

A. "We are aware that some health care professionals suggest feeding Karo syrup to infants in a formula or for relief of constipation. Because corn syrup, like many other foods is not a sterile product, there is a remote possibility that it may contain C. botulinum spores.

These spores are common in the environment and generally not harmful to older children and adults. In fact, in the FDA study conducted in 1991, corn syrup and other syrups are not identified as food sources of C. botulinum spores for infants.

However, because Karo is not specifically intended for infant feeding, we suggest you consult your pediatrician for advice"

It is much safer than it was in the past, but I don't understand how the Karo people can say it's ok, but yet there is a chance it could contain the spores.

I took care of a baby in the ICU at a Children's Hospital. The baby had botulism and was on a ventilator for a long time. She did recover, but it was pretty scary for her parents. The dad was a family practice doc. This was in about 1992 or 1993. I dunno. If there is ANY remote chance of it, I'd find another way to treat constipation.

 

[tanyaandallie]

Your baby is pooping every other day and your ped wants an x-ray? Hmmmmm. That's very odd. How much formula does your baby get in comparison to breastmilk. MANY breastfed babies go a very long time in between bowel movements. Mine did. He would go anywhere between 7 and 10 days. Our ped and the ped gastro said it was 100% normal.

What is his poop like? Is it soft? If it's soft then he is not constipated and does not need help at all. If he is having very hard poops, then you have a right to be concerned. If his poops are soft then I would really recommend you leave him alone. Constipation is characterized by hard poops, not infrequent ones. If he is pooping pellets, he is constipated. If he is pooping soft squishy stuff, he is fine!!!

Did your ped do any exam at all before suggesting an x-ray? Usually peds can feel around and see if a baby is backed up or not. I just find it very unusual that your ped would suggest one for a baby that is pooping every other day. It's very normal to poop every other day. I think I would go for a second opinion.

 

[Hannathy]

It is much safer than it was in the past, but I don't understand how the Karo people can say it's ok, but yet there is a chance it could contain the spores.

It is called a CYA statement!!! Any food can contain the spores. the world isn't sterile. It is like all the food products saying may be manufactured in a plant that uses nut products when it really never is but just in case........ They don't want sued.

 

[ohiominnie]

It is called a CYA statement!!! Any food can contain the spores. the world isn't sterile. It is like all the food products saying may be manufactured in a plant that uses nut products when it really never is but just in case........ They don't want sued.

Good point. And that's the exact reason the doc wanted an x-ray. Some of them are just so worried about lawsuits if they miss something. Of course, in my experience, the radiologist will write "appears normal, but cannot rule out obstruction" which covers their butt too! (sigh)

 

[twinmom319]

I agree with the earlier poster- I would use regular juice, prune or apple, and you probably won't need more than 2 oz once a day or so. However, you really only need this if your baby's poops are hard (and we are talking tootsie-roll like consistency). Otherwise, it might be your baby's pattern to only go once every other day. Breastmilk is very well absorbed by the gut.

Has your baby ever pooped more than this? and is your baby spitting up or is it full blown, getting some distance vomiting? I agree with the other posters, it seems rather odd to be jumping to XR - I would probably just bring him in to the ped next week to let the ped examine him without waiting for hours in an ED.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I knew the DIS was the right place to come to discuss baby poop!

The poops are not hard but they are thicker than his "usual" poops - more of a thick oatmeal consistency now as opposed to the more seedy liquid poops typical of exclusively breastfed babies. He nurses quite a bit but still gets about 16 oz of Alimentum a day in 4 bottles 4 oz each over the course of the day. I have tried to feed him more often in smaller doses to help the reflux.

The slow down in BMs started the same time the reflux did so I think the combo of the vomiting (yes it is more projectile than just spit up - he drenches 7 or 8 outfits a day even with a bib on) and the slow down in frequency of poops is what caused the Pediatrician to want the x-ray. I doubt just 1 symptom alone would spur the request for an x-ray.

Mason had been sleeping through the nite since he was 2 months old (yes I know how lucky we are for that!) and since the reflux started he has been waking again at night seemingly having pain in his tummy and wanting to nurse.

 

[tanyaandallie]

If his poop is not hard, I would not worry about it. It is 100% normal to go a day without pooping.

Is he on meds for his reflux? If he is in pain and it's bothering him that much, perhaps he needs an adjustment in his meds.

 

[Hannathy]

Have you tried raising the head of his crib? If the problem is mostly at night I would raise his crib and try that.

 

[KandiB47]

The poop you have described sounds like normal consistently. I am a registered nurse and I think offering juice is a bad idea. Breast milk is a natural laxative. Try to breastfeed more

I recommend you check out kellymom.com They are very helpful and you can learn more about what's normal for a breastfed baby.

Here is a statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
Babies under six months should not be given juice. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition, "There is no nutritional indication to feed juice to infants younger than 6 months. Offering juice before solid foods are introduced into the diet could risk having juice replace breast milk or infant formula in the diet." The American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding notes: "During the first 6 months of age, even in hot climates, water and juice are unnecessary for breastfed infants and may introduce contaminants or allergens."
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/baby-juice.html

The reflux and the poop are not necessarily related.

You were also considering prunes. Please read this article on delaying solids so you can make an informed decision.
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/delay-solids.html