My family doctor advised me to give my baby lax-a-day but every time I stop giving it to him he becomes constipated again...Should I continue to give it to him every day?

Hello Ma'am,

Yes, it is possible to give it to every day for several months in a row, even in young children.

Do you have any idea what is causing the constipation? What does he drink as milk and how old is he?

If he drinks more than 12 ounces of cow's milk a day, be aware that this is the most common cause of constipation at this age.

Try to focus on high-fiber foods (prunes, oat and barley cereal, sweet potatoes) and avoid rice cereal. You can also give water in small amounts during meals.

In all cases, it is also suggested to stimulate the baby's belly with massages (clockwise) and by laying him on his back to "cycle" with his legs.

And if he's taking a lot of cow's milk on a typical day, it would be worthwhile to decrease the amount and compensate with more iron and fiber-rich foods (the full list is available in your Better Living with Your Child).