This is one of the less serious conditions that worries parents. It is important to remember that infants often strain, groan, and sometimes even cry when having a bowel movement. As long as the bowel movement is soft and watery and not big and firm nor small, hard, little balls, than your child likely isn't constipated.

Although exclusively breastfed babies rarely get constipated, infrequent bowel movements can be normal beginning at around two to three months of age and until you start baby foods. Again, as long as the bowel movements are soft, this slowdown is likely normal, even if your child has only one dirty diaper a week. Infrequent bowel movements can be more concerning in the baby's first few weeks of life, though, when it can be a sign that she isn't getting enough breastmilk to drink.

Your infant also may get constipated when you introduce solid foods, like cereal. Once she gets used to her new diet, the constipation often goes away without treatment.

For an infant with persistent constipation, it can help to give her extra water, juice, and baby foods with fiber. If your baby drinks formula and has a great difficulty with constipation, you might have to change to a soy or elemental formula to soften her stools. Rarely, a stool softener might be needed. Things to avoid are regularly giving your child suppositories, or using enemas. You might ask your doctor about Hirschsprung's disease if your child has never had a normal bowel movement on her own.