Avoiding constipation when his "Safe Foods" are backing him up!

[Kta400]

Hi all,
My LO is almost 8 months old and he has been on solids for a month now. He is dairy/soy intolerant so I waited awhile to start solids to let his gut mature and heal. I have a few questions about routines and amounts. I started DS with yellow veggies/fruits and he seems to tolerate carrots, squash, yams and peaches very well. I think bananas gave him some hives (not sure but two little red bumps that look like bug bites were on his back for about 4 hours and then gone). Same with pears which I thought was weird since they are suppose to be gentle. Anyway, I was giving DS the safe foods and then he had major constipation. That has resolved but I am just not sure how to avoid backing him up again. I am not sure if I am feeding him too much of each food or too many at one time? I was giving him about a 1-2 tablespoons 1-2 times a day. Usually the food we were trialling and a safe food.

I just started Oatmeal 2 days ago the past 2 days he has been a bear to put down for naps and at night. He has had multiple NW's as well. Could it be the oatmeal? I have no idea if he is teething. I checked out his gums and they don't appear to be red or swollen.

Super confused about how to move forward with solids.

[Buntybear]

Hi, yes it could be the oatmeal. I would stop it for a few days and see if he improves. If he does, trial it again and see what happens. It 'could' be a reaction to wheat that can get into oats sometimes.

When Olly had hives I thought they were bug bites at first as I had never seen hives before! Sounds like he is a sensitive litlle fellow and you are taking it absolutley right to be adding things slowly and watching carefully for a reaction.

As for the constipation, Olly had a bit if this when we were weaning. There are some things that can be constipating ie baby rice. He seemed to grow out of it as he matured. Again it will be trial and error for you.

HTH x

[Kta400]

Thank you Buntybear! I do think it is the oatmeal. Last night he woke up multiple times again and he was very gassy. I will give it a rest. I tried prunes today to see how he does with those. I would like to find a food that will help with the constipation instead of using suppositories. Since pears didn't work for him I thought prunes might. I just hope he can handle the fiber.

[Buntybear]

Pureed prunes worked for Olly 

[*Kara*]

Apricots and peaches are laxative as well... as are peas   Carrots can constipate and so can apples/bananas.

An ounce of warm water can get things moving as well

Be careful with suppositories - LO's can become dependent on them. 

[Lemonthyme]

I'd check with a health care professional about the concerns you have on reactions to certain foods.  I had a similar situation where my son's eczema flared up on his chest when he had egg the first time.  My health visitor said it was extremely rare for that to happen if it was a true allergy without his face coming up as well where the food had touched his skin so to try it again in a small quantity to check (and he was fine.)

I'm not a health care professional so it's worth checking with someone who is because it would be a shame to limit his diet if it's not necessary.

[Kta400]

Thanks everyone! Prunes seem to have worked! It is amazing how quickly they can get backed up!
Lemonthyme - thanks for the advise. I will talk to our pediatrician.

[*Kara*]

Lemonthyme - LOVE your blog!  You have some amazing recipe ideas - I have bookmarked it!

Katie - YAY for prunes!

[Lemonthyme]

Thanks Kara!  You've made my day!

[*Kara*]

[Kta400]

What is the blog? I would love to check it out too

[Lemonthyme]

It's my blog which has baby, toddler and easy adult recipes on it.  Hope you like!

http://mamacook.blogspot.com/