Stool, Pediatrics FAQ

Understanding Dark Stool in Infants: When to Seek Medical Advice

Dark stool color? My colleague's child is currently 4 months old. Recently, the stool color has sometimes been a normal yellow, but at times it appears darker, and occasionally it seems to be close to black. What could be the possible reasons for this? Should we see a doctor...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
The baby's stool is dark in color, primarily due to a higher iron content, resulting in a deep green color, especially in infants who are formula-fed. This condition is generally not concerning, but it is advisable to bring a stool sample to a pediatrician for consultation.

Is Your 3-Month-Old Getting Enough Milk? Key Feeding Insights

Total Milk Intake Issues for a 3-Month-Old Baby Hello Dr. Hsiao, My baby was born weighing 3165g, measuring 49 cm in length, and with a head circumference of 34 cm. Currently, at 3 months and 11 days, the baby weighs 7 kg, measures 60.4 cm in length, and has a head circumference...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
As long as the baby's vitality is normal, height and weight are increasing appropriately, and urine output is normal, a temporary refusal to feed that is not due to illness (such as mouth sores from hand, foot, and mouth disease or vomiting and diarrhea from gastroenteritis)...

Understanding Changes in Baby's Bowel Movements After Introducing Solid Foods

The frequency of bowel movements has increased after introducing solid foods, but the amount is small and normal? Hello, doctor. My baby boy has just turned ten months old and is having four meals a day, with 1 to 2 servings of solid food. Recently, we have increased the solid fo...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
If the frequency of bowel movements has increased compared to before, and the stools are also high in water content and volume, it is defined as diarrhea. However, if the frequency of bowel movements is high but consists only of small amounts of watery soft stools, it may actuall...

Understanding Infant Crying During Feeding: Causes and Solutions

Milk consumption issues? Hello Doctor, I would like to ask about my baby who cries while drinking milk (he cries during every feeding). He also cries after finishing the milk and burping, and cries when his stomach is gurgling during feeding. Could this be due to an unsuitable ...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Common symptoms of formula intolerance may include diarrhea, bloody stools, severe vomiting, or the development of rashes. Newborns are more prone to colic, which tends to improve as they grow older. There are many reasons for a newborn to cry, and it is not always due to colic. ...

Understanding Baby Diarrhea: When to Seek Pediatric Care

Baby diarrhea issues? Hello Dr. Hsiao: My baby is currently 2 months and 14 days old. Recently, we switched back to breastfeeding after about 3 weeks of formula feeding. Before the switch, my baby had a bowel movement approximately every 1.2 days (dark green). After returning to ...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
The frequency of an infant's bowel movements can range from two to three times a day to once every two to three days, both of which are considered acceptable. In the case of diarrhea, the frequency of bowel movements will increase, and the stools will become increasingly wat...

Understanding Toddler Constipation: Causes and Solutions for Parents

Toddler constipation resistance? My daughter is almost 4 years old and has been experiencing bowel issues for the past year. I'm unsure if it was due to improper guidance during toilet training or if previous constipation caused anal fissures. Now, she holds her bowel moveme...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
For children aged 3 to 4 years, it can be challenging to provide precise descriptions of their symptoms, so close observation by parents and examination by a pediatrician are essential. Parents should guide their children using encouragement rather than reprimands or intimidation...

Understanding Infant Feeding Issues: Decreased Milk Intake and Spitting Up

Issues with milk consumption (decreased milk supply and spitting up) Hello, doctor. My younger brother is currently 8 days old, with a birth weight of 3400 grams and now weighs 5300 grams at two months old. Since receiving his two-month vaccinations (the pentavalent vaccine and t...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
As long as the infant's height and weight increase normally (a two-month-old gaining 1.9 kg from birth weight is considered normal), and there are no illness-related issues such as enterovirus or gastroenteritis causing feeding difficulties, with normal urine output, this is...

Is Your Baby's Formula Feeding Causing Constipation? Here's What to Know

Baby's stool after consuming formula milk? Currently, the baby is 1 month and 14 days old and consumes 130cc of breast milk. Recently, for the past three nights, a formula feeding of 120cc has been given around midnight. During the night, the baby only urinated and did not h...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
It is normal for an infant's bowel movements to change from two to three times a day to once every two to three days. As long as the stool is not completely watery, hard, grayish-white, or contains blood, it is generally considered normal. Therefore, your baby's bowel m...

Understanding Feeding and Sleep Patterns in a 42-Day-Old Newborn

The milk intake and sleep duration for a 42-day-old newborn? Hello Dr. Hsiao, Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. My baby was born on November 17, 2016, currently weighs 4 kg and measures 53 cm. During the day, he typically feeds every 2 to 2.5 hours, exclusive...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
The stomach capacity of an infant is approximately 25 to 30 cc per kilogram of body weight, so this amount of milk is not excessive. For a baby over a month old, the stomach capacity is still quite small, making frequent small feedings common and acceptable. If an infant's s...

Understanding Infant Growth, Digestive Issues, and Formula Choices

Height and weight / Milk consumption issues / Bowel movement issues / Complementary food issues My baby is currently four months old, weighing 7 kg and measuring 62 cm. Is this height and weight considered short or light? Regarding bowel movements: My baby previously experience...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
At 4 months old, weighing 7 kg and measuring 62 cm is considered normal on the infant growth chart. The gastrocolic reflex in infants is still quite strong, so it is normal for them to eat and then have bowel movements. As long as the stool is not hard, pellet-like, or watery dia...

Understanding Your Baby's Frequent Loose Stools: Causes and Concerns

A child has five bowel movements a day? Hello, my baby just turned three months old. Last week, due to constipation for five days and a slight cold, I took him to see a doctor. The doctor prescribed an enema for the baby, and after using it at home, he was finally able to have a ...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
The frequency of bowel movements is higher than usual, and the stool has a higher water content, which, by definition, indicates a gastrointestinal inflammation. An enema should not cause such a condition. It is difficult to determine if this is caused by a cold. The key point is...

Excessive Gas and Spitting Up in Infants: What Parents Should Know

Drinking milk can cause gas? Hello doctor, my son just turned three months and five days old. For the past couple of days, I've noticed that he has been passing gas in rapid succession, often producing 8 to 10 passes at a time. Today, he also vomited twice after being awake ...

Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello, the causes of bloating may include indigestion, gastrointestinal infections, or dietary changes. If bloating or vomiting occurs due to switching formula, you might consider reverting to the previous formula. If there is still no improvement, it may be advisable to consult ...

Is It Normal for My Baby to Poop After Every Meal?

Is it normal to have a bowel movement after every meal? Hello Doctor, my baby is currently drinking acidified formula and tends to have a bowel movement 5-10 minutes after each feeding, almost every meal. He drinks milk five times a day and has bowel movements 4-5 times daily. Hi...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Newborns have a strong gastrocolic reflex, meaning that when milk reaches the stomach, it stimulates the colon reflex, leading to bowel movements. This reflex typically improves as the child grows older. Therefore, as long as the infant is not having frequent bowel movements even...

Why Your Baby Refuses Bedtime Milk: Tips for Parents

The baby is not drinking bedtime milk? Hello Doctor: My baby is currently 2 months old and is being fed with a combination of breast milk and formula. At one and a half months, I tried to eliminate the night feed, so the last feeding was at 10 PM and the first meal in the morning...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
At two months old, an infant's stomach capacity is still limited, so it is not advisable to feed too much milk before bedtime (feeding 180cc at once for infants under two months is a bit excessive). At this stage, feeding should be based on the infant's needs. As the in...

Why Your Baby Refuses Bedtime Milk: Tips for Parents

The baby refuses to drink milk before bedtime? Hello Doctor: My baby is currently 2 months old and I am feeding him a combination of breast milk and formula. When he was one and a half months old, I tried to eliminate the night feeding, so my last feeding was at 10 PM and the fir...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
At two months old, an infant's stomach capacity is still limited, so it is not advisable to feed them too much milk before bedtime (feeding 180cc at once for infants under two months is somewhat excessive). At this stage, feeding should be based on the infant's needs. A...

Understanding Baby's Bowel Changes: Is It Diarrhea or Normal?

Bowel issues Hello Doctor, my baby is currently 8 months old. Over the past two days, the bowel movements have changed from once a day to 2-3 times a day, all yellow and soft. However, I've noticed that there is one instance of watery stool each day (only the color is visibl...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
The frequency of bowel movements has increased compared to before, and the stool has a higher water content, which is defined as diarrhea. An 8-month-old infant has a weaker immune system and may be susceptible to gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis does not always present with a fe...

Understanding Mucus in Baby's Stool After Diarrhea: When to Seek Help

Mucus in the stool after diarrhea has resolved? Hello Doctor, my baby is currently 9 months old and weighs 8 kilograms. At the end of October, he had a high fever and diarrhea with mucus. The clinic doctor diagnosed it as viral gastroenteritis. After medication, the diarrhea stop...

Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello: A bowel movement frequency of three times a day to once every three days is considered normal; however, crying and mucus in the stool should still be monitored closely. You may consider visiting a pediatric gastroenterology clinic for stool testing, or you could try giving...

Managing Gastrointestinal Issues in Infants: When to Change Formula

Gastrointestinal issues I would like to ask about my baby who is now five and a half months old. Previously, he often had rashes and quite a bit of seborrheic dermatitis. The pediatrician suspects an allergic constitution, so they recommended switching to Enfamil HA1. He has cons...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
If diarrhea occurs due to an intolerance to a formula change, it typically happens within three days after the switch. If you revert to the original brand of formula and the diarrhea resolves, it is more likely that the formula change was the cause, although this scenario is not ...

Understanding Baby's Bowel Changes After Switching Formula

Bowel issues I would like to ask about my baby who is currently five months old. Previously, he often had rashes and a considerable amount of seborrheic dermatitis. The pediatrician suspects an allergic constitution, so we switched to Enfamil HA1. He has consumed more than one ca...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Stool colors that are clay yellow or dark green (indicating a higher iron content) are generally acceptable. However, if there is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements and the stool becomes more watery, it is defined as diarrhea. It is recommended to consult a pediatric...

Baby Not Feeding for 4 Hours: Diarrhea with Blood Streaks Concerns

The baby has not eaten or drunk anything for four hours and has blood in the stool? Hello, Dr. Hsiao. I would like to inquire about my baby who hasn't had milk for four hours. After I fed him breast milk, he had diarrhea shortly after. The first stool was green, the second w...

Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
If your baby has a significantly higher water content in their stools compared to normal, and the stools are more frequent and watery, it is defined as diarrhea. Diarrhea that contains blood should raise concerns for infectious enteritis, such as Salmonella infection. Please take...

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