Constipation is a common condition among babies and toddlers. Their digestive system is going through continuous changes and it is still in a maturing stage. Add the introduction of new foods to the mix and you are bound to see your little one suffering from constipation. While most pediatricians suggest weight and watch as long as your little one is active and playing, you as a parent can feel helpless. Among the various home remedies that can help resolve this situation, prune juice tops the list. So, what is the connection between prune juice and baby constipation? This article explains.
Seeing little babies suffer from pain and discomfort can be a difficult experience for parents. Constipation can happen due to any number of reasons such as new foods, less water intake, and sometimes even junk food. Finding out what exactly causes constipation in the first step in getting rid of it
In This Article
- Prune Juice- What Does It Mean?
- What Causes Constipation in Babies?
- How Can I Tell if My Baby is Constipated?
- How to Use Prune Juice for Treating Constipation in Babies?
- What are the Benefits of Prune Juice for Babies?
- Side Effects Of Prune Juice For Babies
- How Much Prune Juice Can be Given to Babies for Constipation?
- How to Prepare Prune Juice for Your Toddler for Constipation?
- Can I Give My Baby Prune Juice Daily?
- FAQ’s
Prune Juice- What Does It Mean?
Prunes are any sort of dried plum and a prune is not a distinct fruit type. There are many varieties of plums that are different in texture, color, and taste, and the same is true for prunes. Prune juice has been used as a natural remedy against constipation for centuries. Prune juice, in addition, has a number of health benefits for your baby in addition to improving symptoms of constipation due to its mineral composition.
What Causes Constipation in Babies?
Mostly, little ones experience constipation due to the variations in their diet. Infants go through this phase when they switch from breast milk to formula milk or to solids. While breast babies pass mustardy, soft stools, babies who are on formula or have started solids pass somewhat firmer and darker stools.
Whatever be the cause, constipation can be quite troublesome for both you and your little one. Painful or difficult bowel movements can wipe the smile off your little one’s face and they may also suffer from abdominal pain or cramping making them all the more uncomfortable.
Constipation will also impact the frequency of the stools, and one of the best remedies that can work magic is prune juice. This is a wonderful laxative and works to ensure your child passes stools without any difficulty.
Given below are some useful tips about prune juice, which would be helpful to ensure you provide exactly what your baby needs.
How Can I Tell if My Baby is Constipated?
Your baby’s stools and their frequency will change with age, the type of food they eat, and their activity levels. Prune juice acts as a natural laxative that encourages softer, frequent stools and for this reason, you can give it to babies to combat the issue of constipation.
The following signs indicate that your baby might be constipated:
- Irritability and crankiness for no apparent reason.
- A belly that is hard to touch and feel.
- Refusal to feed or a poor appetite.
- Baby appears in pain or red-faced when passing stools.
- Hard, the pebble-like composition of stools.
- Streaks of blood on the stools.
How to Use Prune Juice for Treating Constipation in Babies?
First and foremost, you must consult your baby’s pediatrician before offering prune juice to your baby. Remember that you should not give prune juice to babies younger than 6 months.
Once your baby hits 6 months and is suffering from constipation, start with a 25% juice and 75% water combination. Offer this juice occasionally. Take your doctor’s advice on the quantity and the frequency. Ensure that you give 100% pure prune with no additives. If your child does develop gas or bloating or becomes fussy at any instant, it is advisable to consult the doctor.
What are the Benefits of Prune Juice for Babies?
We now know that prune juice is an excellent laxative. Apart from that, prunes are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. For these reasons, they are an excellent addition to your little one’s meal. Let us now take a look at some of the health benefits of prune juice for babies.
- Rich in antioxidants, prune juice helps to fight free radicals that cause cell damage.
- The fiber and healthy enzymes present in prune juice are ideal to assist your little one’s bowel movements and get them back on track.
- It also ensures better digestion apart from relieving constipation.
- Prune juice is an excellent source of potassium, a mineral that plays a vital role in bone health.
- Potassium also helps promote neural development, maintain proper hydration levels, and ensure that all the systems in the body function well.
- Carbohydrates are an important part of an infant’s diet, and prunes are a good source of them. Carbohydrates are the chief fuel source in the infant’s body
- Prune juice contains a high percentage of iron and is beneficial for reducing the risk of iron deficiency in babies.
Side Effects Of Prune Juice For Babies
Following are some possible side effects of prune juice for babies.
- Diarrhea can be exacerbated or caused by prunes’ insoluble fiber. For this reason, prunes should be avoided when your baby is experiencing loose motion
- The digestive tract of a baby may not be able to completely break down prunes’ complex carbohydrates and sugars. This can cause gas or bloat in a baby.
- Prunes contain a high iron content, which can cause dark-colored stools if consumed in excess.
How Much Prune Juice Can be Given to Babies for Constipation?
Ideally anywhere between four and six ounces of prune juice is recommended for toddlers between one and six years of age. You can start with a small quantity of 60–100 milliliters. Pure unfiltered prune juice is the best option and you can offer it to your baby before food for maximum effect.
Also bear in mind the fact that prune juice may take around one full day to show positive results if your baby is highly constipated. Do not expect instant results as soon as you feed your toddler with prune juice. You will need to give 24 hours for it to work. However, if the baby is mildly constipated, it might work in just a few hours. Consult your doctor to guide you, taking into account your baby’s degree of constipation.
How to Prepare Prune Juice for Your Toddler for Constipation?
Preparation of prune juice is simple and easy. Following are two yummy prune juice recipes for babies:
Prune Juice
Soak a handful of dry prunes in steam for a little while. The next step is to just blend the steamed, dried prunes in a mixer or blender and get the puree. Add the juice of half a lemon to this potion. Also, add one cup of water to this mixture and blend it well. Now your prune juice is ready.
If your little one does not like the taste of prune juice, you could try out making a prune smoothie which your baby will surely relish.
Prune Mango Smoothie
Blend five prunes, one cut mango, one orange, and 100 grams of yogurt with one glass of milk in your mixer and your smoothie is ready to drink. Since this smoothie combines multiple ingredients, it is extremely healthy for your little one too.
Yet another effective prune juice smoothie recipe is given below:
- Half a cup of coconut milk
- One kale bunch
- Flax seeds: 1 tablespoon
- Half a cup of pure juice from organic prunes
- One fourth cup of frozen mixed berries
Just blend all the above-mentioned ingredients together in your blender and lo and behold! Your delicious smoothie is all ready for your little one. Most kids love this taste and it is much easier to get them to drink up the smoothie rather than making them drink pure prune juice.
Can I Give My Baby Prune Juice Daily?
Under the guidance of your doctor, you may offer a little prune juice to your baby daily if constipation is an ongoing battle for them. However, if the issue arises occasionally, you can give them this juice as per need. Although prune juice has been proven to have excellent results for constipation in toddlers or any person, regardless of age, they do have mild side effects if consumed in excess.
Prunes can trigger gas, bloating of the tummy, or even diarrhea if consumed excessively. They can also cause tummy aches in toddlers. So get the right recommendation from your pediatrician regarding the right dose and the right way to give prune juice to your little one.
If you are at the end of your tether not knowing how to cope with the constipation issue your toddler is grappling with, do try out prune juice and see how its magic works on your little one.
FAQ’s
1. Should I Give Dried Prunes or Prune Juice to Help my Baby’s Constipation?
Tiny babies cannot chew anything. For young babies, dried prunes can be quite hard. They tend to stick to the teeth.
2. Can I Give my 9 Month Old Prune Juice Daily?
Yes, as long as the quantity is not much. However, you need to give their body to learn to digest foods rather than helping. Do consult your doctor for an opinion and dosage.
3. Can I Give Prune Juice for My 4 Month Old?
No. It is recommended only for children above 6 months of age. Until 6 months, the babies’ stomachs are very sensitive and prunes can irritate them.
4. How Long Does Prune Juice Take to Work in Babies?
It will take a day’s time. It can take anywhere between 12–72 hours. Do not expect instant results.
Read Also: 10 Foods That Will Help Relieve Constipation In Babies
