Question
A 5-month-old baby, exclusively breastfed, pooping about once a week, how should it be managed?
Answer
According to the description, the baby’s condition does not appear to be constipation. As long as the stool is not dry, there is no bloating, the baby is breastfeeding smoothly, weight gain is normal, and defecation is not difficult, even if it occurs once a week, it falls within the normal range. This may be related to the baby’s incomplete intestinal function, which is a common situation during infancy. Sometimes, the interval between bowel movements can even reach 10 days. It is recommended to adequately supplement the baby’s water intake, and parents can help with abdominal massage. Generally, the situation will gradually improve as the baby starts to introduce complementary foods.