Question
A parent of a one-year-old baby has noticed that their child has not had a bowel movement for several days and wants to know the possible symptoms of infant constipation.
Answer
Constipation is a common condition in infants, characterized by difficult bowel movements, dry and hard stools. If an infant goes over two days (48 hours) without having a bowel movement, constipation may occur. As the stool becomes dry and hard, each bowel movement can become more difficult, causing the baby to feel fear and concern about defecation, leading to a vicious circle (vicious cycle).