Question
My little one has had smelly stool since birth, and now at three years old, the stool remains smelly. Her belly often swells, and it gets worse after meals. Is there a problem? How should it be treated?
Answer
This situation is often due to the baby’s malabsorption of protein. When introducing complementary foods, it’s important to do so gradually, starting with small amounts and gradually increasing as the baby’s gastrointestinal function adapts. Moms can give the baby some mother’s love, encourage more water intake, and also perform abdominal massage to aid digestion. The normal stool condition for a baby varies depending on the feeding method and frequency. Generally speaking, for both breastfed and formula-fed babies, the normal stool condition needs to be considered separately.