Eat, Sleep, Poop by Scott W. Cohen

Author:Scott W. Cohen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scribner
Published: 2010-04-10T04:00:00+00:00

What If My Baby Strains When She Poops?

All babies strain and turn bright red when they poop. This is because they do not know what muscles to use to push out the poop, so they strain in order to find the right ones. Although this straining may last several months, it is not necessarily a sign of constipation or pain. If the poop comes out soft, your baby is not constipated.

What About Frequency? How Often Is Often Enough?

Whether your child poops ten times a day or once a week, both patterns are normal.

At a baby’s two-week visit, I often discuss poop and bowel patterns with new parents. When I tell them that their infant, who has been pooping ten to twelve times a day, may slow down to once or twice a day or even once or twice a week, I always get the same look of disbelief and alarm. I explain that such variations are perfectly normal. Breastfed babies usually start off pooping more frequently in the first couple weeks of life and then slow down, while formula-fed babies tend to poop more frequently at that time. As long as she is not having hard painful stools it does not matter if she poops ten times a day or once a week. Everyone’s gastrointestinal system works differently. As long as she is urinating then you know that she is staying hydrated—poop does not really matter. If it is not bothering her, do not let it bother you.

Common Sense Bottom Line

If your child poops ten times a day or once a week; has watery, seedy, Play-Doh or soft-serve ice cream consistency poop; has poop that smells like roses or rotten eggs; or has poop that is green or yellow or brown—it is all perfectly normal.

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