Question
A three-month-old baby, mainly fed on breast milk, has recently been experiencing difficulty in bowel movements. What precautions should be taken, and how should it be managed?
Answer
Constipation in infants is a common concern for many parents. Parents may often attribute it to an excess of ‘heat’ in the body, but lactose deficiency can also be a contributing factor to infant constipation. Particularly for infants who are primarily fed with milk, if constipation occurs, it is advisable to consider this factor. The lactose content in breast milk is 7.5%, while in milk, it is only 4.8%. Therefore, infants who drink milk may lack fermenting substances in the intestinal tract, leading to dry stool. Additionally, the lactose types in breast milk and formula milk are also different. If constipation does not improve after dietary adjustments, you can try giving the baby honey water or adding honey to the milk for feeding, which usually has a better effect.