Constipation Medicine For Babies Uk

Laxatives are often recommended for children who are eating solid foods alongside diet and lifestyle changes.

Constipation medicine for babies uk.

Sometimes it takes a few weeks before their symptoms improve. Simple changes to your child s diet and potty training can help treat constipation. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice diagnosis or treatment. Laxatives made from a malt barley extract maltsupex or psyllium powder metamucil can soften.

The treatment for constipation depends on your child s age. In general try not to worry too much if your baby becomes constipated. The laxatives used for children are broadly divided into two types. Macrogols also called polyethylene glycols are a type of laxative that pulls fluid into the bowel keeping the stools faeces soft.

Data sources include ibm watson micromedex updated 2 sep 2020 cerner multum updated 1 sep 2020 wolters kluwer updated. He may recommend medication to ease your baby s constipation nice 2015b most likely a laxative containing macrogol or lactulose nice 2015b. The longer your child is constipated the more difficult it can be for them to get back to normal so make sure you get help early. Acute constipation 1 3 weeks generally precipitated by transient illness eg viral or febrile illness ensure adequate fluid intake good diet and may need lactulose or movicol laxido cosmocol for a short period of 1 week followed by gp review and reassessment thereafter.

Make changes to your child s diet. As with adults exercise and movement tend to stimulate a baby s bowels. A review of childhood constipation and its management as a whole is outwith the scope of this platform and is covered comprehensively by nice guidance 1 rather the focus here will be idiopathic constipation in babies up to the age of 1 year particularly in relation to infant feeding. Treatment starts with education of parents carers and children as appropriate for age.

You may notice a difference within a few days. Moving a baby s legs can help relieve constipation. Primary care diagnosis and management of idiopathic constipation in infants. If your baby is formula fed you can offer them extra drinks of water between feeds.

Over the counter laxatives for babies over 6 months may be helpful when other techniques do not work. Home remedies for constipation in a baby include. These are rich in fibre. Preventing constipation in babies once your baby is between four to six months old you can start introducing more porridge and fruit or vegetable purées into their diet.