My Son Not Pooping Regularly

It's very common for babies to change their stooling patterns as they get older.That said, formula does tend to constipate babies. changing formula might change his pattern.
Are is stool hard and difficult to pass?
Is he on solids yet.
It's common that they may change their pattern ex: they may have a stool every other day or 3 days. I"ve had babies that have not had a stool for 19 days.
You can try "gentle rectal stimulation" with a thermomter or a glyercia supp but if he seems happy and not in any discomfort I would not worry about it.
You can also call his M.D. for advice.

I have only breastfed my children, so I am not sure if that makes a difference with pooping or not, but My 1st child would only go once about every three days. I expressed my concerns to the Dr. because my sister in laws baby was going about 6 times every day. My doctor said that every child is different and as long as he is not straining to go, such as grunting and turning red then it's ok.

Hi D.,

Totally normal. My son used to poop a lot more each day now it is like once a day, sometimes one day will go by with no poop. As they get older they don't poop as may times a day as they used to. It could be the formula switch too. You would know if he was constipated. He would be seeming in pain when he pooped and they poop would be different. I wouldn't worry unless he doesn't poop for 3 days or more.

A change in formula can cause constipation and adding solids too and also again when he's weened and begins drinking whole milk. However, IT IS NOT NORMAL for them to miss a day of pooping. Babies or anyone going a day or days without pooping is taxing on the body. The colon gets rid of wastes and passes toxins out of your body that have been filtered out of the liver and other organs. If you don't poop the toxins build up in your system and toxify your body and blood stream. Have you ever got nauseated because you haven't pooped in a day or two? That's why. You can also die from not pooping in 5 or more days. Please don't anyone let it go on that long.

I would not use laxatives or other medicines. Try a little carrot juice in his formula. It has an elimination effect. It still helps my son and he's 1 year and 9 months old. I heard of adding prune juice also but have never needed to try it.

Adults can also use the carrot juice or take fiber such as ground flax seed, ground pee hull fiber, chia seed, alfalfa whole leaf, barley whole leaf. If you take too much fiber, these too can possibly cause constipation. Check at a health food store. Do not use psyllium. It is extremely harsh on your system and clogs you up. Drink lots and lots of water, eat raw veggies and fruit---these have natural elimination effects.

Things that cause anyone to be constipated are: dairy (milk and cheese, yogurt, etc...) bread (wheat---anything with wheat like cookies and some pasta), calcium supplements and for some dried fruit.

I've had 18 years experience with my own constipation problems and with lots of research of what to eat and not eat (the causes and why) while omitting and adding these things to my diet I've found the above are some causes and cures. Babies are extremely more sensitive than us adults.

I hope this helps.

K.

We did a bottle with sugar water at that age and it worked very well.

Everyone is right: totally normal. My daughter is now 18 months old and since she was 4 months, her pooping schedule has been unpredictable. Sometimes she poops several times a day and then goes days without and sometimes it's once a day for several days straight, sometimes at night, sometimes in the morning. For a while there, she pooped every time I gave her a bath---IN the bath! So, as long as he doesn't seem uncomfortable, he's fine.

Not to worry - I too was always worried about my son being regular but it's very normal. I would only call the pediatrician if it's 3 days. You want them to pass naturally if possible and not rely on any help such as a suppository.

It's perfectly normal for a baby to not poop every day. If he is unusally fussy, or hasn't pooped for more than 3 days, then you'll probably want to call the doctor or advice nurse.

That happened to my daughter when we switched formulas also. Her dr. told me that anytime you switch their diet it is normal to see a change in their bowel movements. My daughter also sometimes poops once, twice or not at all in a day. You'll know if he's constipated when his poops are hard and difficult to get out. You can try giving him a warm bath to help.

When my daughter was that age she went up to 5 whole days without pooping, and then would have an enormous explosion! It always worried me, but both my mother and her doctor said it was normal and ok. It could be his new formula... But truly, as long as he's not suffering it's no big deal. My daughter never was uncomfortable, and the phase didn't last long.

If he went twice yesterday he is not constipated. The change in formula might have something to do with it, but I don't think you have anything to worry about. Breastfed babies tend go go more frequently than formula-fed babies. My three kids were all on formula as babies and it was very normal for them not to poop for a day. It never developed into any problems for them. Just stick with it and as long as his movements aren't hard or painful, don't worry too much.