Poo, Baby, Poo!

Updated on September 06, 2011
A.A. asks from Tulsa, OK
11 answers

My 4 and a half month old hasn't pooped in 2 days! He is breastfed and has rice cereal once a day, and normally has 1-2 poos a day. Belly is soft and non tender and he's passing gas, just nothing else. He's eating normally and doesn't seem uncomfortable at all. How long do I wait before calling the pediatrician?

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So What Happened?

He pooped today! In the few seconds when the old diaper was off and the new one not on, of course! Thanks, ladies :)

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

A week or week and a half as long as he's not uncomfortable.

Although it freaks once a day'ers out, even many adults only poo once a week. It's a function of metabolism + input = output. ((It conversely freaks once a week'ers out at the idea of going one or more times a day))

Solids are known to cause digestive problems (and sleep problems) in babies whose digestive tracts aren't ready for solids yet. So it this is a "we started solids last week or the week before and now have this new problem" just hang back on the solides for 3-6mo).

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L.S.

answers from Spokane on

If he's passing gas and not uncomfortable then don't worry about it. He might be going through a growth spurt and therefore not producing very much waste. Also, the iron in rice cereal is known to constipate babies.

Now, IF he starts getting uncomfortable then I'd call your ped. My babies would all go 7-12 days without pooing around that age, but they didn't get anything other than breastmilk for the first 6-7 months. I don't think I'd wait that long with yours though.

1 mom found this helpful

T.C.

answers from New York on

Yeah, I wouldn't worry too much it's not uncommon (but I know it is so hard not to worry ... I did too!) Get ready for the big motherload hahaha!

ps. Lesley, OMG! 12 days is unbelievable! I had no idea that could happen... see you learn so much from this site.

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L.

answers from Mobile on

If you're worried, you might skip the cereal for a day. The breastmilk alone would probably help things along. Are you using a whole grain rice cereal? I think that keeps 'em a little more regular too.

1 mom found this helpful

L.L.

answers from Rochester on

Wait at least 4 or 5 days. Apparently, it's normal. My little one did that a few times around that age and it passed (literally!).

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K.I.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Totally normal for even 6 or 7 days I believe. with my second baby this happened very often; is the rice cereal, try oatmeal better, and bananas will do the same (try to avoid them too)with my third baby now 5 months old I start with veggies instead of cereal and is been doing great.

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M.M.

answers from Oklahoma City on

IF your concerned you can put dark karo syrup in the cereal it will get things flowing. sometimes to much iron can constipate kids and also adjusting to new foods so if the rice is new or to much it could cause this reaction. GIve it a try and if all else fails call a nurse line. i always call ###-###-#### its norman regional.

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K.L.

answers from Savannah on

When my son was first born, the pediatrician at the hospital had told me that many poops throughout the day was normal, but so was 1 poop every 5 days. I think if your baby becomes uncomfortable or about 1 week, whichever comes first, is when you should contact your doctor.

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C.R.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I read somewhere that around 4 months their tummies just become better at digesting their food and they poop less often. That's definitely true with my daughter. She's 8 months old now and generally poops every other day, but when she was newborn she pooped at least 4 times a day. My son on the other hand rarely pooped. The longest he ever went was 3 weeks. But once he started solids, he pooped every day. There's just such a wide range of "normal" - I wouldn't worry unless your baby seems uncomfortable, like the other mamas have said. Good luck! Hope he poops soon! ;)

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

His "schedule" may be changing and adjusting, as long as he's not in distress you don't need to call, unless you prefer a professional opinion which is understandable : )

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W.B.

answers from Tulsa on

My bf'd babies would sometimes go a week in between poops. I think you don't need to worry unless it comes out very hard and dry, or in hard little balls. You might want to drop the rice cereal, though. That can be VERY constipating. Also, maybe try a little prune juice? But approve it with his ped first, just to make sure. ;)
Good luck!!

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