A 4-month-old baby only defecates with a glycerin suppository. How can the baby defecate on their own?

Patient's question:

Beijing Children's Hospital Research Institute

Doctor's answer:

To help your baby alleviate the discomfort caused by constipation, it is essential to identify the underlying reasons for the child's constipation so that targeted solutions can be implemented.
The most common cause is insufficient dietary intake, such as delayed introduction of complementary foods or insufficient sugar content in cow's milk, which can lead to excessive residue after food digestion in children, resulting in constipation.
Additionally, an inappropriate dietary composition is also one of the reasons for constipation. When the protein and calcium content in food is too high, it often makes the stool alkaline, causing it to become dry and leading to constipation.
Moreover, the lack of regular bowel habits, insufficient training for timed bowel movements, or external distractions when a child feels the urge to defecate, preventing timely elimination, can all contribute to constipation.
If the child has a disease in the anal area or rectum, they may consciously or unconsciously suppress bowel movements due to fear of the pain during defecation, which can also lead to constipation. Therefore, parents should pay special attention to carefully examining the child's anal area for any abnormalities to ensure early diagnosis and treatment.