Question
My son was just born and is now two months old. I’m not very experienced with children. Can you tell me what the proper position is for helping an infant defecate?
Answer
Mom can hold the baby, remove the diaper, let the baby’s head rest in the crook of her elbow, with her forearm supporting the baby’s body. The baby will naturally lean against Mom’s chest. Use one hand to gently support the baby’s buttocks with the fingers spread wide, and the other hand to gently hold the baby’s feet while speaking softly. This position is suitable for babies aged 1 to 2 months. When the baby shows signs of needing to defecate again, Mom should promptly pick up the baby, remove the diaper, hold the baby in her arms, tightly grasp the baby’s thighs, and make a ‘huff’ or ‘huh’ sound to act as a signal for defecation. This method is suitable for babies over 100 days old.