Question
My baby is three and a half months old. They usually have a bowel movement every morning, but yesterday they didn’t have one the whole day. They only passed a little stool with gas. I can hear the baby’s intestines rumbling. It seems that the baby dislikes farting and having a bloated stomach at night. They always twist and turn during their afternoon nap. What should I do in this situation?
Answer
Based on your description, since your baby only experienced this once, and as long as they are in good spirits, eating well, and their growth in height and weight is normal, there is no need for you as parents to worry. Suggestion: You can use a soap bar to stimulate the rectum. First, cut the soap bar into a pencil-thick strip, about 3 cm long, wet it with water, and insert it into the baby’s anus. Stimulation of the rectum will lead to defecation. In addition, you can gently massage the baby’s navel area with the four fingers of your right hand in a clockwise direction at night to promote gastrointestinal motility and aid in defecation.