The frequency of bowel movements varies widely from one baby to another. Many babies pass a stool soon after each feeding. This is a result of the gastrocolic reflex, which causes the digestive system to become active whenever the stomach is filled with food.
By 3 to 6 weeks of age, some breastfed babies have only one bowel movement a week and still are normal. This happens because breastmilk leaves very little solid waste to be eliminated from the child's digestive system. Thus, infrequent stools are not a sign of constipation and should not be considered a problem as long as the stools are soft (no firmer than peanut butter). Infrequent stools shuold not be considered a problem if your infant is otherwise normal, gaining weight steadily and nursing regularly, too.
If your baby is formula (bottle)-fed, she should have at least one bowel movement a day. If she has fewer than this and appears to be straining because of hard stools, she may be constipated. You can check with your pediatrician for advice on how to handle this problem.
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