Bowel Motions Of Children

What is typical for children?

A baby’s bowel movements are, by necessity, more frequent that an adult’s. Babies typically have about four bowel movements each day. As the baby’s body matures and diet changes, the number of bowel movements each day falls to about two per day. This usually happens about the age of two. Bowel training before age two is obviously a challenge!

Between the ages of two and four, the number of bowel movements usually reduces to one per day. Bowel movements much less frequently than that may indicate constipation or another problem and should be investigated.

Common symptoms of constipation in children

1. Bowel movements that are hard, dry, or like pebbles.
2. No bowel movements for several days.
3. Liquid or light-colored stool or spots in the underwear.
4. Nausea and vomiting.
5. Weight loss.

The last three symptoms above may indicate that stool is backed up beyond the rectum into the large intestine. This requires immediate attention as it may indicate impaction. Small amounts of liquid stool may, under pressure, squeeze past the solid stool, causing pain and soiling of the underwear.

Bowel motions of newborns and young babies
Characteristics of normal, healthy bowel motions in newborns and young babies include:

• The first bowel motion passed by a newborn is a greenish-black, sticky and tar-like substance called meconium. The faeces lighten in colour when feeding starts.
• The breastfed baby’s bowel motions can range in colour from yellow to light green.
• The formula-fed baby’s bowel motions can range in colour from creamy-yellow to dark green.
• Regularity can range from several times per day to once weekly, depending on the individual.

Colour changes to bowel motions in babies
The bowel motions of a baby or young child can take on the colour of a recently eaten food, particularly if they have slight diarrhoea. However, consult with your doctor to rule out the possibility of more serious causes. Common dietary causes of colour changes to bowel motions in babies include:

• Red - tomato soup, beetroot, red drinks such as cranberry juice.
• Black - liquorice, grape juice.
• Green - spinach, breast milk, formula milk.

Seek medical attention if your baby has diarrhoea
Babies can dehydrate very quickly. If your baby is passing frequent, watery bowel motions, give them plenty of extra fluids including cool water. See your doctor if the diarrhoea doesn’t pass, or if the child seems to be lethargic or otherwise unwell.

Diagnosis and treatment methods
Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Unusual changes to faecal colour or texture may be investigated using a number of tests including:

• Medical history
• Physical examination
• Stool culture
• Small bowel biopsy for coeliac disease and lactose intolerance
• Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy
• Blood tests.

Where to get help

• Your doctor
• Gastroenterologist

Things to remember

• Water makes up about three quarters of faecal content, while the rest is composed of solids such as undigested fibre.
• Bowel motions should be firm, moist, easy to pass and coloured brown.
• Red, maroon or black faeces could indicate internal bleeding, so visit your doctor immediately.