But when they see their baby suffering from some problem or the other, they feel that they have failed to accomplish their mission and they tend to blame themselves. It is quite common for babies to undergo various petty health problems during the initial stages of their life. However, digestive problems is babies can become a matter of great concern for new parents.
Digestive problems are quite common in babies and can occur because of some reason or for no reason at all. Digestive problems in babies can keep them up as well as you all night. Babies cannot express their discomfort through words and hence parents should keep track of their baby’s bowel movements and other factors to recognize the symptoms of any digestive problems. The best thing to do is take necessary precautions to treat and to keep all such digestive disorders at bay.
But baby’s digestive system is not fully functional and exposure to any kind of food might disrupt its digestive system during the initial days. It is very important that you know about all possible digestive problems in babies in order to deal with those efficiently. Here is a list of common digestive disorders in babies and ways to cope with those the right way.
Spit Ups
Spit up is a very common digestive disorder in babies. Spit up is nothing but a form of mild vomiting. Most infants experience a series of spit ups soon after having a meal. Swallowing some amount of air during breast feeding can also trigger spit ups. Parents often feel concerned about the fact that babies might lose out on all the nutrients due to frequent spit ups. But spit ups involve vomiting in negligible amounts only and hence it does not lead to loss of nutrition and does not affect the infant much.
Food passes through the esophagus to the stomach and the presence of a valve stops the food from reverting back to the esophagus. But the same valve is not fully developed in babies and this is the major cause behind spit ups. It is not a serious issue and it gets sorted on it own, as the valve develops with age. However, you can take ceretain precautions to minimize the frequent spit ups.
Never overfeed your baby. Most parents tend to feed their baby even after they are full which leads to spit ups. So feed your baby just enough food. Feed your baby frequently in tiny quantities. Instead of feeding your baby large meals few times a day, you can try feeding your baby, food in less quantity many times a day. This will prevent reflux and spit ups. Also ensure that you burp your baby every time after a meal. Burping your baby is the best way to prevent spit ups.
Right posture plays a very vital role in keeping spit ups at bay. Babies cannot do that so you will have to ensure that you support your baby the right way. It is best to keep the baby upright soon after a meal. Do not let your baby lie on its back to prevent spit ups after having food.
Dress your baby in comfortable and loose fitting clothes. Avoid making your baby wear clothes that are tight on bottom. Even the diapers should not be tight fitted as that might cause lot of discomfort to the baby. Tight clothes can press against the tummy and result in reflux and spit ups.
Constipation
Yet another common digestive problems in babies is that of constipation. Constipation is a condition because of which the frequency of passing stool is reduced. If your baby does not pass stool for more than a day, then you should seek medical supervision. Some rare cases of constipation can be as a result of some diseases. So it is always safe to consult a doctor. Constipation occurs when the baby is shifted from breast milk to solid food, bottle milk, formula etc.
The digestive system of the baby takes time to get accustomed to this new change and hence results in constipation. Babies who are breast fed never face constipation problems as breast milk is easy to digest. But other foods are not as easy to digest and hence cause constipation. Here are a list of things that you can try to treat and prevent your baby’s constipation.
Feed your baby plenty of fluids like water and fruit juices throughout the day. Lot of fluids throughout the day is a must for getting rid of constipation. You can try massaging your baby’s stomach to treat constipation. However, do not massage your baby‘s stomach if your baby does not like it. Feed your baby semi-solid foods that can be digested easily to keep constipation at bay.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a digestive disorder which results in frequent bowel movements. Bowels are observed to be very loose and watery. It can trigger as a result of some bacterial or other infections. Diarrhea mostly disappears on its own with time. But if it persists for more than 2-3 days then it can result in dehydration. So you should make a visit to your doctor if the symptoms of diarrhea lasts for more than a day. However, you can take some steps to help your baby deal with diarrhea.
Keep oral re-hydration solution handy at all times as babies are prone to diarrhea and oral re-hydration therapy works wonders for diarrhea. Plenty of fluids in the form of soups, juices and water are must to cope with diarrhea. Bland foods like apple sauces and other fruits and vegetable paste and sauces can be fed to your baby. Avoid spicy and oily foods as such foods can worsen your baby’s condition. Some babies tend to become lactose intolerant in case of diarrhea. Avoid feeding your baby diary products during such times.
