Stress in babies: what to do to relieve it

The frequency with which the baby defecates varies from time to time with the age and with the changes in food, being very common that stress arises especially between the first and the second month after the child starts eating solid foods.

To prevent and fight baby stress, it is important to breastfeed the baby in the first few months, in addition to giving foods rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, according to the pediatrician’s guidance, which helps to improve bowel function and hydrate las heces, facilitating their elimination.

what to do

To combat stress in the baby, it is important to give him healthy foods that favor the functioning of the intestine, in addition to providing him with plenty of water. In this way, to relieve the baby’s stress it is important:

1. Give foods with laxative effect

After 6 months, the pediatrician can indicate the consumption of foods that have a laxative effect, helping to improve bowel function and promote evacuation. So, some of the foods that can be indicated are:

• fruits: papaya, naranja con el bagazo, ciruela negra, mandarin and durazno;
• Cooked hojas vegetables: wild col, broccoli, spinach;
• vegetables: zanahoria, camote, remolacha, calabaza;
• Whole grains: avena, wheat sage.

It is not recommended to give laxative medicines, mineral oil or baby laxatives such as cascara sagrada or hojas de sen, unless they are indicated by a pediatrician, as they can irritate the intestine causing gas and abdominal discomfort.

2. Stimulate the consumption of water

In addition to feeding, it is essential to give water to the baby throughout the day, especially when starting solid foods such as purees and toles, to soften them. It may also be necessary to make the purees, soups and soups a little more liquid, adding more water so that the baby’s heces are more hydrated.

Babies who only feed on mother’s milk receive enough water from the mother’s milk, but if they continue to be hard and dry, talk to the pediatrician so that more water is offered between milk drinks. He knows when he can start giving water to the baby.

3. Avoid foods that cause stress in the baby

In addition to offering foods that help to soothe the baby’s intestines, it is also important to avoid foods that cause stress such as green bananas, guayaba, pears and manzana, especially when they are offered without the shell.

It should also be avoided to include in the baby soup some foods such as porridge, criollo or arracacha, yuca, pasta, ñame, which can cause more stress.

When to go to the doctor

If the baby’s intestines show signs of pain or if the belly is very hard for days in a row, it is important to consult a pediatrician. In addition, in the event that bleeding appears in the intestines or if there are too many dark or white skins, it is also a sign that a bleeding in the intestine or problems in the liver may be occurring, and it is necessary to see a pediatrician. He knows what are the main causes of alterations in the baby’s heces.