Question
A seven-month-old baby has developed grey-green stool after starting to feed on Yashili brand formula. Some mothers suggest that this might be due to the incomplete absorption of iron in the formula. Is this claim correct? Do we need to change the formula?
Answer
Firstly, it’s important to confirm whether the baby’s stool is actually grey-green and to observe the consistency of the stool, whether it’s dry or loose, and how frequent it is. If the baby’s stool is grey-green and loose with an increased frequency, it might indicate that the baby is not getting enough to eat, leading to hunger-related diarrhea. In this case, it’s important to increase the baby’s milk intake. Additionally, abdominal coldness can also cause changes in stool consistency, so it’s crucial to keep the baby’s abdomen warm. As for grey-green stool, this is usually due to food residue being digested by bile, which is yellow and makes the stool acidic. When it comes into contact with air, it can sometimes turn green.