My 7 Month Baby is Not Pooping for Weeks?!!

About

Contact

Newsletter

What's New

BabyTube!

Pregnancy

Childbirth

Baby care

For mom

For dad

My 7 Month Baby is Not Pooping for Weeks?!!

by Dana
(ny)

My 7 month baby is not pooping for already 14 days. The last 3 month he is pooping very rarely. He is still breastfeeding and we give him some food: oat cereal, fruit and vegetables; but not a lot).

We went to the doctor; he said that he is ok.
But I'm not so sure about this; we tried everything natural and sometimes suppository. But he still goes very rarely ... we are so worry!!
Please give us any advice!!

Ps: When he was 4 month we gave him some formula for one day, then we give up , but since then he doesn't do regularly (he was fine till 4 month ,then after formula something went wrong)

Baby Help Line Response:

Hi Dana!

I completely understand that you worried! Pooping every 14 days doesn't seem ok, of course. When your son does pass stools, is it very hard or painful for him? That could indicate that he is constipated.

If not, I'd say your Dr is probably right! Since your son is "so old" and still mainly breastfed (which is great!) he is very likely to digest almost all the nutrition he gets.

At around 4 months many babies seem to need more food (maybe the reason why you gave him formula) and two of our kids (breastfed) started pooping every 14 days at this age. No constipation, nothing wrong, just no poop, which seems very strange the first time you encounter it!

Since your baby is now 7 months, and needs even more food than a 4 month old, I'm not very surprised that he passes stools rarely. The little bit that does come out is probably mainly related to the solid foods you give him.

So, unless your baby is truly constipated (find symptoms here) don't worry! Instead enjoy this "clean" time", it is doomed to stop as soon as you boy starts eating more solid foods.

Hope this helps!

/Paula

Comments for
My 7 Month Baby is Not Pooping for Weeks?!!

Click here to add your own comments

Feb 22, 2009

Still okay?
by: HALEY

My baby is 10 months old, breastfed and eats 3-4 meals per day. Is the lack of bowel movements still okay? She goes every 6-8 days.

Feb 22, 2009

Depends on the stools
by: Baby Help Line

Hi,

It all depends on whether your baby appears to be constipated or not. If the meals are only a small part of the total intake; it isn't strange, but if she mainly eats solid foods, it seems to be a bit unusual to go that seldom. Are the stools hard? Painful bowel movements?

If she seems to be OK and not constipated, then it is likely to be OK, otherwise you might want to try to help her by adding for example more apricots, pears, prunes etc to her diet and less carrots and dairy products.

Hope this helps,

Pauls

Sep 15, 2009

Hirschsprung's disease
by: Dwight M

Hello Dana,

I'm not jumping the gun but it wouldn't hurt to suggest to have your baby tested for hirschsprung's disease. This is a disorder of the colon in which certain nerve cells known as ganglion cell are absent causing chronic constipation especially in infants. This cuases the part of the colon nearest to the anus to not contract causing a blockage leading to excruciating discomfort and pain.