Raisingkids.co.uk's paediatric dietitian, David Swain, explains why making the switch from breast to bottle could be the cause of constipation.

Raisingkids member's query
Two days ago, I changed from breast/formula feeds to 100% formula feed and I think this has made my 4-week-old daughter constipated. How do I stop her from being constipated? Is there anything I can do to help or will nature naturally take its course? Please help me as I cannot bear to see her in any discomfort.

David's advice
I am sorry to hear that your daughter is constipated. Constipation is a sizable problem in babies although it is important to bear in mind that the frequency in which healthy babies open their bowels can vary greatly. Some can pass a stool every feed whilst others may only pass one stool in seven days.

The fact that this problem started after you had stopped breastfeeding is not surprising as breastfed babies tend to have stools with a soft consistency whereas bottle-fed babies are more prone to pass dry, harder faeces.

The major dietary factor to be aware of is to ensure that your baby has adequate fluids. At 4 weeks you should be aiming to give approximately 150mls milk/kg body weight per day. Thus if your daughter is 4kg (for example) then you should be aiming for approximately 600mls milk/day.

Breastfeeding on demand ensures that the baby gets the right amount of milk but, when bottle-feeding, you need to be more meticulous regarding the volume you give. It is also important to check that you are making up the feeds properly as over concentrating feeds may cause problems.

If your daughter is having adequate fluids and the problem continues I would recommend going to your GP. He may prescribe some laxatives that make the stools more bulky and therefore softer.

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