Nightime Poop

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Nightime Poop

by Sarah
(Waterford, MI, Oakland)

My 11 month old son has been waking up screaming at night again. I have found that he is waking at 12am because he has pooped, I get his diaper changed and get him back to sleep. Then at 3:30am he is waking again, same thing, he just finished pooping. He gets a bottle this time because it's the only way to make him stop screaming and I get him back to sleep.

Is there some way to redirect when he poops? I know it's a weird question, but I'm desperate to get him to sleep through the night and he wants to. He wakes so tired and you can tell he just wants to sleep.

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Baby Help Line Response:

Hi Sarah!

Is there any chance that you have added too much fiber to your son's diet? Quite often when babies get more fiber than their young stomachs can handle they start pooping often and at weird times.

Is he getting some kind of whole grain foods, like cereal for example? Often, whole grain cereal is recommended from 8 months or even earlier by the producers, but in my experience many babies are not ready for whole grain products until well over the age of 1 year, even 18 months.

Could that make a difference for him?

Paula

Comments for
Nightime Poop

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May 13, 2008

too much fiber
by: Sarah

I appreciate the feedback, he does get cereal, but it's the same rice and oatmeal by gerber he's been getting since he was 3 months old. I'm not really sure where he might be getting too much fiber from.

May 15, 2008

Ok, What About Other Foods?
by: Paula

Ok Sarah!

Then it is probably not to do with his diet unless you can relate the start of his nighttime pooping with the introduction of some other new foods.

Maybe you could still use his food as a means to change his habits... This is just an idea, but what about giving him foods that hardens the stools (unless he is prone to constipation) or the opposite, whichever should work best, to simply change his schedule.

You probably have to do some experimenting here.

For harder stools, try to offer banana, rice cereal, white bread, natural, fullfat yougurt or blueberry.

Maybe a combination of a slightly earlier feeding at bedtime and a bath - hoping for bowel movements before he goes to bed. If he needs a top up right before he goes to bed, make sure you don't give him anything that may stimulate bowel movements too much, such as fruit puree.

Just a thought!

Moms! Anyone else who have experiences the same situation and have some tips to share?

Paula

May 19, 2008

10 month old also poops during night
by: Anonymous

Yes! My baby has been waking during the night between 4 and 5 with a huge poopy mess. She usually poops before bed at 7.

I am thinking it is because of the food she eats. But she seems to like all the food and didn't have a reaction before. I give her pureed kale, broccoli, chard, lentils, rice, avocado....maybe she is having too much greens?

But I also feed her bananas and rice- foods that are binding. Should I stop feeding her the green foods? They are so healthy though and she loves them. Not sure what to do.

Any advice would be helpful. thanks!

May 13, 2010

mid night poops
by: ling

Judging by the fact these previous comments were posted in 2008, I'm assuming everyone's got their overnight poop problems sorted! My 1yrd started doing this 3 weeks ago, first by pooping first thing in the morning eg 5am. I was told not to give her fruit at night or in the afternoon so we stopped that and she hasn't pooped in the morning but then she started to poop b/w 11pm and 3am, every 2nd or 3rd day! I have cut out fruit altogehter now, not sure what else to do. Is this just a phase? God I hope so!

Jun 21, 2010

my one year old nightime poop
by: Anonymous

my little girl, who is nearly 13months old couple of days ago began to poop at night. She never did it before, so I am worried. The only change, at the moment, is that we are retraining her to sleep back on her cot. So I don't want to wake her up by changing her diaper and also I'm worried leaving the dirty diaper on. I don't know what to do, please any help will be really appreaciate.

Jun 21, 2010

night time poop no more
by: Ling

Our 14mth old is not longer pooping b/w 11pm and 3am, but she sure has a big poop first thing in the morning, nearly every morning. Sure beats middle of the night though. Think it's just a phase and her metabolism. Just like her father...no change in diet except no fruit after lunch. To be honset, don't think that makes a difference.

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