Question
The child is now 80 days old and has been exclusively breastfed. Starting at 52 days, the child began to pass stools resembling adult feces, initially every 3 days, and now up to every 6 days. However, the child eats normally, does not cry or fuss, and shows no signs of discomfort. Is this normal? If not, what are the solutions?
Answer
Having a stool every 6 days is definitely not ideal. It’s important to start with diet; increase the intake of vegetables and fruits while reducing meat. If this doesn’t help, consider giving the child some sesame oil. The specific situation should be assessed based on the child’s age and condition. Generally speaking, if a child is primarily breastfed and has longer intervals between bowel movements but the stools are not hard and there are no significant issues, it is usually fine with increased feeding. If you’re still concerned, you can consider giving probiotics orally or have the child checked at a hospital.