Old-Time Remedies for Infant Constipation

Many years ago, women were not able to take their infant to the doctor for something as simple as constipation. Doctors were for extreme issues that the woman was not able to treat with her own "concoctions." Many old-time remedies for infant constipation were discovered by trial and error. They just tried different remedies until something worked.

By the Mouth

• Castor oil was the cure-all medicine, and it was used to treat infant constipation as well. Feeding the infant a few drops of castor oil helped to lubricate the colon and add moisture.

  Water was also used as a cure, as water was thought to flush out the colon. Water allows the bowel movement to be soft. When dehydration occurs there is less moisture in the digestive tract.

  Mothers have known for centuries that prune juice will act as a laxative. Babies were fed prune juice if it was available. If there were no prunes, the mother would use whatever juice she had on hand and hope for the best.

  An old mountain or Native American recipe was to brew up some catnip tea. Catnip grows wild in the mountains, and the leaves were boiled in water, cooled and fed to the infant. It would cure colic as well as constipation.

Massaging and Exercising

• Massage tends to relieve infant constipation. An old-time remedy involved rubbing warm oil, such as castor oil or mineral oil, on the infant's stomach and massaging it in. This actually will relax the colon and calm the baby, making it easier for the baby to pass a harder stool.

  Exercising the baby's legs in turn stimulates the colon. This will help a baby to pass a hard stool as well. Lay the baby on his back and gently pump the legs as if he were riding a bicycle. Gently push both legs toward the stomach then straighten them out to achieve the same result.

  This exercising motion will also help relieve colic by expelling any excess air the baby may have in her stomach. It may also ease the stomach pain that was thought to be constipation.

Warning

• Folk remedies have been handed down for centuries, and could possibly be misquoted. These suggestions are not meant to be medical advice, and should not be used to treat your infant's constipation without your doctor's approval. Consult a physician before treating your infant, as constipation could be a sign of something serious. Never give an infant any herbs before consulting with your pediatrician.