Question

The baby was in the hospital for 10 days right after birth, fed formula milk. After coming home, breastfeeding began. Two days before coming home, the baby had some difficulty feeding. Two days later, the baby started to show some willingness to eat. Could this be related to changing milk? How can I help my child have a bowel movement? I’ve heard that it’s not good to use laxatives too often. Thank you!

Answer

The first thing to pay attention to when dealing with infant constipation is proper parental guidance. The signals before a baby has a bowel movement are generally at fixed times each day, allowing them to adapt to the time for defecation. If the child does not have a bowel movement, they should not be forced to do so, nor should they be made to sit on the bed for a long time, or use lubricating drugs. For breastfeeding mothers, it is recommended that they eat a light diet and give their baby’s belly a massage.