Best Baby Formula for Constipation: The Ultimate Guide

It is common for infants to become constipated when they begin your familes trusted baby formula, in fact, up to 30% of newborns have this trouble. Choosing nutrition that improves your baby’s digestion and offers an organic diet mimicking breast milk can help alleviate the symptoms or stop digestive distress altogether. 

Babies sometimes have a slow digestive system because the baby formula is nutrient-dense to target growth and development specifically. Your little one’s system works to absorb all the protein, vitamins, and minerals, which leaves little to digest.

There are additional causes of constipation in formula-fed babies involving changes in diet, allergies, and individual digestive worries that are unique to your infant.

It is common for your baby to become constipated when switching to infant formula from breast milk due to the challenges of a bigger protein.

When preparing baby formula, always use the amount of powder recommended on the packaging. Using too much powder can make through off nutrients, cause dehydration, or cause constipation.

Cows' milk allergy or intolerance can cause a wide range of symptoms, including skin reactions and digestive worries such as stomachache, vomiting, colic, diarrhea, or constipation are all possible symptoms that may need a second look. 

We suggest speaking directly to your qualified practitioner regarding cow’s milk allergy or intolerance for specialized care. 

There are several reasons your baby may not get enough fluids. Dehydration can happen when infants are teething, sick (such as a cold, a throat, or ear infection), or if they are older, not drinking enough fluids with their food.

Proper fluids are needed to ease digestive functions and ensure overall health.

In older babies, constipation can be caused by simply introducing solid nutrition or not getting enough fiber from organic fruits, vegetables, and porridges in the newly formed diet. 

Formula-fed babies are more likely to be constipated than those exclusively breastfed. Formula is thicker than breastmilk and has larger proteins that take longer to absorb and, for some littles, can be harder to digest.

Suppose your little one has been struggling digestively for some time. In that case, we recommend talking with your qualified practitioner about a baby formula that suits your infant’s specific needs or potentially supplementing it with digestive enzymes to facilitate easier digestion.

It is worth noting that switching baby formulas too quickly and too many times can cause or make the effects of constipation worse, so take your time in choosing the perfect formula and allow a couple of weeks for gut flora to settle.

The European Commission regulates the requirements and exclusions of European baby formula just as the FDA oversees US baby formula. These agencies operate similarly, but their ideas of what is considered proper nutrition for an infant could be similar.

From minor ingredient amounts to significant differences in nutritional content and adherence, the EU and FDA each have different ideals of what should be included and what should be excluded in your baby's nutrition.

Traditional American baby formulas are manufactured using cheap and processed ingredients with empty calories that give no nutritional benefits to infants. American pediatrician Dr. Lustig was noted as saying that currently available infant formulas in the United States have such high sugar contents that they are basically “baby milkshakes.”

On the other hand, European infant formulas are manufactured under strict organic farming practices without processed sugars.

Despite its approved use in the US, the European Union (EU) prohibits carrageenan in all infant formula. Carrageenan used in infant formula can irritate the baby’s digestive system and result in many problems, including severe constipation.

In its 2003 review, Opinion on the Opinion on the Opinion on the , the European Commission (EC) reaffirmed its position on the use of carrageenan in infant formula. The European commission stated that it remained inadvisable to use carrageenan in infant formula that is fed from birth on for any reason, medical or not.

European baby formulas are produced using organic farming practices that have your infants' growth and development at the forefront, unlike the FDA, which has other interests when approving potentially worrisome nutrition.

Pure, clean natural ingredients used in the European formula can deliver nutrition that eases digestive systems and supports healthy bowel movements in your infant.

Infant digestive systems are so immature that constipation can be a real problem when exposed to most over the counter, non-organic formulas out there.

When it comes to constipation in formula-fed babies, your infant's nutrition is often the key to solving the problem.

Along with a possible change in your infant formulas, there are other measures you can try to help treat constipation. 

In your formula-fed baby, always ensure that you measure the water first before adding the powdered milk. This keeps the nutrients balanced, so your baby’s system is not taxed.

If your baby is over six months old and ready, according to your family doctor, offer water (boiled, filtered, and cooled first) outside your regular bottles. 

To help your baby's bowels move, try a variation of a simple "I love you" massage technique.

With "I L U" in mind, start at the bottom right side of your baby's abdomen and, using small, gentle circular movements, gently rub toward the top right, forming the letter "I". Stop when you feel the rib cage.

Repeat this action, but also then move across the abdomen just above the belly button toward the baby's left side, forming an upside-down "L". Repeat this progression a third time, also moving downward toward the bottom left of the baby's abdomen to form an upside-down "U". Repeat this entire "I love you" massage pattern five to ten times.

If your baby is older than six months, add some extra fruit and vegetables to their diet to boost their soluble fiber intake.

If your child is older than nine months, adding stewed organic prunes or apricots to their meal may help. They can have up to 3 tablespoons, 3 times a week.

Cereal that has bran may also help with mild constipation. Older babies can try prune juice diluted with water (half prune juice and half water). Start slowly, with 10 milliliters. Increase as needed until they can do a soft baby stool.

Anytime you make dietary changes, please consult your family caregiver to ensure your breastfed and formula-fed babies receive the appropriate nutrition for their age and developmental needs.

For babies, sometimes doing more “tummy time” and “bicycle maneuvers” periodically throughout the day can help with constipation. The more your baby moves, the higher the probability that their bowels will move.

Constipation is common. Often, it will pass without intervention or with minor help with the best baby formula or other strategies listed above.

If you continue to worry that your breastfed baby or formula-fed baby has infant constipation that is uncomfortable or painful, it may be time to call your family doctor for additional baby-safe strategies.

In extreme cases, rare illnesses can cause infant constipation, such as problems with nerve endings in the bowel, problems relating to the spinal cord, thyroid deficiency, and other metabolic disorders.

Your healthcare provider may suggest an infant glycerin suppository. Glycerin suppositories are only meant for occasional use. It is not recommended to use mineral oil, stimulant laxatives, or enemas to treat infant constipation unless specifically introduced by your qualified provider.

Finding the perfect baby formula to ease constipation is imperative to maintaining overall health and well-being. European baby formulas have the answer for your constipated baby.

The Milky Box has unique nutrition to support every baby- physically, digestively, and cognitively. Our team is here to help with your European baby formula needs.