In many cases infant babies become constipated and are unable to pass stool without a noticeable grunt or cry for help. If an infant strains from trying to have a bowel movement more than likely he or she may be constipated. Constipation is painful for adults so one can only imagine what a little bundle of joy must be going through when trying to pass stool. The good thing is, certain natural alkaline foods, like pears, can help relieve babies from constipation, according to American Academy of Pediatrics.
Constipation develops when food waste doesn’t move fast enough through the digestive system. A natural treatment for infants suffering from constipation is to give them some form of pears. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, pureed pears or pear juice can be helpful in preventing and reducing constipation. The source explains that for infants, the juice from a pear forces the body to draw fluid into the digestive tract, which ultimately helps to loosen stool.
Pear juice has a lot of sugar in it, so it should not be given to an infant before 1 month of age. Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Foundation recommends that an infant should consume 1 ounce of juice per month of age per day. So if a child is a 3-month old, he or she should not have more than 3 ounces of fruit juice per day.
The reason pears are so effective in relieving, preventing and treating constipation is because they are very high in fiber. If a child lacks fiber in their diet they may develop constipation issues, according to sources. Fiber in the diet helps to add water and bulk to stool, which makes it easier for the digestive system to work efficiently.
A medium sized pear with the skin has 5.5 grams of fiber. Finding the recommended amount of fiber a day to give a child is best.
