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What Does Hard Stool In An Infant After Starting Solids Indicate?

Posted on Tue, 14 Mar 2017

Question: Hello Dr. I find my 6.5 month's old potty a little different in texture and color. She has been doing potty twice a day and hv strted 1tbsp boiled egg n dal khichdi for her. Hard food was started at 5mnths age.Since then she has been doing hard potty. She drinks 140ml water daily. Have attached the foto herewith. Pls suggest.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Avoid giving egg and give more fluids

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Welcome to this platform

I have gone through the question and also seen the attached image.
To me the stool appears to be little hard but color is normal.
I won't get overly worried if baby is accepting feeds well, there is no vomiting or abdominal distension and if the hard stool is not mixed with blood or does not leads to injury to anal area.
You have mentioned that you are giving 140 ml of water, day, khichri and also eggs to the baby. Here I would suggest you to stop giving egg as if it is introduced before one year of age there are chances of allergy to egg protein.The average fluid requirement for this age is around 600-700 ml day.
Also give plenty of fluids mainly in the form of milk as it helps in improving the consistency of stool.
Continue giving day, khichri. You may also give suji, ragi, mashed potato, Apple etc.

I hope this helps.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Wishing for good health of your baby.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (25 hours later)

Thanks a lot Dr. Also wanted to confrm signs of teething and what precautions can be taken for lesser pain to the child. Also she did potty twice today out of which 2nd time potty ws lil loose.Pls suggest.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Details below

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again

Teething itself does not causes any significant problem apart from irritability due to pain. During teething baby tries to put surrounding things in his mouth. This may lead to infection and loose stool.
You may massage the gums of baby with zytee lotion(mild anesthetic with antiseptic) two times a day if baby is fussy and crying in pain.
Continue other as advised and let me know if you need any further help.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (20 hours later)

Thank u very much Dr What are the symptoms of abdominal distension?Frm last 3-4 days my daughter has been doing potty 5-6 times. She takes feeds normally and also burps aftr it. But is it possible that she has developed an allergic reaction to the food i give?.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Don't worry much and observe the baby

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Change in stool pattern is common in infants. There is not to worry much if stool is not too watery, too frequent, not mixed with blood or there is no redness in diaper area(all these can be signs of food allergy).
By abdominal distension I mean fullness in abdomen/tense abdomen. This may occur when stool is very hard and leads to constipation, also if there is too much production of gases.
It's good to know that baby is accepting feeds well and also burping properly.
Just observe the baby for any significant problem and let me know if you need any further help.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (45 hours later)

Thank u so muchYes possibly she developed food allregy due to small banana wich i gav her as her diaper area was red. Nyways I also had another concern regarding my daughter's weight. Her birth weight as on 5th Aug-16 was 2.6 kg and she is 6.08kg as of now. Is it normal?.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Weight is normal for age

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again

Weight of a baby usually gets double of his birth weight by age of 6 months.
As the current weight is more than double it is normal.
For redness in perianal area I suggest you to apply Rashfree/happynap cream to apply locally. Keep the area dry and avoid rubbing.

Wishing a very good health for your baby.
Thanks

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. Kampana