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Your Complete Guide To Prune Juice For Babies Who Have Constipation

Does your little one have constipation?  This experience can be painful for babies, and it can be just as painful for you to watch your baby be in discomfort.  Thankfully, there are a number of remedies for constipation in babies, and one of those remedies is prune juice. Known to help with constipation, this fruit drink is a great way to help your baby overcome constipation.

If you are wondering how to feed your baby prune juice, you have come to the right place. Today, I will be going over how prune juice for babies can be helpful, as well as the pros and cons of it and how to give it to your baby.  Hopefully, this article helps you understand more about prune juice for babies.  Let's get started.

What Is Prune Juice For Babies?

Prune juice is a great food for getting rid of constipation.  It is actually one of the few foods that you can give your little one to help with constipation.  This is because babies, especially infants, are too young to eat foods such as vegetables, whole grains, and other foods that help with constipation.  Although adults can eat the whole fruit of a prune, babies need it made into juice.  That way, even the youngest of babies can drink it.

How Do I Know If My Baby Is Constipated?

You should be able to easily tell if your baby is constipated.  Because most babies get constipation when they begin trying solid foods, you should by then know how often your little one goes to the bathroom.  If your baby begins to have bowel movements less often, or fewer than three bowel movements a week, it is a sign that your baby is constipated.

Other signs that your baby is constipated include the following:

  • Crying and discomfort when going to the bathroom.
  • Dry, hard, pellet-like stools that your baby has trouble passing.
  • Foul-smelling stool.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • A hard stomach.
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What Causes Constipation?

Although prune juice is very helpful for getting rid of constipation, you should also try to find out what is causing constipation.  That way, you may be able to change your baby's diet so that he or she has constipation less often.

One common cause of constipation is formula milk.  The formula can be harder to digest than breastmilk, which can cause the stools to be more difficult to pass.  A breastfed baby is unlikely to get constipated.

Your baby may also get constipation as you introduce solid foods to him or her.  This is because your baby's body is trying to adjust to the new foods.  Another reason for constipation is because your baby is dehydrated.  As your baby stops drinking milk and starts eating solid foods, he or she will not be taking in as many fluids.  As a result, he or she may get dehydrated.

Lastly, constipation can also be caused by a food allergy, food poisoning, or a problem with the way the body absorbs food, known as a metabolic disorder.  Although very rare, constipation in babies can be caused by congenital conditions.  These can include a disease where the large intestine doesn’t function properly (Hirschsprung's disease) or a condition where the anus and rectum have not formed properly (anorectal malformation).  If constipation continues, it is best to talk with your baby's doctor.

How To Make Prune Juice For Babies

You can easily make your own prune juice at home.  To do this, you'll need to choose enough prunes for your baby.  Don't buy too many prunes though, because your baby only needs 2 to 3 ounces of prune juice a day.  Next, simmer the prunes gently for about 5 minutes until tender.  From there, blend the fruit in a food processor until they start to form a puree.  Don't forget to dilute the prune juice by adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of prune juice in 2 to 3oz of water.

How To Serve Prune Juice To Babies

It is important that you serve prune juice in a cup rather than a feeding bottle to reduce the chances of tooth decay.  Because some babies may not know how to drink from a cup, it may take a little while before your baby starts to drink.  A sippy cup will work fine too, but if possible try to use a cup.

It is up to you if you want to serve the prune juice cold or at room temperature.  You may want to experiment and see what temperature your child likes the prune juice at.  Another option for giving your baby prune juice is to make a prune juice popsicle.  This idea may be helpful if your child is teething because it gives something for your child to suck on.  Just remember to clean your baby’s gum afterward with a cloth so that no sugar is left in the gum.

Serving the Proper Dosage

The younger the infant, the less prune juice they should be drinking because of the size of their stomach.  Usually, around 2 to 3 ounces of prune juice a day is enough for babies, but a little more can be given if they are older.

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When Can I Give My Baby Prune Juice?

As helpful as prune juice can be for babies, there is a stage in life when your child shouldn't drink it.  It is recommended that babies under six months of age should not drink prune juice.  As for eating prunes themselves, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends giving solid prunes only after the baby is six months old when he can have other solid foods such as fruits and vegetables.  But the best way to feed prunes to your child is to make juice out of it.

Will Prune Baby Food Help My Baby?

Although prune juice is the best option, prune baby food can help your baby's constipation too.  Make sure you choose baby food that is suitable for your child's age.  Also, try selecting baby food made with 100% natural prunes and does not have added sugar, flavoring, or preservatives.

How Soon Will I See Results?

Each child is different, which means each child will recover from constipation at a different amount of time.  Some children recover from constipation in just a little while after drinking prune juice.  For others, it takes a few days before the constipation is fully gone.  Continue giving your baby prune juice until the constipation is gone.  Make sure that you give only the recommended dosage.  Don't give your child more than that, because your baby could get diarrhea.  If constipation continues for a week or longer, talk to your baby's doctor.

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Will Apple Juice Work Too?

Yes, apple juice can be used for constipation in babies as well.  Apple juice for constipation works to reduce infant constipation because its sugars, liquids, and pectin give it a mild laxative effect.  It is recommended to offer 1 to 2 ounces of apple juice from a bottle or spoon up to twice a day to help ease the passage of stool through your baby's digestive tract.

Don't give your child too much apple juice, because juices are high in sugar.  This means that your child may not want to eat as much breastmilk if you give him or her too much apple juice.  Keep in mind that applesauce does not have the same benefits as apple juice. Applesauce can actually make constipation worse, so make sure that you only give your baby apple juice.

Benefits Of Prune Juice For Babies

There are many benefits of prune juice.  Not only does it help relieve constipation, but it also has a number of nutritional benefits.  You may even benefit from drinking some too!

Helps With Constipation

Obviously, prune juice is helpful with constipation.  Adults with constipation can use it too. If your baby is battling with constipation, prune juice is the first remedy you should turn to. Although each child is different, prune juice should help your baby right away.

Regulates Cholesterol

Prune juice has a large number of chlorogenic acids, which help reduce the bad cholesterol levels in the body.  Although it is not common for babies to have high cholesterol, it is still possible.

Prune Juice Fights Cancer

Protect your little one from cancer at a young age by feeding him or her prune juice.  Prune juice protects the brain from free radical damage, thus helping prevent diseases like cardiovascular damage and cancer.

Prevents Anemia

Prune juice has a high iron content, which is important as it helps prevent anemia.  Iron deficiency can cause problems like fatigue and disruption in growth, but this is reduced by drinking prune juice.

Helps With Hair Growth

Prune juice has the minerals and vitamins required to keep hair and hair follicles healthy, making it shinier and fuller.

Prevents Diabetes

The number of natural sugars in prune juice prevents high blood sugar levels and prevents diabetes.  Teenage diabetes is becoming increasingly common, so prune juice can be helpful to prevent diabetes in your little one.

Strengthens Bones

Proper bone development is important from while your baby is in the womb all the way till he or she is a teenager.  Prune juice has high potassium content, which is a mineral that has been closely associated with bone health.  It strengthens bones and reduces the chances of osteoporosis in the future.

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Side Effects Of Prune Juice For Babies

Prune juice can only cause side effects if you give your baby too much of it.  If you do, your baby may start to get diarrhea.  This isn't harmful to your baby, but it can be uncomfortable and difficult to clean up.  But if you give your baby just a small amount of prune juice, he or she shouldn't deal with diarrhea.

Final Thoughts

Constipation can be painful for babies.  That is why prune juice is a great option for your little one if he or she is dealing with constipation.  In addition to helping your child go to the bathroom, prune juice also strengthens bones, fights cancer, promotes hair growth, and has many more health benefits.  The only downside to eating prune juice is that it can cause diarrhea.  But this shouldn't happen unless you feed your baby a lot of prune juice.

In this article, I went over common questions that mothers ask about prune juice for babies, as well as how to feed it to your baby.  Your child will only need about 2 to 3 ounces of prune juice a day.  Older children can have a little more, but it is important that you don't give too much prune juice to your baby.

Unless your baby's constipation is serious, it is recommended to only give prune juice to babies six months old and older.  It is also recommended to feed it to your baby in a cup since your baby could get tooth decay if he or she drinks out of a bottle.  You can also make prune juice popsicles for your baby as long as you wash your baby's gums afterward. Overall, prune juice is an excellent home remedy for treating constipation.  I hope your baby now fully recovers from constipation that he or she has been dealing with.

Related Article:  Is That Normal?  A Helpful Guide to your Baby's Skin, Spit up, and Poop

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