Here at DadLabs, we explore many medical conditions that may affect your baby. In this episode of The Lab, Daddy Clay and Daddy Brad tackle the subject of constipation. They talk with pediatrician and "Baby 411" author Ari Brown who explains what constipation in an infant is like. She tells parents what to look for in baby poop, what solid food can cause your baby to be constipated, and what high fiber foods can help. She'll also share three tips that dads and moms can use, and when to check in with your doctor. If you've got stories or tips about this topic, leave a comment on this video or share them with us at DadLabs.com. DadLabs Ep. 675 is brought to you by BabyBjorn.

Daddy Brad: Blowout diapers grab all the headlines, but what if the opposite happens?
Daddy Clay: That's right this week in The Lab, we're talking all about.
Daddy Brad: Don't strain yourself dude.
Daddy Clay: Constipation. Today's episode is brought to you by BabyBjorn, Oexo-Tek certified, safe for your baby, BabyBjorn.
Daddy Brad: As we often do when investigating medical conditions like being bound up tighter than summer cheese, we ask our favorite expert, Dr. Ari Brown, pediatrician and author of "Baby 411".
Dr. Ari Brown: Constipation by definition is not how often you poop. It's what it looks like when it comes out. So, if your baby only poops once every few days but it's soft and it's not uncomfortable, that's fine. The problem is if your baby is pooping something that looks like deer pellets or a baseball, that would be a problem. Most babies under 6 to 8 weeks don't have a problem with constipation because they're pooping so regularly with either the breast milk or the formula. From 8 weeks up until 4 months, rarely it's a problem. Really when we see most of the constipation issues arise are when babies start to eat solid foods. And so some of the solid foods can be somewhat binding. Rice cereal has absolutely no fiber in it and lots of parents use that as a first food that they're offering and so they figure out that they're baby is suddenly constipated when they started eating the rice cereal. So I do recommend if you have a baby whose started solids and you're encountering constipation the best way to prevent it is to offer them high fiber foods. But if your baby seems uncomfortable, there's some tricks you can try at home to help your baby poop. First thing is the rectal thermometer trick. So, pretend that you're going to take your baby's temperature. You put a little bit of Vaseline, petroleum jelly, on the tip of a rectal thermometer. You insert it about half an inch into your baby's anus. And you just kind of jiggle it around gently and that often stimulates the baby to poop. So I would be prepared for the results. Another option is that you can give your baby some prune juice. If your baby's formula fed, it's pretty easy to mix in a teaspoon of prune juice in your baby's bottle. Prune juice is a very effective way to stimulate a baby to poop. Some pediatricians will recommend Karo syrup used the same way. A final tip is if your baby is truly constipated and very uncomfortable, you can use an infant glycerine suppository which you can guy at the grocery store or pharmacy. But I really recommend using that as a last resort. Most of the time your baby won't need it and you definitely don't want to use those routinely to keep your baby pooping regularly. If your baby is continuing to have a problem with constipation on a regular basis, it's time to check in with your doctor. Really, the goal is to have your baby feel stimulated to poop and to poop on his own and not be using a medication to do that for him.
Daddy Clay: So Daddy Brad as has often been the case of late, you have served as the inspiration for this video, have you not?
Daddy Brad: Yes, yes, the My man is all bound up. I mean, he looks like a little Don Rickles every four hours trying to get that out.
Daddy Clay: No reenactment necessary. So tell us how are you coping with this problem at home?
Daddy Brad: It's hard. Because once every day or two, the little boy has to give birth. It's just terrible. We're trying to give him fluids and lots and lots of high fiber material. But you know it's easier. He just started eating with his fingers. It's easier to eat meat and cheese than it is beans and fiber material.
Daddy Clay: Yeah, stay away from the bananas for a little while. Are you dealing with this sticky situation at home? Well let your constipation stories flow at DadLabs.com. We want to hear from you. Seriously, not kidding. You'll hear from Brad and myself. We're happy to exchange these kind of constipation tales with you at DadLabs.com.
Daddy Brad: We'd like to thank our sponsors BabyBjorn, Oexo-Tek certified, safe for your baby, BabyBjorn. That's all for us here at The Lab. We'll see you next time.
Daddy Clay: Let it go.