Question
A four-month-old baby hasn’t defecated for four or five days, and sometimes the appetite isn’t very good. How can this be treated?
Answer
At four months old, a baby on breast milk usually shouldn’t experience constipation issues. If the baby has started on solid foods, it might be due to indigestion or insufficient fiber in the food, leading to constipation. It is recommended to feed the baby with liquid or semi-liquid foods such as congee or noodles, avoiding foods that are hard to digest. At the same time, the mother’s diet should also be taken into consideration; she should eat more vegetables and fruits to keep the digestive tract moist. If the baby still doesn’t defecate, you can try giving a little honey water, but avoid using suppositories as they may lead to dependency. You can also use a soap bar to help with defecation, as soap bars have less dependency.