Is it normal for babies to have frequent bowel movements?

Patient's question:

Within nearly a day, she has had many bowel movements, each a little bit, and they are like watery and loose. What could be the reason? She mainly drinks breast milk. Is this situation urgent? What kind of assistance is needed: Please reply directly. Thank you

Doctor's answer:

The stool is light yellow or clay-colored, with a firmer texture, dry and well-formed, often not staining diapers. If the milk is high in sugar, it becomes softer and has a-like odor. Additionally, the amount of stool per bowel movement is also larger, with normal bowel movements occurring 1-2 times a day or every 1-2 days. As the child grows older and consumes more various foods, the stool gradually becomes similar to that of an adult.
Abnormal stool in children:
1. Increased bowel movement frequency, with loose, watery, or egg soup-like stool, containing mucus and foam, with a fishy odor. This suggests the child may experience nausea and vomiting again.
2. Increased bowel movement frequency, with crying and difficulty during defecation, dry and hard stools, even with blood on the surface. This indicates the possibility of constipation again.