My five-month-old has not done potty for the last four days. I have heard that some healthy babies skip the poo-poo sessions for a week or so, but I am still worried. What should I do?

Similar to what you’ve mentioned, there isn’t an exact guide as to what constitutes “normal” when it comes to baby’s bowel movement frequency. The more important point would be that your baby’s stools are reasonably soft. You shouldn’t be too concerned if your baby is still acting like his/her usual self. There is also a possibility that your baby may be experiencing constipation. Signs of constipation in infants include: - Stools that are hard and dry or have blood in them - Baby showing persistent discomfort when moving her bowels Constipation is rare in infants who are exclusively breastfed. You can consult your doctor if you are worried. If he/she is showing other symptoms such as vomiting or a swollen tummy, it could then indicate a more serious condition and should seek medical attention. Other potential causes of constipation could be introduction of rice cereal as a start to solid food (the cereal is low in fiber) or dehydration. Here are some simple suggestions you can try to help ease constipation: - If low fiber content could be the cause, you can include pureed fruits (pears or prunes) or vegetables to supplement the cereal - Giving your baby more fluid (add pear or prune juice to her milk if you have started your baby on solids) - Wiggle your baby's legs in a gentle pedaling motion while he/she is lying on his/her back. - Gently but firmly massage your baby’s belly (below the navel). If you feel a firm area, keep a steady pressure there for a few moments. For more information on constipation: http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-5-month-old-week-2_1495727.bc#articlesection3 And general information on baby’s bowel movements: http://www.babycenter.com/0_baby-poop-a-complete-guide_10319333.bc

My son was pooping every alternate days and on times that he doesn't go for more than 3 days, I'll do a couple of things with him. - Mix a teaspoon of gripe water into his milk. He spits it out if I give it to you just like that so mixing into his milk tricked him. - Doing bicycle kicks with his legs - After bath, do a clockwise massage on his tummy. He poops the day after usually once I did the above ^^

Since baby is still young and not able to take fiber diet from fruits and vegetables, you may feed your little one with GAIA probiotics drops to ease the constipation. You can purchase it from Guardian or Waston. Remember to store in fridge after every use. Also, you can try to do baby massage to ease the constipation. Example of baby massage can be found in youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWFg0ODAQvE

thanks