Question
My baby, who is over nine months old, has been having 3-4 bowel movements a day recently, and the stool is yellow and pasty. Is this normal? Besides, when the baby’s clothes are off, it dislikes touching its belly with its hands, and I’m not sure what’s going on. Today, the baby even scratched its belly and broke the skin.
Answer
Based on the information you provided, your baby’s condition may be a physiological baby stool, but it could also be a sign of indigestion or enteritis. It is recommended that you bring a sample of your baby’s stool for a routine stool test to determine the cause. If indigestion is found, adjust your baby’s diet by increasing fluid and dietary fiber intake; if it is enteritis, treatment should be targeted at the cause. Additionally, the baby’s behavior of scratching its belly may be due to discomfort or skin sensitivity. You can try giving appropriate abdominal massage or using moisturizing lotion to relieve discomfort. If the situation does not improve, it is advisable to consult a doctor promptly.