Constipation Medicine For Babies Uk

Primary care diagnosis and management of idiopathic constipation in infants.

Constipation medicine for babies uk.

The laxatives used for children are broadly divided into two types. 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. Laxatives made from a malt barley extract maltsupex or psyllium powder metamucil can soften. Moving a baby s legs can help relieve constipation.

These are rich in fibre. You may notice a difference within a few days. Over the counter laxatives for babies over 6 months may be helpful when other techniques do not work. Make changes to your child s diet.

Macrogols also called polyethylene glycols are a type of laxative that pulls fluid into the bowel keeping the stools faeces soft. Simple changes to your child s diet and potty training can help treat constipation. 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. The treatment for constipation depends on your child s age.

Sometimes it takes a few weeks before their symptoms improve. Your gp will explain how and when to use the medicine to help ease your baby s constipation. Data sources include ibm watson micromedex updated 2 sep 2020 cerner multum updated 1 sep 2020 wolters kluwer updated. 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.

Constipation may be acute or chronic. If your baby is formula fed you can offer them extra drinks of water between feeds. Laxatives for children commonly come either as sachets or a powder that is made up into a drink or as liquid syrup. Treatment starts with education of parents carers and children as appropriate for age.

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. He may recommend medication to ease your baby s constipation nice 2015b most likely a laxative containing macrogol or lactulose nice 2015b. As with adults exercise and movement tend to stimulate a baby s bowels. Home remedies for constipation in a baby include.