Patient's question:
My baby is over two months old and is being mixed-fed, with more formula than breast milk. Every day, the baby drinks boiled water and either radish juice or apple juice. Recently, the baby's stool has been grayish with a hint of yellow, dry and hard, and a bit like curd, with a very foul smell. Adults say that children's stools only become smelly after they start eating salty food or are introduced to solid foods—is that true? Is my baby's stool normal? Can a two-month-old child eat anything other than formula?Doctor's answer:
The normal stool of a baby varies depending on the feeding method and frequency. Generally, it is divided into two categories: breastfed and formula-fed.For breastfed babies, normal stool is typically yellow or golden yellow in color, with a uniform, creamy consistency and a slightly sweet and sour odor, but it is not foul-smelling. There is no obvious mucus, and it may occasionally contain small curd-like particles or a faint greenish hue. The frequency of bowel movements is usually 3 to 5 times per day, though some babies may have 6 to 7 bowel movements daily. However, the amount per stool is small, and the stool appears normal. If the baby is gaining weight steadily and is in good nutritional condition, this is not a health issue and requires no treatment.