Question
Does giving newborns honey water, lemon water, or orange juice before breakfast help with defecation? Is it suitable for infants to drink honey water?
Answer
Newborns who are breastfed typically have more frequent bowel movements, possibly up to five or six times a day. These stools are usually loose or pasty, and are often yellow in color, sometimes with milk residue. This situation is related to the mother’s diet, such as when the mother eats too cold or overly fatty foods, which may affect the baby’s defecation. Sometimes, a mother’s overly fatty diet may lead to diarrhea in the baby. As for whether newborns should drink honey water, it needs to be considered carefully, as honey may contain harmful bacteria for infants.