Question
Is it constipation if my baby poops every two days? I am currently giving my baby the Four Grains Decoction, but it seems to have little effect. How can I solve this problem?
Answer
- Cultivate the child’s regular bowel movements. Since the phenomenon of holding back stool usually starts around 2 months of age, it is a good time to train the child to have regular bowel movements (such as in the morning and evening) to establish good defecation habits early on.
- Persist in daily abdominal massage. Gently rub the baby’s abdomen with your palm, focusing on the navel and rotating from left to right for 10 times, then rest for 5 minutes, and repeat for another 10 times, doing this for three cycles.
- Lay the baby on their back and move their legs up and down, bending and extending them together for 10 times, then do the same with one leg for 10 times. This will help the baby’s intestines move and facilitate defecation.
- Drink plenty of water. For chubby babies experiencing constipation, you can feed some plain water or vegetable or fruit water between two feedings. Once the baby is over 6 months old, adding complementary foods can completely resolve this type of bowel condition.
- Increase milk intake. If a child has reduced bowel movements and poor weight gain due to insufficient breast milk, it is advisable to add some formula milk promptly; if the baby is already over 4 months old, adding a little rice porridge can also help improve bowel conditions more effectively.