Is it normal for a baby not to have a bowel movement for four days?

Question

Is it normal for a baby not to have a bowel movement for four days?

Answer

Parents are concerned about their 38-day-old exclusively breastfed baby who has not had a bowel movement for four days, worrying if it is normal. The baby previously had bowel movements every two days, but today is the fourth day without one. Is it normal? What solutions are there? Thank you! Previous treatment history and outcomes: None Type of help sought: How to help the baby have a bowel movement Breastfed infants typically have yellow or golden yellow stools that are uniform in consistency, resembling a paste or Pasty, occasionally thin and slightly green, with a sour smell but not offensive, with two to four bowel movements per day. If the baby hasn’t had a bowel movement for several days, it may be that the baby isn’t eating enough, so you should first ensure that the baby is well-fed daily. She hasn’t yet developed the habit of having a bowel movement at a fixed time every day, meaning she won’t have one at all. You should massage the baby’s stomach daily, using your middle three fingers to circle the navel in a clockwise direction, for five minutes each time, twice a day. This can help slow down the intestinal peristalsis and induce a bowel movement in the baby.