Question
Dear doctor, my baby often has very dry stools and it takes several days for them to have a bowel movement. We are quite worried about this. The baby is almost 9 months old and still breastfeeds, but they really don’t like drinking water. What should we do? Can you give us some good advice?
Answer
The most important thing is to train the baby to develop regular bowel habits. Generally, parents can help their baby establish a regular bowel movement habit around 3 months of age. Starting from 3 months, after each morning feeding, parents can regularly place the baby on a potty. Pay attention to the room temperature and the comfort of the potty so that the baby does not feel annoyed or uncomfortable with it. Gently rub the baby’s navel in a clockwise direction with your palm, which not only speeds up intestinal peristalsis and promotes bowel movements but also aids in digestion.