Question

My child is nine and a half months old, and they have dry stool and pain when defecating. They cry a lot, and the stool is very dry, looking like grass when it comes out. I want to get some help: Can I adjust their diet? I don’t want to use medicine,

Answer

When your baby has difficulty defecating again, you can apply some vegetable oil to your finger, gently massage around the baby’s anal area for a while, or use a cotton swab soaked in oil to insert into the anus. Keep it for 2-3 minutes to help defecate. If there is no effect after not defecating for more than a week, you can use a glycerin suppository to relieve constipation. Do not use these measures frequently to prevent your baby from developing a resistance to defecation. To prevent constipation from recurring, make sure your baby drinks plenty of water, increases their intake of vegetables and fruits, and establish a regular schedule for bowel movements. You can also use intestinal probiotics like probiotics or bifidobacteria to adjust the intestinal flora, which can also relieve constipation.