Bowel movements, Pediatrics FAQ

Do Newborns Really Need Water? Understanding Infant Hydration

Do newborns need to drink water? Dr. Zhao: Do newborns not need to drink water? My newborn was born on October 23, 2002, and is still hospitalized. The doctor said he had 6-12 bowel movements today, and they were small and hard. He is drinking Meiji formula, 65cc every three hour...

Dr. Zhao Yongkang Reply:
Dear Ms. Cloudia, 1. If a child’s milk intake is normal, their hydration levels will also be adequate, as milk contains about 80% water. Therefore, generally, children with a normal diet do not need additional water intake. 2. Your child, born on 91-10-23, is still hospitalized...

Essential Nutritional Guidance for Infants: Addressing Common Concerns

Pediatric Nutritional Supplementation Issues Hello, Dr. Yu. 1. My infant is over two months old and currently weighs 5.8 kg, consuming about 135 cc of formula (Yoshin A+) every 3-4 hours. A pharmacy that sells formula mentioned that Yoshin has a higher iron content, which can l...

Dr. Yu Meiling Reply:
1. If the baby is drinking the current formula smoothly, there is no need to switch, especially since the child is developing well. Around 4 months, you can gradually introduce fruit juice, vegetable juice, oatmeal, and rice cereal. After 7 months, you can add fruit puree, vegeta...

Understanding Foul Breath in Toddlers: Causes and Care Tips

Nasal breathing with an unusual odor? My baby is two years old, and recently there has been an unusual odor in their breath. I'm unsure what the possible causes might be and how to address this. Additionally, my baby sometimes breathes with a sound; should I regularly clean ...

Dr. Zhao Yongkang Reply:
Dear Ms. Nancy, 1. It is important to maintain oral hygiene. 2. Children should consume plenty of vegetables and fruits to ensure proper gastrointestinal function and regular bowel movements. 3. If there is still an unpleasant odor, please consult a physician to check for poss...

Helping Your Toddler Overcome Fear of Bowel Movements: Tips for Parents

Babies may experience fear or anxiety related to bowel movements? A 3-year-old baby recently experienced diarrhea and, due to not making it to the toilet in time, had some accidents outside the toilet. Upon seeing this, the child became frightened and started to refuse to push du...

Dr. Huang Zheming Reply:
Has the baby turned three years old? At this age, they belong to the preschool education level. Diarrhea and constipation should be prioritized for improvement and treatment, followed by addressing regular toilet habits. It is important to provide emotional comfort to the child t...

Understanding Pediatric Tonsillitis: Fever, Blood in Stool, and Medication Concerns

Medical issues Hello Doctor, I have a question I would like to ask you. My son is currently 7 years old and has been experiencing tonsillitis with pus-filled white spots for the past few days, along with intermittent fever (usually every 4-6 hours; he spikes a high fever as soon...

Dr. Huang Zheming Reply:
Hello: The presence of blood clots in bowel movements may be caused by constipation or inflammation of the anal sphincter leading to anal fissures. Constipation can be triggered by factors such as a cold (tonsillitis), a diet low in fiber, and insufficient fluid intake. Additiona...

Understanding Mucus and Blood in Children's Stool: Causes and Concerns

Stool with mucus and blood? Hello Dr. Chang, about half a month ago, I noticed that my stools (either pellet-like or formed) have been mixed with some mucus (similar to egg white). Sometimes when I feel the urge to have a bowel movement, I only pass a significant amount of mucus....

Dr. Zhang Peixin Reply:
In general, the presence of mucus in stool should primarily rule out gastrointestinal infections or inflammation, especially if there is blood present. Therefore, it is recommended that you visit an outpatient clinic to have your stool sample tested for the presence of red blood ...

Effective Strategies to Manage Pediatric Constipation in Toddlers

Constipation My child is almost two years old and weighs only 10 kilograms. He has a history of habitual constipation and abdominal pain, along with poor appetite. X-rays and ultrasounds have shown slow intestinal motility and the presence of retained stool. I have tried using yo...

Dr. Huang Zheming Reply:
Hello: Constipation in babies, characterized by difficulty in bowel movements, can be attributed to the following causes: pathological factors such as megacolon, anal anomalies, hypothyroidism, or other intestinal obstructions. Functional constipation is often due to dietary habi...

Understanding Infant Constipation: Tips for New Parents

Infant constipation Hello, doctor... I have been a dad for 17 days now... During these 17 days, there have been joys as well as exhaustion... It seems that my baby's impatient temperament has been inherited from me... He lacks patience when breastfeeding, so he has been on f...

Dr. Hong Shaohui Reply:
In general, the frequency of bowel movements in infants decreases after the first two weeks of life. Constipation is defined by observing the consistency of the stool; if the stool is not hard and the frequency has decreased, it is considered a normal phenomenon. If water or gluc...

Understanding Blood in Baby's Stool: Causes and Solutions for Parents

There is blood in the baby's stool? Hello Dr. Zhao! 1. My baby is now over seven months old. We switched her formula from Nestlé HA1 to Meiji, and she has 210cc three times a day, rice porridge twice a day, and fruit puree once a day. For the past two days, her stools have...

Dr. Zhao Yongkang Reply:
1. It may be necessary to consult a pediatrician to determine whether the blood is present in the stool or appears after bowel movements, so please bring a stool sample for the doctor to examine. 2. It's actually normal for stool to contain undigested food; there is no need ...

Understanding Diarrhea in Infants: A Guide for Parents

How to determine diarrhea? The infant is currently one and a half months old, exclusively breastfed with some formula supplementation, and a small amount of boiled water. Previously, the infant had about 3-5 bowel movements per day. At one month of age, the infant was taken to th...

Dr. Huang Zheming Reply:
Diarrhea is commonly referred to as having loose stools, characterized by frequent bowel movements and redness or rashes around the anal area. Fever associated with diarrhea in infants is indicative of viral gastroenteritis. In cases of breastfeeding-related diarrhea, the stools ...

Understanding Diarrhea in Infants: Causes and When to Seek Help

Pediatric Diarrhea Issues Hello Doctor, my baby is currently 6 months old. Initially, he had a bowel movement once a day in a formed shape, but four days ago it suddenly changed to a watery, mushy consistency and now he has four bowel movements a day. I initially suspected it mig...

Dr. Hong Shaohui Reply:
Hello: It may be gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus (due to finger sucking), and you should see a doctor.

Understanding Pediatric Hemorrhoids: Causes, Symptoms, and Care Tips

Pediatric hemorrhoids Hello Dr. Zhao, my child will turn three years old this July and currently weighs 21 kilograms. He has a robust physique, which may be the reason for his large appetite. His main diet consists of formula milk and nutritional supplements. Every day during bow...

Dr. Zhao Yongkang Reply:
1. If a pediatrician diagnoses hemorrhoids, it is a possibility; if there are concerns, a pediatric surgeon can be consulted for a re-evaluation. 2. The primary cause of hemorrhoids is venous dilation, mostly due to constipation, which creates excessive pressure on the anus durin...

Essential Pediatric Care Tips for New Moms: Addressing Common Concerns

Regarding parenting issues? Hello, Dr. Huang! I am a new mother and have the following questions to ask you: 1. My baby was born with a metabolic disorder indicated by blood tests at a major hospital, which reported hypothyroidism. However, further tests showed that T3 and T4 l...

Dr. Huang Zheming Reply:
1. Congenital hypothyroidism is a condition that requires regular monitoring and ongoing medication. 2. Bowel movements are considered normal, and their odor may vary depending on symptoms or diet. 3. This is related to feeding times. For more detailed information, please con...

Understanding Infant Constipation: Causes, Solutions, and Dietary Tips

Infant constipation Hello, Doctor Huang. My daughter just turned seven months old today. Since she was five months old, she has had a severe aversion to milk. Following the doctor's advice, we switched her formula (S-2x), and starting from the third day after the switch, my ...

Dr. Huang Zheming Reply:
From four to six months of age, babies enter a phase known as the "milk refusal period." During this time, in addition to milk, it is important to introduce complementary foods to help them gradually adapt to solid foods, which will provide additional nutrition and prom...

Understanding Infant Constipation: Causes and Dietary Impact

Infant constipation Hello, my daughter is currently 48 days old and hasn't had a bowel movement for 5 days. She finally had a bowel movement last night. During these days, she has been passing gas, and the smell is quite strong (similar to that of adults). However, I am brea...

Dr. Zhao Yongkang Reply:
1. The frequency of bowel movements in children is not as important as the consistency of their stools. Some children may have bowel movements 3-5 times a day, while others may go once every 3-5 days. As long as the stools are not watery or excessively hard, and the child is not ...

Caring for Your Newborn's Tummy: Tips for Managing Abdominal Distension

Neonatal abdominal distension Hello doctor, my baby just came home from the hospital three days ago, and I feel like his stomach is bloated. How should I care for abdominal bloating? Is it okay to apply ointment?

Dr. Zhao Yongkang Reply:
1. If a child has a normal milk intake, is not crying excessively, and has normal bowel movements, no special treatment is necessary. 2. If there are obvious signs of discomfort, a warm compress (being careful not to make it too hot) can be applied, or gentle circular massage c...

Understanding Milk Aversion in Infants: Causes and Solutions

Lactose intolerance Hello Dr. Zhao, my child just turned five months old today. They weigh 8 kilograms and were born weighing 3420 grams. Since they were three months old, they have been refusing to drink milk for the past two months. Before the refusal, the baby would drink abou...

Dr. Zhao Yongkang Reply:
1. It is normal for children to have bowel movements. 2. Many gastrointestinal medications commonly used for children are probiotics, which can assist in their digestive function and can actually be taken long-term under a physician's guidance. 3. At five months old, you...

Addressing Constipation and Health Concerns in Infants: A Guide for Parents

Childhood constipation Doctor: My daughter has just turned six months old, but: 1. Since birth, her bowel movements have been every three days, but now it seems to have worsened to every five or six days, and her stools are very hard and difficult to pass. I have taken her to see...

Dr. Zhou Zuyou Reply:
Response: (1)(2) Based on your description, your baby appears to have severe gastrointestinal issues, and possibly metabolic problems as well (the information is insufficient, lacking details such as birth weight, current weight, stool color, quantity; energy levels, growth and d...

Understanding the Impact of Congenital Coccygeal Malformation on Infant Development

Congenital sacral agenesis Hello Dr. Chou, I would like to ask you a question. My daughter was born with a congenital coccygeal depression. After 40 days of breastfeeding, we noticed that she has difficulty with bowel movements and requires stimulation with a rectal thermometer...

Dr. Zhou Zuyou Reply:
Some infants may experience difficulty with bowel movements, which is considered functional (unrelated to congenital sacral agenesis). Babies can start consuming fruit juice at four months; if there is still no improvement, black date juice can be introduced at six months. (In fa...

Understanding Poor Appetite in Infants: Causes and Concerns

Poor appetite? Hello Dr. Zhao: My sister is now over two months old and only drinks 90cc of milk. She often doesn't want milk for four to five hours, and if I force her to drink, she gets upset. Could this be related to the milk she is drinking? (Aside from not liking milk, ...

Dr. Zhao Yongkang Reply:
Hello Miss Ali: If the children show no abnormalities and their weight gain is normal, some children may go through a phase of milk aversion, which can be monitored further.

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