Baby food prunes for constipation
Should You Give It to Babies for Constipation?
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
In this Article
- Are There Health Benefits of Prune Juice?
- How Much Prune Juice Should I Give a Baby?
Giving prune juice to constipated babies is a common health tip, but is it helpful and safe? Here’s what you need to know.
Are There Health Benefits of Prune Juice?
Prunes are dried plums that are full of nutrients, fiber, and natural sugars. One type of sugar called sorbitol acts like a laxative that can help with constipation. As a result, prune juice also has a lot of sorbitol and can help with constipation.
Prunes have many benefits that can improve your health and be a part of a healthy diet.
Energy provider. The simple sugars in prunes are a good source of energy and don’t cause a spike in blood sugar.
Fiber. Prunes are a good source of dietary fiber. They have soluble fiber, which draws water into the bowel and makes the stool soft and easier to pass. They also have insoluble fiber, which adds bulk to the stool and makes it move faster.
Vitamins and minerals. Prunes are high in boron, which is thought to help prevent osteoporosis, a disease that makes bones weak. One serving of prunes gives you all the boron you need. Prunes are also high in other vitamins like potassium, vitamin K, vitamin A, niacin, riboflavin, and vitamin B6.
Phenolic compounds. Prunes have lots of phenolic compounds, which adds to the laxative effect. These compounds in prunes might also be helpful for heart health and preventing chronic diseases.
While prune juice can help constipation, it doesn’t have all the benefits of the dried plums they're made of.
High water and sugar content. Fruit juices, including prune juice, are mostly water and sugar. This high sugar content is what helps with constipation, but you should only give kids small amounts of juice. Children who drink too much fruit juice can have diarrhea because of the high amounts of sugar.
Not as much fiber. Strained and pulp-free juices don’t have as much fiber as the whole fruit. Prune juice with pulp might be a better choice for children.
Constipation. Prune juice can help with constipation, but not pooping is also common in babies and children, so it may not always be necessary to give your children prune juice. It’s normal for babies to go a few days between bowel movements.
Cavities in teeth. Even though prune juice has natural sugars, too much fruit juice can cause cavities, especially if the juice is given at night in a bottle.
Breastfed babies might go longer than formula-fed babies between bowel movements. If your baby is under six months old and is formula fed, it’s important to make sure the formula is mixed carefully and to talk to your doctor. For older children, constipation is usually caused by not eating enough fiber. Adding more fruits, vegetables, and water to their diets can help.
You should see the doctor if your newborn, infant, or toddler has signs of constipation, including:
- Bloody stools
- Large stools, which might mean they’re holding it in
- Hard, pebble-like stools
- Pain while passing stools
How Much Prune Juice Should I Give a Baby?
It’s safe to give children one year old and older some prune juice to help with constipation. Prune juice is pretty safe and low risk, but prune juice for babies under 12 months is not recommended unless your doctor agrees. Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that babies under six months should only be fed breast milk.
The best way to give prunes to your baby is when you start introducing foods around six months. You can give your baby whole mashed or pureed prunes instead of prune juice. Your baby will get both the sorbitol and the fiber from whole pureed prunes, which will help with constipation. This will also help them develop good eating habits.
If your doctor says it’s the best thing to do, you can give two ounces of prune juice with two ounces of water. It’s best to give the juice in a cup at meal times, but you can use a syringe if your baby can’t drink out of a cup yet.
Easy Prune Puree (Iron-Rich and So Easy)
byAmy Palanjian
Updated
This post may contain affiliate links. If you shop from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
With one ingredients and a simple method, this easy Prune Puree is a yummy baby food that also boasts fiber and iron. Try it as a single ingredient baby food, stirred into oatmeal, or to help relieve baby constipation.
Prune Puree
If you think of prunes, you probably think of serving them for one reason. (Constipation!) And while they can be helpful for that, they’re also a nice way to turn a shelf stable fruit into homemade baby food by simply blending with water.
This baby food has fiber, iron, and a pleasantly sweet flavor that’s great on it’s own or mixed into a simple baby food combination.
TIP: Find more of my favorite No-Cook Baby Food Recipes here.
Ingredients in Prune Puree
To make this baby food, you just need a bag of basic pitted prunes. You can use regular or organic, depending on what you prefer and can find at your store. (You could use prunes with pits, just remove the pits before you start the process!)
How to Make Prune Puree Step-by-Step
Here’s a look at the basic process involved in making this recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full information.
- Soak the prunes in water.
- Transfer the prunes to a blender using a slotted spoon.
- Blend, adding just enough water to make a smooth puree.
- Serve or store in the fridge or freezer.
TIP: You can serve this off of a spoon, spread onto toast baby led weaning style, or mix into plain yogurt or baby oatmeal.
Tips for Making the Best Prune Puree
- To store in the fridge: Add to small airtight containers and refrigerate for 3-5 days.
- To freeze: Add to a silicone ice cube tray and freeze overnight. Transfer frozen cubes to a zip top freezer bag and seal, removing as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 6 months.
- Serve alone or stir into baby oatmeal.
- Add to a simple smoothie to help with constipation.
- Spread onto a finger-size stick of toast to serve Baby Led Weaning style.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Author Amy Palanjian
Cuisine American
Course Baby Food
Calories 91kcal
Servings 6
- ▢ 8 ounces pitted dried prunes
Add the prunes to a bowl and cover with water. Soak for 30 minutes.
Add prunes to a blender using a slotted spoon. Blend, adding 1/3-½ cup water to make a smooth puree—or as much as desired to reach the desired consistency. (Adding more water will make a smoother puree, less a thicker one.) Use the stick that came with your blender, or stop and start as needed to help the mixture move around in the blender.
Serve or store.
Vitamix Blender
Silicone Ice Cube Tray
Storage Containers
- To store in the fridge: Add to small airtight containers and refrigerate for 3-5 days.
- To freeze: Add to a silicone ice cube tray and freeze overnight. Transfer frozen cubes to a zip top freezer bag and seal, removing as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 6 months.
- Serve alone or stir into baby oatmeal.
- Add to a simple smoothie to help with constipation.
- Spread onto a finger-size stick of toast to serve Baby Led Weaning style.
Calories: 91kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 277mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 14g, Vitamin A: 295IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!
Related Posts
Related Products
Dinnertime SOS
Buy Now
Happy Family Meals (Meal Plans)
Buy Now
Happy Family Meals (Vol 2)
Buy Now
Yummy Toddler Snacks
Buy Now
Share it with the world
FacebookTweetPinFiled Under
Constipation in children.
Diet and gymnastics of a child with constipation. Constipation is a very common problem in children. Why?
With the start of complementary foods, stools in infants most often improve. This is due to the introduction of fiber into the child's diet, as well as an increase in the child's motor activity.
But after 1 year the number of children suffering from constipation starts to grow again. This is due to the refusal of breastfeeding, the transition to solid food, a decrease in the amount of water in the diet. Approximately every fifth child after a year suffers from constipation. How to deal with this problem?
For your health - the recommendations of the pediatrician of the clinic "Lor Plus", a doctor of the highest category Anna Gennadievna Marakulina .
What are the most common causes of constipation in children?
- Insufficient fluid volume.
- Diet, poor in fiber.
- Insufficient physical activity.
How to avoid constipation in a child?
To prevent constipation, the child must drink enough fluids.
Be sure to teach your child to drink ordinary water. A child over 3 years of age is required to drink at least 2 glasses of water a day.
— Do not give your child sweet and carbonated drinks, strong tea and coffee. They have a diuretic effect, contribute to the development of dehydration and constipation.
- Cold water stimulates peristalsis. And warm water has a relaxing effect on the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and is quickly absorbed. Therefore, in case of constipation, it is recommended to give a child up to 3 years old 1/2 cup, and over 3 years old - 1 glass of cool water in the morning on an empty stomach. Start with water at room temperature. If the effect is not achieved and the state of health allows, the water temperature is gradually lowered. It should be pleasantly cool. In this case, peristalsis is stimulated by rapid filling and irritation of the stomach, and then the intestines.
- There are drinks that have a laxative effect. Dairy products, plum and beet juice, dried fruit compote (prunes, dried apricots, raisins), chamomile decoction, children's teas with fennel and dill.
By including these drinks in your baby's diet, regular stools can be achieved. But this should be done gradually, starting with small amounts, so as not to cause a digestive breakdown in the child.
Does diet help with constipation?
Everyone knows that a diet for constipation should include a lot of fiber-rich foods, and these are vegetables and fruits. But not everyone knows how much and what kind of fruits and vegetables a child needs.
| 1-3 year | 3-7 years old | over 7 years old | ||
| Vegetables of total (of which potatoes) | 350 grams (120) | 450 g (250) | 550 grams (250) | |
| Fruits | 100-150 GR | 250 GR | 250 GR | |
| Fresh vegetables | 50-70 GR | 20033 200 GK 900 GR, 20033 200 GKO 20033 200 GKO 20033 200 GKO 20033 200 GRO 20033 200 GRO 20033 200 GROK gr | 200 gr | 200 gr |
| Dry fruits | 10-15 Grams | 200 GR | 200-300 gr |
Yes, it is enough for most children to fix the drinking regime and regularly feed the child with fruit and vegetables in the vegetables according to age.
But not for everyone.
Some people need to supplement their diet with laxative foods. These include: plums, beets, prunes, raisins, figs, dates, dried apricots, legumes, nuts. They should be present in the diet of a child prone to constipation. Include them in the diet should be gradually. For some, it will be enough to consume one of the listed products daily, while others will need to include several in the diet.
Cereal porridges with shells (buckwheat, oatmeal, pearl barley, wheat) and wholemeal bread are also useful.
Fermented milk products (kefir, curdled milk, fermented baked milk, biolact) are best consumed before going to bed. 1 glass a day is enough. You can increase the daily intake of kefir to 2 glasses per day.
Refined rice, blueberries, pears, sweets and buns, flour products from premium flour, strong tea, animal fats have a fixing effect. It is better for children prone to constipation to abstain or significantly limit their use.
I recommend trying several recipes for constipation that I and my patients have tested:
— Take equal amounts of dried fruits: figs, dates, dried apricots, prunes, wash well, pour over with boiling water, destone, turn through a meat grinder or chop in a blender .
Take daily in the morning on an empty stomach (30 minutes before meals) 1-2 teaspoons with 1 glass of water with lemon. Children under 3 years old - 1/2 cup of water.
This recipe can be used by children from 1 year old, but be sure to first test how the child tolerates each dried fruit individually, and then prepare the mixture.
— Sour milk + prunes at night: wash 10-20 prunes well, brew with boiling water for 5-10 minutes, a small child can be mashed. Eat before going to bed with 1 glass of kefir, biolact, fermented baked milk, curdled milk.
Wheat bran is a very useful product, because contain approximately 50% fiber, as well as many vitamins and minerals. You can buy them at a pharmacy.
Wheat bran can be included in the diet of children after 1 year as a remedy for constipation. Start with a daily amount of 1 teaspoon, gradually, every 2-3 days, increasing the dose until a regular stool is achieved. The maximum dose for children is up to 2 tablespoons per day.
The daily dose of bran is brewed with a small amount of boiling water. It is kept under the lid for 30-40 minutes, then the excess water is drained, and the swollen bran is added to the child's food, most often to porridge. You can add them to kefir, cottage cheese, vegetable and fruit puree. You can add the entire daily dose of bran in one serving of food, can be divided evenly into breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Gymnastics for constipation. Helps or not?
In my experience it helps a lot! Active and mobile children are less likely to suffer from constipation. For the prevention of constipation, sports are useful: running, swimming, gymnastics, squats, tilts, exercises to strengthen the abdominal press.
A child suffering from constipation, in addition to following a diet and drinking regimen, is recommended to do a few simple things in the morning:
- Get up early so that there is enough time for all morning activities, including going to the toilet, water (possible with a mixture of dried fruits),
- Perform the following exercises - Starting position standing: take a deep breath, then a deep exhale, then draw in the stomach as much as possible and stick it out.
Repeat the exercises several times.
There is a good chance that the child will want to go to the toilet afterwards.
Abdominal massage is also helpful.
Is constipation so dangerous?
The causes, and hence the consequences of constipation can be different:
• stress - you need to create a calm environment for the child,
• rectal fissures - you need to contact the surgeon,
• arbitrary retention of stool - you need to talk with the child, try to work out from him morning defecation schedule.
And the consequences can be different. It is always better to find out the causes of the disease with your pediatrician. So you can avoid dangerous consequences.
It is not recommended to give a child laxatives and suppositories on their own, as well as to repeat cleansing enemas frequently. If for a long time (more than 1 month) it is not possible to establish a regular chair for a child, you need to see a doctor. Diet
Let your baby be always healthy!
And the pediatricians of the clinic "Lor Plus" are ready to answer the questions of mothers and fathers about the well-being of the child and the prevention of childhood diseases.
Come to our clinic!
Experienced paediatricians see children in our clinics:
Marakulina Anna Gennadievna (pediatrician, doctor of the highest qualification category, experience 29 years)
Fedoseeva Olesya Andreevna (pediatrician).
Our doctors:
- They will pick up the key to the crying baby,
- They will calm the worried mom,
- They will quickly make the correct diagnosis,
- They will prescribe an effective treatment.
Make an appointment with the Pediatrician at a convenient time for you
| You can make an appointment by phone. +7(342)258-258-8 or through the registration form below. Appointment with a doctor through the Administrator of the clinic Leave your details, our Administrator will call you back in the near future, consult on the cost of services, select the best time for your appointment. Your name Your phone number Enter your phone number so that the clinic administrator will contact you in advance. Message Specify wishes for date, time of appointment and doctor By clicking on the button, you consent to the processing of your personal data. |
Please note that:
- When visiting the clinic for the first time, it is advisable to arrive 10 minutes before the appointed time in order to fill out a medical history and sign an agreement, informed consent for medical intervention. You can familiarize yourself with the texts of these documents here.
- To sign the contract, you must have a passport with you.
- If the patient is a child (up to 18 years of age inclusive!), then one of the parents or guardian must come to the appointment with the child and sign the contract and consent.
- Think ahead and formulate the problem with which you go to the doctor.
- If you have the results of previous examinations and analyzes, we recommend that you take them with you to an appointment with a specialist.
- If you have a chronic illness and take medicines all the time, write down the names, doses, and regimen.
- Remember and be sure to tell your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to any medications, foods, etc.
Clinic address and travel scheme can be viewed here
,90,000 prunes from constipation: Application and contraindications
Author, editor and medical expert - Zavgorodnaya Ekaterina Aleksandrovna
Views: 175 814 9000
Date of the last update: : December 27, 2022
Average reading time: 7 minutes
Contents:
Effects of prunes on health - obstruction of bowel movements
Use of prunes for constipation
Contraindications
Thus, constipation contributes to a decrease in the quality of life. The treatment of constipation is complex and includes changes in diet, diet, and medications if necessary. Folk remedies have also proven themselves well. Prunes for constipation are a time-tested product for difficult bowel movements. It is effective both on its own in the form of berries, and as part of mixtures, dishes and drinks. Prunes can become an alternative to medicines when their use is limited due to the physiological state, for example, in the elderly, a child, pregnant women. Let's see what benefits prunes bring to the body, why it is effective for constipation and how to use it correctly.
Back to Contents
Health Effects of Prunes
Prunes are a dried fruit that is obtained from a special dark variety of plums by drying with hot air in multi-level belt dryers for 12-16 hours. This allows you to reduce the moisture content of fresh plums by three-quarters, preserve useful substances, vitamins and minerals in the fruits, and even increase their concentration.
The color of quality prunes is uniform black with a bluish tint, there should be no visible damage to the peel. It is better to choose a fruit with a stone, as seedless berries are more prone to rotting. If the peel is shiny, most likely, the prunes were processed with fat or glycerin to give it a marketable appearance. Such fruits after purchase should be washed well with hot water.
In addition to a pleasant aroma and characteristic sweetish taste, prunes contain 2 :
- Polyphenolic compounds - increase bone formation and slow down the process of bone tissue destruction. Studies have shown that dried plums have a beneficial effect on bone mineral density 2 .
- Organic acids (malic, citric, oxalic, salicylic) - are involved in maintaining the acid-base balance in the body, improve the process of digestion of food 2 .
- B group vitamins (B1, B2) - normalize the activity of the central and peripheral nervous system, are part of many coenzymes, provide the development of an immune response and increase cognitive abilities 3 .
- Vitamin A - is part of cell membranes, therefore, contributes to the normal functioning of the mucous membranes and skin, their growth and recovery. A sufficient level of retinol in the body maintains visual acuity, has a protective effect in respiratory diseases 4 .
- Vitamin C - increases the body's resistance to stress factors, has an anti-anemic effect, protects cells from damage. The most well-known effect of ascorbic acid is the stimulation of the immune system, increasing the ability of immunocompetent cells to recognize and destroy pathogens 5 .
- Vitamin P - strengthens the vascular wall, increases elasticity and reduces capillary permeability. Enhances the action of vitamin C and prevents the deposition of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels.
- Potassium - necessary to maintain water-salt balance, heart and kidney function, plays a key role in neuromuscular conduction, being responsible for the process of muscle fiber relaxation.
Sufficient potassium intake reduces the risk of developing arrhythmia, heart failure, type 2 diabetes mellitus 2.6 . - Phosphorus — together with calcium provides bone tissue mineralization, regulates heart rate, actively participates in the formation of tooth enamel 2 .
In addition, prunes are a storehouse of trace elements that are necessary for the synthesis of enzymes and catalysts for the biochemical reactions of the body: sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron. Trace elements are part of hormonal receptors and hormones, play an important role in the processes of their formation, transportation and excretion from the body 6.7 .
Up to Contents
The use of prunes for constipation
The benefits of prunes for constipation are due to its laxative components. 100g of prunes contains about a quarter of the recommended daily intake of dietary fiber for adults 1.8 . Dried fruit contains pectins, fiber, sorbitol and organic acids 2 .
Fiber helps to increase the volume of feces, sorbitol attracts fluid into the intestinal lumen, softening the stool, and organic acids stimulate peristalsis. All together contributes to facilitating and accelerating bowel movements 9 .
Pectins and fiber, which are part of prunes, are a substrate for the nutrition of normal intestinal microflora. Maintaining the growth and reproduction of beneficial microbiota is important for normalizing stool pattern and frequency 8 . As a result of the vital activity of beneficial bacteria, enzymes, vitamins, substances that stimulate intestinal motility (short-chain fatty acids) are formed. In addition, the normal intestinal microbiota has immunogenic and protective effects: it competes with pathogens for food, releases substances that stop the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi, and promotes the maturation of lymphocytes.
Dried plum also has a choleretic effect, as a result of which lipid breakdown is improved and digestion is activated.
The bile acids that are part of the bile, in turn, contribute to the secretion of intestinal mucus and improve the promotion of the food bolus.
For a laxative effect, prunes can be consumed raw, added to foods and dishes, made into decoctions, compotes and infusions.
To obtain a targeted laxative effect, dried fruit is added to the diet, starting with 5 berries per day. With good tolerance, you can increase the number of fruits to 15-20 pieces per day, dividing them into 2-3 doses. It must be borne in mind that the use of prunes in large quantities can lead to diarrhea and bloating.
To prepare a decoction, pour 100 g of prunes into 200 ml of cold water and simmer for 30 minutes. It is taken warm, 100 ml twice a day. Instead of a decoction, you can prepare an infusion. To do this, 100 g of fruit should be poured with 0.5 liters of boiling water and infused for 10 hours, wrapping the container with a towel. The infusion should be drunk during the day, divided into 3-4 doses.
A good way to maintain normal intestinal microflora and obtain a laxative effect is kefir with prunes. To do this, several pieces of prunes are mixed in a blender with a glass of kefir. It is better to drink this mixture in the evening before going to bed.
Fresh fruits and medicinal drinks with prunes should be taken on an empty stomach or at bedtime. The laxative effect may appear within a day.
When treating constipation, it is important to consider the cause. Correction of the diet and the addition of products with a laxative effect to the menu does not replace the advice of a doctor. To determine the constipating factor, the doctor will conduct an examination and, in addition to the diet, will select an adequate therapy 1 .
Top of page
Contraindications
Prunes are a natural product with virtually no contraindications. However, under certain conditions, it should be included in the diet with caution. Due to the large amount of sugars that make up its composition and high calorie content, prunes should be avoided by people with obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance.
