The truth about kids’ poo – and what it says about your toddler’s health
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The truth virtually kids' poo – and what it says about your toddler'due south health
Your child's stools will change when he switches from milk to solid food. So what tin can you expect of the new normal?
(Photo: Nicole Teng)
29 Jul 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 09 Aug 2022 03:14PM)
Undigested food in the stool, diarrhoea that lasts for days, a strained expect on your toddler's face when he's on the potty … whatever of these scenarios are enough to make Mum and Dad worry. And nosotros oasis't even addressed the unusual colours that Inferior's poop might take on (yellowish or greenish poo, folks?).
Parents may be further perplexed when their piddling one has reached a dietary milestone and is weaning off milk and starting on solid food. His stool will too change according to his new diet. Just what is the new normal?
READ: What your poo says about your health
"A newborn infant volition pass blackness meconium presently after birth," said Dr Ang Ai Tin, a consultant paediatrician and neonatologist with Thomson Medical Centre. "Afterward, when the infant starts drinking chest milk or formula, the consistency of the stools will be drier, and appear yellow or green."
The stool colours that raise concerns, said Dr Ang, are pale, clay-like or light xanthous. Consult a md if that happens and bring forth a sample of your child's stool so that the doctor can make an cess accordingly, she said.
Some other pinnacle business concern that new parents accept is the frequency of their child'southward bowel movements. Is the piddling i supposed to poop every day? It all depends on the stage your child is at, said Dr Ang.
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"In older children, information technology may be once or twice daily, or even on alternating days. More chiefly, the stools must non be hard and pellet-similar, which is a sign of constipation."
Other than constipation, at that place are other potty situations that can leave parents perplexed. Here's a look at some of them.
- The stool floats and appears shiny
It may be fourth dimension to puree fewer vegetables for your piffling one. According to Dr Ang, the stool floats because in that location is too much fibre-induced gas in it. "Cutting downwards on fibre such as reducing the amount of beans, sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli in your kid'due south diet would aid," she said. If doing then doesn't change annihilation, it could indicate to gastroenteritis or lactose intolerance, she added, which would need a doctor'due south assessment.
On the other hand, stools with an oily sheen are a bigger concern every bit they could mean malabsorption caused by pancreatic disease, said Dr Ang. "So please encounter a doctor if the stools are floating and hard to affluent. Information technology implies fatty malabsorption and medical evaluation is needed."
- There's undigested food in your child'south stool
Undigested food in the stool can suggest that food is passing too apace through the digestive tract for it to be fully digested, said Dr Lynette Goh, an associate consultant with KK Women's and Children's Infirmary'due south Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Service Department.
"This may be accompanied by loose or watery stools and is often referred to equally toddler's diarrhoea, which typically occurs between the ages of 1 and four years erstwhile," said Dr Goh.
The good news is, toddler's diarrhoea usually resolves itself past four to five years of historic period. "Information technology is common and there is no need to seek medical treatment if your child is otherwise well," she said.
In the meantime, monitor your child'southward activity, appetite and weight gain for any changes, and continue him hydrated. "Take your child to a doctor if the stool contains blood or if he is lethargic, eating poorly and/or losing weight," said Dr Goh.
- The stool is loose and accompanied by lots of gas
Acute gastroenteritis can cause your kid to feel swollen and/or have diarrhoea. "This is largely caused past viruses which infect the intestine," said Dr Goh, who added that other signs to look out for include vomiting, fever and abdominal pain.
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"Depending on the cause of the diarrhoea, it may concluding for two to four days. Occasionally, information technology may persist for up to ii weeks," she said.
It is a proficient idea to monitor the little one's action and feeding, and keep him hydrated. See a doctor if your child is dehydrated, lethargic, eating poorly and/or has claret in his stools, advised Dr Goh.
- Watery stool is passed a few times a day only your child is otherwise well
Merely as some adults have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), children can accept the same condition, also. An intermittent diarrhoea could be a symptom of IBS, according to Dr Goh, especially when there is no fever or vomiting.
"In IBS, the gut is particularly irritable or sensitive, and symptoms can be triggered by specific food or even stress and anxiety," she said. The kid may experience abdominal hurting, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhoea.
Sometimes, the diarrhoea could be caused by food intolerance or lactose intolerance, said Dr Ang. "In such instances, probiotics, adequate fluid intake and switching to lactose-free milk may be needed."
Only before such a diagnosis is fabricated, Dr Ang said that "a proper dietary history and nutrient diary in human relationship to bowel pattern need to be studied". Allergy testing or food challenge may be needed, she added.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/wellness/deciphering-toddlers-stools-constipation-diarrhoea-237636
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