AboutMary Pat, R.N. Expertise I am happy to answer general non-diagnostic questions on infant & child care, infant & toddler feedings, discipline, illnesses, and how to access resources for the child with special needs.
Experience I am a pediatric nurse, an R.N. with 40 years experience first as manager of a community hospital pediatric department & 11 years working in a private pediatric practice. I have managed more than 100,000 phone calls from parents in private practice.
Question My son is just shy of six weeks and lately has not been having regular bowel movements. On the 3rd, he did not have a bowel movement at all and then had a decent sized one on the morning of the 4th. He did not have another one that day and, in fact, has not had another one since. He is primarily breastfed (he has only gotten formula a few times - and not for over a week). He still eats every couple hours like normal and is still having a good amount of wet diapers daily and is letting out plenty of gas. I don't think it matters but, he has been congested for the last week, but has not had a fever or any other symptoms of being sick.
Is this normal? Or, if not, could you please give me some suggestions on help to "get things moving" a little better for him? Thank you in advance for your help.
Courtni
Answer Dear Courtni:
When you give a breast fed baby formula even infrequently it slows their bowel elimination process down. This is expected. There is no reason to do anything to make the baby have a stool sooner than he is ready to. Leave him be. He will pass his stool when it's time. Don't worry. He sounds like a happy, thriving infant. He'll be fine.
