Constipation is a common problem in infants with DS. The suspected reason is low tone in the abdominal region. While breastfed babies rarely experience constipation, sometimes the foods the mother eats can cause some problems in the gut of the baby. When we made the transition from breastmilk to solids, we saw some slowing of our daughter’s digestion. Along the way we have collected remedies to help bring relief to the baby. Here is my list of things that will help move the bowels.
1.) Place 1T of black raisins in 1/2c water 8-10 hours. Give one tablespoon of the water. Allow 4-5 hours for it to take effect.
2.) Place no more than 2 drops of castor oil in the naval and massage into the stomach starting at the naval area and moving along the GI tract in ever growing clockwise circles. Be careful not to use any more than this as babies are sensitive and it will make for very loose stools. Look for a bowel movement in 2-6 hours.
3.) For a child, I would give magnesium glycinate, as it doesn’t cause diarrhea. For a child over the age of 2, 400mg is fine. If you are using magnesium citrate you give it until there are loose stools, then *back off* by a hundred mg or so. Example, if 400 mg of magnesium citrate causes loose stools, give a daily dose of 300 mg as a preventative measure.
4.) Vitamin C – stir powdered acerola powder into 4 oz. of water or juice and repeat until bowels move.
5.) Probiotics – BioKult is one of the best on the market. For infants, dip your wet pinkie fingertip into the probiotics powder and let your baby suck it off your finger. Repeat 3 to 4 times per day. As the child gets older, you can mix one capsule of probiotics into the total daily liquids. Probiotics can and ought to be administered from day two of the baby’s life in my opinion.
6.) Food sensitivities – begin a food diary to look for reactions to specific foods. Begin eliminating foods that cause constipation.
7.) Daily massage paying extra care to the stomach region. Alwasy massage clockwise while facing your baby. Sesame oil is highly beneficial for constipation. Follow with a warm bath after a sesame oil massage.
