Prunes as a way to help babies with constipation

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Ekaterina Rakitina Doctor Dietrich Bonhoeffer Klinikum, Germany

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Article last updated: 04/20/2019

The first year of a child’s life is the most important and difficult. The body of newborns adapts to the world around them, and their parents have to face many difficulties in helping them with this. One of the most common problems for babies under one year old is intestinal problems.

Prune infusion

The infusion can be given to children from 6 months, and, if necessary, to babies after 3 months, be sure to dilute it with boiled water to reduce the concentration.

It is better to prepare the infusion in the evening. To do this, take about 10 prunes, pitted and washed with boiled water. The berries are poured with 200 ml of boiling water, covered and infused overnight. Before use, the infusion must be strained.

An infant should be given 1 teaspoon of prune infusion per day. If the baby tries this infusion for the first time, then it is better to dilute it a little with boiling water and offer it to the child in the morning to monitor the body’s reaction to unfamiliar food throughout the day.

How to choose a tasty and healthy product

To prepare a healthy and tasty drink (decoction or compote), you need to choose a quality product.

1. Large, fleshy dried fruits will be juicy and sweet. The fruits should be pleasant to the touch, without mucus or unpleasant odor.

2. The black color, rich and matte, indicates proper storage. A shiny, glossy color indicates that chemicals have been used. In addition to the lack of benefit from these berries, poisoning may also occur. If the fruits are brown, it means they have been processed for longer storage.
3. If the prunes are good, then when they get into the water they become covered with a white coating. For others, it does not appear - when immersed, spoiled prunes lose their shape and turn the water a dark, cloudy color.
4. It is better to buy prunes with pits: they are easy to remove, plus the taste will be better and there will be more beneficial properties.

Before using the product, the berries must be thoroughly washed.

In addition to the laxative effect, prunes also have other beneficial properties necessary for a child of any age. He helps:

• increase immunity;
• cope with colds;
• enhance metabolism because it contains a lot of fiber;
• break down fats;
• prevent the deposition of carbohydrates;
• cleanse the body of harmful substances;
• increase vitality;
• relieve fatigue;
• slow down the process of reproduction of E. coli (therefore it is useful to drink in cases of poisoning);
• strengthen the heart muscle.

Prune decoction is not addictive. It can be given to small children starting from 4 months .

At what age should you give the decoction to your baby?

When answering mothers about how many months to give prune decoction to a child, some pediatricians do not support the early introduction of dried fruits into the diet. They believe that if the baby is on guard, complementary feeding is not needed until six months.

WHO recommends at what age prunes can be given to infants - at six months. Moreover, before introducing this product, which has a pleasant taste, the baby should try other fruits and vegetables.

With mother's milk, the beneficial properties of prunes can enter the baby's body.

Infants two to three months of age who suffer from constipation may receive laxatives from prunes in their mother's milk. When breastfeeding a newborn, it is beneficial for her to eat 4-5 pieces or drink a prune drink.

Cook it yourself or buy it

The question of which puree is better: store-bought or homemade always gives rise to a lot of controversy. The only brand that I more or less trust is “Babushkino Basket”. Our Russian manufacturer, which has miraculously proven itself among young toddlers. If you are still worried, the best option would be to make the puree yourself.

Moms recommend Grandma's Basket.

But how to make prune puree? The recipe is incredibly simple.

The fontanel in a newborn performs a protective function. The soft crown tightens differently for everyone. Read more about the size of the fontanel and the time of its disappearance on this page www.o-my-baby.ru/razvitie/kosti/rodnichok.htm.

Few contraindications

Prunes will be fraught with danger if the baby gets carried away with eating dried fruit. Then the opposite effect is guaranteed: treatment of constipation will result in the appearance of diarrhea. Sometimes, with an unjustified increase in the portion of compote or individual intolerance, allergic reactions occur in infants. So pay attention to the dosage.

Prunes will be a contraindication for anyone who suffers from diabetes or is prone to obesity, because dried fruit is considered a fairly high-calorie product: 100 g contains 232 kcal.

Why eat prunes

This information aroused genuine interest, and I decided to learn more about the beneficial and harmful properties of these dried fruits.

• Vitamins A, B1, B2, PP, C - promote growth and full development of the body;
• Pectin substances - participate in the removal of harmful substances from the body;
• Organic acids and sugars – activate the metabolic process;
• Plant fiber - as a prevention of gastrointestinal diseases;
• Potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, sodium - contribute to the normal functioning of all systems in the body;
• Inhibits the development of E. coli and salmonella;
• Stabilizes blood (arterial) pressure;
• Helps in the fight against cancer.

7 troubles - one answer.

• For patients with diabetes;
• For people who are overweight;
• For nursing mothers (with babies up to 3 months);
• If you eat in large quantities, it leads to frequent diarrhea, which removes substances beneficial to the body.

Feed, but do not overfeed. Prunes can cause diarrhea.

The problem of choosing: homemade or purchased

If you decide to introduce this product into your diet, you need to pay attention to the place of purchase and the manufacturer. The most popular place to purchase is the market or store. You can’t choose it solely by appearance: on display windows and counters it always looks very appetizing, sellers know tricks on how to improve the visual qualities of even mediocre-quality goods .

When choosing prunes as a food product for a small child, you must be absolutely sure of its quality

This is due to the fact that many manufacturers treat it with special chemicals that help maintain an attractive appearance, without caring about the quality of the final product.

If you want to make prune tinctures or purees for babies with your own hands, you should dry the fruits yourself. This is not so difficult to do: the main rule for this is to choose very juicy, ripe and large plums, without mechanical damage.

At an early age, a baby is more predisposed to many diseases, because his immunity does not yet have sufficient strength to provide resistance to disease. That is why it is important to choose only high-quality food from trusted manufacturers, or prepare food yourself, having previously studied the technology.

The main causes of constipation in infants

The occurrence of constipation in infants is considered a fairly common occurrence, so due attention is not always paid to it. The main causes of this condition in most cases are related to poor nutrition of the mother or mistakes made when introducing complementary foods. However, if problems with bowel movements occur frequently and additional symptoms appear, you should think about a more serious illness, which requires contacting a pediatrician.

The following reasons for the development of constipation in infants during breastfeeding are identified:

• Incomplete formation of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as its imbalance in interaction with other organ systems, for example, the nervous;
• Recent infectious diseases, including intestinal ones;
• Congenital malformations of the intestine;
• Poor nutrition of a nursing mother or improper introduction of complementary foods;
• Dehydration of the mother or child;
• Incorrect breastfeeding regimen;
• Diseases of the endocrine system (underfunction of the thyroid gland), metabolic disorders (lactose intolerance, celiac enteropathy);
• Taking medications by a woman during lactation.

Recently, psychological constipation associated with neuropsychic stress has been identified. This occurs when there is an unfavorable situation in the family, problems with the mother’s health, as well as a sharp change in living conditions.

Although the frequency of stool in newborns is determined individually, constipation should also be discussed if there is a change in their behavior (tearfulness, lack of appetite, poor sleep) and characteristics of stool (insufficient quantity, increased density, fragmentation).

Regardless of the cause of constipation, along with etiopathogenetic treatment, diet is recommended for both mother and child. An important point in this regard is to ensure sufficient fluid intake, which is achieved with the help of non-carbonated mineral water, various juices and homemade compotes.

This article will discuss the use of prune compote for constipation in a newborn, due to its characteristic properties.

Helpful tips: how to make homemade drinks?

In order to understand the difference between a decoction and an infusion, you need to know how these healthy drinks are prepared.

Preparing the decoction

• This homemade drink is prepared by boiling.
• It should be filtered using gauze while hot.
• The human body gradually absorbs the finished product.
• Prune decoction differs in its duration of action.

This composition can be given to children with frequent constipation.

Preparing the infusion

• It is not necessary to boil the drink, since heat treatment does not preserve as much useful substances as you would if you prepared it without boiling.
• The infusion should be filtered using gauze only when cold.
• The product is absorbed into the body very quickly.
• This homemade drink has a short-term effect.

Either of these two remedies can be given to babies. But don’t forget to dilute it with water the first time. The ready-made healthy drink is also used as a preventive measure.

Of all those presented, compote is considered the most effective composition for constipation. But if you consume a large amount of the drink, an allergic reaction may occur. Here, look at your own wishes, sugar and dry sugar can be excluded altogether.

For whom is dried fruit contraindicated?

Despite the enormous benefits, dried plums are not allowed for consumption by all people.

People suffering from the following diseases should be completely excluded from their diet:

• Diabetes. This product is contraindicated for people with diabetes because it contains large amounts of sugar and pectin.
• Obesity. Due to their high sugar and carbohydrate content, dried fruits are also contraindicated for overweight people.
• Allergy. Individual intolerance can disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, thereby causing severe abdominal pain and diarrhea.
• Stones in the kidneys. The product can provoke the development of urolithiasis and worsen a person’s condition.

In addition, breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women should use it with caution, as it can cause bloating. Prunes for babies can only be consumed in the form of purees, decoctions and tinctures. After reaching 6 months of age, crushed food can be introduced into the diet.

Possible nutrition problems

The main contraindications to eating prunes are problems such as allergies and obesity. Therefore, it is better to coordinate its introduction into baby food with a pediatrician.

Important! Experts warn that you need to be careful when purchasing dried fruits at the market or in a store, as they can be treated with chemicals for beauty. In this form, the fruits can harm the child, causing allergic reactions. It is much healthier to prepare dried plum product with your own hands.

Dried plums are not considered a strong allergen, but allergic symptoms may appear unexpectedly after eating them. Experts say that allergies arise from improper processing and storage, and not from the product. This is what causes reactions such as skin rashes and indigestion.

For your information. According to medical indications, food reactions to prunes occur in those children for whom southern fruits and cherries are allergens.

Prunes, having a high content of vitamins, strengthen the health of a small child. The main thing is to correctly introduce dried fruits into a child’s diet, taking into account their special properties.

Properties

Due to the content of abundant fiber and the presence of mild laxatives, dried plums are effective and help restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, that is, cope with constipation. It is also in demand during diets, since in moderate quantities it speeds up metabolism and removes toxins from the body. Potassium contained in the composition has a diuretic and choleretic effect, and the presence of polyphenols improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system and normalizes blood pressure.

The presence of vitamins B9 and B1 has a positive effect on the nervous system and helps the body fight stress and anxiety. Due to the antioxidants contained in the fruit, it improves the immune system and increases the body's resistance to environmentally hazardous influences. Dried fruit has a high degree of absorption of free radicals; this property helps protect the body's cells from destruction, which has a rejuvenating effect and can be a preventive measure against cancer.

The benefits of prunes are very useful during periods of vitamin deficiency; they compensate for the lack of minerals and vitamins. And the amount of energy value helps restore strength.

Don't go wrong with the portion

The principle “the more you drink, the better it will work” does not work in the case of prune compotes. The highest effectiveness is guaranteed only if the correct dosage is observed, and for children it is very small. So, how much of the drink should you give so that prunes have the best effect on constipation in a baby?

• As when introducing any unfamiliar product, gradual introduction is required when introducing dried fruit. The first portion of decoction and infusion should not exceed 5 ml.
• For the first acquaintance with dried fruit compote, ½ tsp will be enough.
• Prune infusion is sometimes indicated for medicinal use on the recommendation of a doctor for infants less than a month old. In this case, the serving is 1/3 tsp. drink If the effect is long in coming and constipation does not go away, it is permissible to increase the dosage to ½ tsp.

Any drink made from dried fruit is better absorbed in the first half of the day or between feedings.