Question

How many times a day is it normal for a child to have bowel movements?

Answer

The child seems quite healthy, eating well, and sleeping well during the day and night naps. Sometimes they have bowel movements every 2-3 days, and other times it’s every 4-5 days. The stool is very smelly, and the child also has smelly farts. I want to ask for assistance: I want to ask an expert if this situation is normal? Children can have bowel movements every 2-3 days, and sometimes every 4-5 days. If the stool is not too hard, it is considered normal. However, it’s not ideal. Here are some suggestions:

  1. Drink more water; make sure to drink plenty of water. You can add a milk partner to the formula or water, using one packet per day. Do not consume formula, breast milk, or calcium at the same time; they should be taken 2 hours apart. Otherwise, it may cause constipation and affect the absorption of milk and calcium. Not only is it ineffective, but it can also have serious side effects.
  2. For breastfed babies, mothers should pay attention to adjusting their dietary structure and eat lighter, as well as drink more water.
  3. Give the baby abdominal clockwise massage twice a day, for 5-10 minutes each time.
  4. Eat more fruits and vegetable juices. Never feed the baby too quickly while breastfeeding; the formula can be diluted a bit.