How Long Does It Take for Prunes To Work On Baby Constipation

If your little one is having trouble with their bowel movement or suffering from constipation, you should aid them to feel better as fast as possible. Prune juice and prunes are probably the best natural remedies available out there to treat constipation in kids as well as adults.

However, it’s rational to ask, how long will it take prunes to help comfort your baby’s tummy?

Generally speaking, prunes are loaded with sorbitol and fiber and act as a laxative. On average, your child will get their normal bowel movement with 12 to 24 hours of consuming prunes. However, the actual time will depend on several factors, including sternness of constipation and the digestive tracts of your little one.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about prunes and their effects on your baby’s stomach.

How long does it take for Prunes to work on a baby?

First of all, let’s make it clear that no two infants are the same. If prunes offer comfort to one baby in twelve hours, the other one might take some additional time. So, if your kid does not get relief from constipation in time, you don’t have to give up.

Prunes are plums that are consumed dried rather than fresh fruit. These dried plums act as a laxative and have been used for so long to treat constipation in kids as well as adults. Compared to adults, babies’ digestive system is more sensitive and feature slower digestive tracts.

Therefore, constipation and other digestive-related health complications are not that rare in kids. When it comes to adults, prunes will affect faster and will offer relief from constipation in just a few hours. Generally, this whole process depends on the severity of constipation and your digestive tracts.

According to several studies, prunes can increase bowel movement frequency as well as soften it because they are loaded with sorbitol and fiber. As we know, children usually have slower bowel movements; it might take longer for sorbitol and fiber to take effect. On average, these dried plums can start relieving constipation in kids within 24-48 hours.

It’s noteworthy to mention that gas, straining, and irregular bowel movement are not actually symptoms of constipation in babies. Furthermore, if you have a breastfed infant, they will rarely suffer from constipation because breast milk does not pass stool frequently.

Compared to breastfed babies, formula-fed children encounter more frequent bowel movements. However, you don’t have to worry or imagine the worst as long as the stool is soft and passes easily.

Before achieving their weaning milestone, babies usually become constipated only if they have consumed a sensitive ingredient or are dehydrated. Here are some of the most common clinical signs of constipation in kids:

• Less frequent/irregular bowel movement
• Arching back or crying while bowel movements
• Pellet-like, hard stool

When can babies eat prunes?

Your little one will certainly become constipated during the weaning milestone. During this milestone, they will start to consume solid foods, including fruits and vegetables. As your kid’s digestive tracts are not yet matured, introducing solid foods will cause them to get backed up.

For most kids, the weaning milestone begins at the age of six months. Once your kid attains this milestone, you can offer them prunes to get relief from constipation.

Most pediatricians and doctors recommend waiting till your kid becomes 6 months old before introducing solid food. You should start with baby cereal. Afterward, offer your kid other foods as well. Try to feed your little one different fruits and vegetables in puree form. 

The same goes with prunes. If you have just introduced solid food to your baby, you can use prunes puree; it has lower risks of allergy and won’t cause choking.

There are a lot of dried plums products available in the market. You can purchase and stock them in your pantry. These products have an excellent shelf life and are quite versatile. It would be best if you never offered whole prunes to your kid because they can impose the risks of choking and can lead to SIDS. 

How many Prunes do you need for the laxative effect?

For older kids and adults, three prunes are perfect for one serving. For better results, you should increase your water intake and consume 2 to 3 servings of prunes to eliminate constipation. 

When it comes to babies, you should not offer them whole prunes. Instead, stick with prune purees. Most prune puree packages weigh around 2 to 2.5 ounces. According to most parents, just one of these packages is enough to reduce constipation in kids. However, for some children, this amount is usually too much and can lead to extra loose stool.

Every infant is different. Therefore, you should pay close intention to your kid’s eating habits. If you are offering your little one prune puree for constipation, don’t offer it too much. Otherwise, you may have to deal with some nasty diapers afterward.

Additionally, if your kid has consumed too many prunes and is now experiencing loose stool, they will need more milk to stay hydrated. Another approach is to offer your little one some mixed purees, including apples and prunes. It will create a controlled, concentrated serving and protect you and your baby from a lot of problems.

How long does it take for Prunes to digest?

As mentioned earlier, no two infants are the same. So, different babies will take different times to digest their prunes intake. Generally speaking, adults can digest most of their foods within 24-44 hours. However, there are several factors that affect their time range, including:

• The fiber content in food
• Liquid or solid food
• Quantity of food
• How well you chew

As prunes are rich in fiber, they will help your body to boost up the digestive system. Your little one’s digestive system is not yet developed. So, they might take some extra time to process their food. 

Furthermore, formula-fed babies will surely take more time to digest their food compared to breastfed ones. This is because breast milk is also loaded with enzymes that can boost up the digestive system. 

In short, there is no rock-solid rule about how long your baby will take to digest prunes. However, if you are not seeing any changes in your kid’s bowel movement for two or three days, you will need to visit your pediatrician.

How fast does Prune juice work in babies?

In some rare cases, a baby can become constipated even before the weaning milestone. It could happen for several reasons. Regardless of the reason, if your kid is yet not ready to eat solid foods, including prune puree, you should offer them prune juice. 

The fiber content of prune juice is not that much. However, it is still loaded with sorbitol levels that can offer help against constipation. Your kid’s digestive system will process prune juice faster because it is in liquid form compared to prune puree. As a result, this approach will provide relief faster than solid prunes.

According to many parents, prune juice can offer a regular and more frequent bowel movement in just a few hours. Plus, to get more benefits quickly, you should offer prune juice to your kid on an empty stomach.

When can babies have Prune juice?

When it comes to your little one’s diet, you should always consult with your pediatrician before making alterations. Call your pediatrician for anything besides formula or breast milk if your kid is younger than six months old.

In general, fruit juice is not an ideal drink for babies younger than 12 months old. So, it is rational to ask your pediatrician, can I offer prune juice to my little one for constipation?

Once you get approval from your doctor, you can offer prune juice to your baby once or twice a day. Don’t offer too much volume of prune juice at once; you should begin with just one or two ounces of this drink. According to many pediatricians, you should not give your kid more than four ounces of prune juice in one day.

Baby prune juice vs regular

It is completely normal to wonder, what’s more beneficial: regular prune juice or baby prune juice?

Well, if you have a limited budget, regular prune juice is probably the best pick for you. This is because the baby prune juice comes in smaller-size bottles and is more expensive.

If both products have the same ingredients with 100% prune juice, you should probably stick with a budget-friendly option because the increase in price is just a result of labeling mark-up. Furthermore, you should also pay attention to the ingredients and make sure to buy a bottle that is free from artificial additives and added preservations.

To get better results, we always recommend buying organic puree juice for your kid. Both regular and baby brands offer organic products. If you cannot find a product that suits your budget as well as preferences, you should try to make 100% organic and fresh prune juice at your own home.