There’s no one typical pattern which constipated babies display. It really depends on the individual baby. Some babies grunt and strain even if they are passing a soft poo.
If constipation is causing pain and discomfort then it’s more likely the baby will cry, go red in the face and look as if they are trying to poo, though nothing is coming out.
- They may not want to feed as much or as frequently as they usually do.
- They’re not as interested in solid food. Their preference may be for sucking and milk - either at the breast or bottles.
- They may start sucking on the breast or bottle and then pause while they strain to poo.
- They may look like they want to feed but the contractions in their bowel are causing them pain.
- They’re just not happy. They may want to be held more, sleep for shorter periods, need more comforting and seem restless.