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Is It Normal To Pass Stools Nearly 6 To 7 Times A Day?
Question: My 6 months old baby is passing stools nearly 6 to 7 times a day since past week. My question is that before she will pass only once a day. But now there is a sudden change. The first day she started passing motion like this itself i have consulted my pediatrician and he prescribed nutrolin b syrup and z&d drops. But still its not controlled. My ped adviced me to give only breastmilk and plain rice. But i am not getting sufficient breastmilk. So i am giving her formula feed.
Brief Answer:
Do not worry. It is normal
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Let me assure you that it is absolutely normal for a child of this age to pass stool 6-7 times a day. Passing stool once a day or even once in a week is also perfectly acceptable so long as stool consistency is normal. Many children have a condition called gastrocolic reflex which may make them pass stool after each feed and that is normal too. 6 month is the time for weaning and introducing semi solids to the diet. I am sure that the same has been done for your child as well. The change in diet may lead to change in bowel habits and that is frequently seen. Mucus can be present in stool and is not a cause for concern.
From the age of 6 months onwards, breast milk no longer remains adequate for the nutrition of the baby and hence the introduction of semi solid food. So, there is nothing abnormal if you find your breast milk to be inadequate. I would not suggest trying to supplement it with formula milk. I would rather insist you to shift to cereal based formula like Cerelac or Nestum rice. Rice based formula are more preferrable than wheat based formula.
Please do not worry. I find nothing abnormal in what you describe. Just give the medicines that your pediatrician has prescribed and things should be fine. Do not worry about the stool frequency. If you feel that the salt and water loss in the process is more, you may also give some ORS (oral rehydration solution) which is prepared by mixing a full XXXXXXX in the designated amount of water and giving sip by sip.
Do not worry. It is normal
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Let me assure you that it is absolutely normal for a child of this age to pass stool 6-7 times a day. Passing stool once a day or even once in a week is also perfectly acceptable so long as stool consistency is normal. Many children have a condition called gastrocolic reflex which may make them pass stool after each feed and that is normal too. 6 month is the time for weaning and introducing semi solids to the diet. I am sure that the same has been done for your child as well. The change in diet may lead to change in bowel habits and that is frequently seen. Mucus can be present in stool and is not a cause for concern.
From the age of 6 months onwards, breast milk no longer remains adequate for the nutrition of the baby and hence the introduction of semi solid food. So, there is nothing abnormal if you find your breast milk to be inadequate. I would not suggest trying to supplement it with formula milk. I would rather insist you to shift to cereal based formula like Cerelac or Nestum rice. Rice based formula are more preferrable than wheat based formula.
Please do not worry. I find nothing abnormal in what you describe. Just give the medicines that your pediatrician has prescribed and things should be fine. Do not worry about the stool frequency. If you feel that the salt and water loss in the process is more, you may also give some ORS (oral rehydration solution) which is prepared by mixing a full XXXXXXX in the designated amount of water and giving sip by sip.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you.
I have already started giving cerelac, but for the time being doctor asked me stop those products and asked to give only rice and breastmik.
once i started giving cerelac also she used to pass stool only once. But i have not introduced any new food other than rice. So why the drastic change in the bowel movement
Because since birth she was passing only once a day. And giving cerelac also the same. So this is my concern.
Can i continue with formula feed during night time?
I have already started giving cerelac, but for the time being doctor asked me stop those products and asked to give only rice and breastmik.
once i started giving cerelac also she used to pass stool only once. But i have not introduced any new food other than rice. So why the drastic change in the bowel movement
Because since birth she was passing only once a day. And giving cerelac also the same. So this is my concern.
Can i continue with formula feed during night time?
Brief Answer:
No need to worry. Formula can be given at night.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
I understand that initially when given cerelac, the child was passing stool only once but as the child is getting oriented to newer food items, the bowel frequency has increased. This is due to gastro colic reflex. The exact triggers of this reflex are hard to identify but this is not a cause to worry about. Certain foods are more difficult to digest than others and are responsible for this. This will eventually subside as the child's gastro intestinal system gets acquainted to it. You are doing a good job by introducing other food items.
You can give formula feed at night and there are no problems with the same.
If you found my answer helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Wish you and your family a healthy life ahead.
Regards
No need to worry. Formula can be given at night.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
I understand that initially when given cerelac, the child was passing stool only once but as the child is getting oriented to newer food items, the bowel frequency has increased. This is due to gastro colic reflex. The exact triggers of this reflex are hard to identify but this is not a cause to worry about. Certain foods are more difficult to digest than others and are responsible for this. This will eventually subside as the child's gastro intestinal system gets acquainted to it. You are doing a good job by introducing other food items.
You can give formula feed at night and there are no problems with the same.
If you found my answer helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Wish you and your family a healthy life ahead.
Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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