Question
My 7-month-old baby hasn’t had a bowel movement for 5 days. In the past, they have experienced two instances of not having a bowel movement for six consecutive days within a month. We have tried enemas, oral probiotics, and drinking cold tea, which helped for a day or two, but the problem soon recurred. What should we do?
Answer
Constipation is often caused by imbalanced gut flora and weakened spleen and stomach, as well as insufficient fiber intake in the baby’s diet. It is recommended to adjust the gut flora with probiotics and add fiber-rich foods like apples, tofu, or honeysuckle milk to the complementary feeding. Establishing a daily bowel movement habit is also important. You can try using soap water enemas or inserting small pieces of soap into the anus to stimulate bowel movements, but these methods should be used under a doctor’s guidance.