No Poop!!

Updated on April 03, 2008
T.P. asks from Chicago, IL
10 answers

Hi Moms,
My almost 7 month old who is breastfed and also eats a bit of veggies and fruit twice a day has not had a bowel movement in almost 3 days. I know that it is normal for a baby to skip a day or two now and again, but at what point should I be worried? And if several more days go by what should I do? I tried the rectal thermometer trick yesterday and today with no luck. I have been giving him apples because I know they are high in fiber and might help ease things. Anything else I should be doing? Thanks!!

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So What Happened?

Thank you everyone for your great advice! Gabe had a big poop this morning so I guess there was no need to worry after all!
Thanks again!

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P.D.

answers from Chicago on

T.:

back off a bit on the fruit.... there is something he is having difficulty processing... what was the food you added or increased prior to this happening?

I would not worry unless he becomes uncomfortable...

P.,RLC, IBCLC CST
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions

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C.G.

answers from Chicago on

I wouldn't worry about it at all unless he seems uncomfortable. I would also skip the apples and try something like prune juice or apple juice if you want to get him going.
I would avoid using a rectal thermometer because of the risk of perforation. We don't even use them on babies in the hospital anymore. It just isn't necessary.

Good luck.

I just wanted to add-- being "regular" doesn't mean going every day. It means going "regularly" which could be every other day or every few days depending on the person. Not everyone goes every day and it isn't healthy to constantly coax or force your body along.

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S.

answers from Chicago on

I know this sounds like a lot of sugar but... I used to have give my five month old Karo syrup in his bottle. I used to put 3 tsp. in his 7 ounze bottle. It has to be the dark kind but it always produced a poop within 24 hours. I usually did it twice a day once in the morning and then at lunch time. Hope it helps!

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A.S.

answers from Chicago on

We had many of these issues with both of my kids. Babies do go through an adjustment when they go from solely breastfeeding to taking solids. My first would consistently go 5-7 days between bowel movements until she was over a year. She's completely regular now. My second went up to 9 days and typically 5 on average for the first 6 weeks after she started solids. She's regular now, too. Apples, bananas and rice cereal are actually constipating and should be avoided if kids are constipated. We never gave any of these foods to my first daughter because of her issues. Pears and prunes help to loosen up the system. Also, a sippy or bottle with some water will help. If those don't do the trick, the doc told us to give a tablespoon of Karo syrup followed by water and that usually pushes things through. 2-3 days, though, is not very alarming for a baby going through the diet changes. I know it's just surprising to parents when they go from like 4 times/day to once every week.

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M.K.

answers from Chicago on

Have you tried prunes?

H.W.

answers from Chicago on

I had a similar problem with my little one. A trick that works great with her is a nice, long, warm bath. It seemed to relax her and without fail produce a BM within a day. Hope this helps. When I asked her doctor about it - he said that it is nothing to be concerned about unless she appears in pain when trying to pass a BM.

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A.M.

answers from Chicago on

It might be normal for his schedule to slow down, especially if you've introduced any new foods. I'd say he's probably fine unless he starts acting irritable or gets gassy. When my son was around 8 months old, he did get pretty constipated and went without a BM for a good 5 or 6 days. He was breastfeeding and eating baby fruits & veggies, too. Our pediatrician showed me how to gently massage his lower abdomen and the bottom of his feet (who'da thought?) in a "C" shaped motion to get things moving. He could tell just from touching his belly that he was pretty backed up and tense. I did give him, at the pediatrician's recommendation, some Little Tummies baby laxative. Then after that, if he went more than 2-3 days and there was no diet change, we just made a point to do the little C massage at night and in the morning. With him, though, his constipation was always noted by his clearly irritable behavior and passing gas. Good luck!

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E.G.

answers from Chicago on

Have you thought about using suppositories. If they don't work, call your pediatrician.

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M.F.

answers from Chicago on

HEY THERE,BEEN THERE,DONE THAT!i HAVE 3 CHILDREN,AND i'M A MED aSST,PREV WORKING IN PEDIATRICS,FAMILY MED, AND NOW uROLOGY.THAT BEING SAID, BOTH MY FIRST TWWO SONS HAD SOME POOPY PROBLEMS,YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED IF SHE IS IRRITABLE OR IFSHE IS EXTREMELY SQUIRMY OR IF HIS TUMMY IS NOT EASILY RELAXED(LOOKS OR FEELS HARD OR LIKE A BALLOON)IF HE IS NOT EATING AS MUCH AS HIS NORMAL INPUT.HOW TO FIX THIS....
WATER A COUPLE OUNCES 2-3XS A DAY(SLIGHTLY WARM GOES DOWN EASIER)IF NOTHING PUT 1 TABLESPOON OF PANCAKE SYRUP OR KYRO SYRUP FOUN IN SAME ISLE AT STORE INTO 3-4 OZ OF WATER,SLIGHTLY WARMED AND SHAKEN IN BOTTLE..IF NOTHING YOU HAVE A BIGGER PROBLEM. GO TO SEE PEDIATRICIAN. OR IF CHRONIC REPEATING PROBLEM CALL AND GET IN TO SEE A PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGUIST(UNIV OF CHGO)HAVE THEM.THE SYRUP WORKS AMAZING AND SHOULD WORK. IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY PED. GASTRO FOR MY SONS CHRONIC PROB THAT HE SINCE OUTGREW. ALSO, IF HE HAS HARD STOOL DO THIS OFTEN TO PREVENT ANAL FISCHER(CUT)COMMON IN CONSTIPATED BABIES AND CHILDREN. MAKES THEM APREHENSIVE TO WANT TO POOP!

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T.G.

answers from Chicago on

My son started having BMs every three days at nine months. At his nine month visit the doctor told me not to worry just keep giving him veggies & fruit try not to give a lot of bananas. Well it didn't work, I just took him for his year check up and the doctor told me to use Benefiber in his water. So far so good. He has had a BM ever day for the last week. I don't know if you have to wait until he is a year to try this or if it was b/c my son went three months. I think it is better than a suppository ( I have many friends who told me to do that, I just couldn't). Give your doctor a call and see what they recommend.

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