Diet and dehydration, toilet training, emotional upsets and varying activity levels can all cause constipation in babies.

Symptoms include infrequent bowel activity, straining to pass stools, being irritable and unhappy, loss of appetite and abdominal discomfort and pain.

What are the treatment options?

Increasing the infant's fluids is a must. If the baby has not yet been weaned onto solid food, advise parents to give extra cooled, boiled water between their normal feeds and to continue making up formula milk as usual. If the infant has been weaned, parents should offer plenty of water and include more fruit and vegetables in their diet. Meals should be frequent and regular, and parents should encourage good toilet habits. Gently massaging the baby's abdomen, moving their legs and keeping them active can also help.

A healthcare professional may also recommend a special infant formula milk for constipation. Examples: Aptamil Comfort, Cow & Gate Comfort.