If your child is under the age of 12 months and is breastfed, keep in mind that the consistency and frequency of stool will change once food is introduced. Additionally, breast milk will no longer have a laxative effect. Establishing a regular diet may take some experimentation. For instance, large amounts of high fat dairy products may constipate some children and have no effect on others.
Baby Foods: Foods that have a laxative effect: (4-8 months of age):
Baby Oatmeal Pears Apple Juice
Peas Carrots Pears and Raspberry Combo
Baby Prunes Green Beans Spinach
Prunes with Pears Sweet Potatoes Mixed Grain Cereal
Blueberries Mixed Vegetables Baby Prune Juice
Constipating Foods to AVOID after the age of 4 months:
Rice Cereal Potatoes without Skin Yams
Corn Meal Bananas Mango
Artichokes Tangerines Applesauce
Combination Baby Foods containing Bananas and Applesauce
Rutabagas White Bread
Papayas High Sugar Cereals White Pasta
White Rice Oranges Winter Squash
Foods to Introduce at 8-10 months of age that have a laxative effect:
Anything from the Baby Foods List
Whole Wheat Macaroni and Cheese or Pasta Canned Pears
Fresh Strawberries, Watermelon, Honeydew Melon, Peeled Grapes and Kiwis
Steamed Broccoli, Green Beans, Cauliflower, Peas, Avocados Whole Wheat Waffles
Whole Wheat Veggie Pizza Whole Wheat Bread or Toast Graham Cracker Sticks or Crackers
Whole Wheat Pita
Foods to Introduce from 10 Months on that have a Laxative effect:
Anything from the 4-10 Month Old Food Lists Raw Spinach Blackberries
Green Cabbage Carrots Kernel Corn
Cucumbers Cauliflower Raw Broccoli
Tomatoes Green Peas Prune Juice
Almonds Baked Potato with Skin Raisins
Sesame Seeds Green Beans Melons
Brazil Nuts Pears Chick Peas
Split Peas Lentils Fresh Pineapple
Guava Bulgur Kiwi
Graham Crackers Popcorn Sweet Potatoes
Lima Beans Corn Tortillas Parsnips
Kidney Beans Whole Wheat Breads Grapes
Strawberries Whole Wheat Pastas Raspberries
Blueberries Bran Cereals: Raisin, Bran Flakes Chunky Peanut Butter
Cranberries Whole Wheat Pita Green/Red Peppers
Dates Barley Mushrooms
Prunes Rye Bread Northern Beans
Provide enough dairy products to meet calcium needs for age:
0-6 Months 210 mg
7-12 Months 270 mg
Ages 1-3 500 mg/day
Ages 4-8 800 mg/day
Boys and Girls Ages 9-18 1,300 mg/day
Calcium Rich Foods:
Milk Cheese Yogurt Calcium-fortified orange juice Soy milk Tofu Broccoli Kale Peas Collard greens Beans
If your child is under the age of 12 months and is breastfed, keep in mind that the consistency and frequency of stool will change once food is introduced. Additionally, breast milk will no longer have a laxative effect.
Establishing a regular diet may take some experimentation. For instance, large amounts of high fat dairy products may constipate some children and have no effect on others.
Calcium Rich Foods:
- Milk
- Cheese
- Yogurt
- Calcium-fortified orange juice
- Soy milk
- Tofu
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Peas
- Collard greens
- Beans
Baby Foods: Foods that have a laxative effect: (4-8 months of age):
Constipating Foods to AVOID after the age of 4 months:
Combination Baby Foods containing Bananas and Applesauce
Foods to Introduce at 8-10 months of age that have a laxative effect:
Anything from the Baby Foods List
Fresh Strawberries, Watermelon, Honeydew Melon, Peeled Grapes and Kiwis
