formula / lack of dirty diapers

[Susue]

My daughter is 11 weeks old and has only had dirty diapers every few days since she was born. First it was every 2 days then every 3 recently it went to 4 and even 5. We have tried all the remedies - Dark Karo Syrup, apple or prune juice, taking temp followd by warm bath and each remedy worked once then nothing after that. I got a suggestion from a friend who went thru the same thing to switch from Similac Advance to Carnation Good Start. Anyone else make this switch to increase dirty diapers with success? If so how long did it take for the number of dirty diapers to increase?

[CNYMom]

FYI--- just because your used to her having a dirty diaper so often does not mean that she is constipated.


when was her last bm? i wouldn't go more than 5 days between bm's -then I'd call her pediatrician

[Susue]

FYI--- just because your used to her having a dirty diaper so often does not mean that she is constipated. when was her last bm? i wouldn't go more than 5 days between bm's -then I'd call her pediatrician

No she isn't constipated. The stools aren't firm. They are normal consistency for a baby. I have looked for a term for simple "lack of dirty diapers", but I can't find one. I know a lot of people call it constipation when it really isn't, but I guess that's the term that comes to mind when you don't/can't "go". Anyway, I have been in constant contact with my Ped - we gave a glycerine suppository at 5 days. It worked instantly. Now again it's been 4 days. Spoke with Ped again today and she doesn't seem worried at all, she says Similac is absorbed so efficiently that there really just isn't much waste to expel. She says I can switch to Good Start, which will probably increase the stools, which might make ME feel better, but as for Caroline, she thinks Similac with 1oz prune juice per day should be fine. I haven't decided yet what I'll do.

[1Dawn]

Since I spent much time when my children were small thinking and researching this I can answer with what I was told.

Up to 4 days in between is normal. Once it gets over that you have to be a bit more concerned. But a bm once every 4 days or so is usually nothing to be concerned about. One of my children did that routinely. I just knew that I should be prepared on day 4. My gram was visiting and drove me so crazy with worry I took my child to the ER where they assured me that nothing was wrong. Each person is different and as long as it comes out eventually without pain I shouldn't worry. My baby had no problem it was the adults around lol

:)
Dawn

[RLB]

If she's not straining, she's o.k. Her pattern of going will change over time, probably when you least expect it. I did once when instructed by my ped, switch to Similace Low Iron with my daughter, but that's because she was truly very constipated (she had moderately severe reflux and what we were doing for that was adding iron to her diet already). I'm always leery of switching once the baby is established on one formula (maybe because mine were both very sensitive to certain brands) because that can be asking for trouble, too. They may all be required by the FDA to have the same nutritional value, but they are very different between brands.

[Susue]

Thanks - this was helpful.
We decided to stick with Similac. Yesterday was the 4th day without a dirty diaper and we gave 1oz prune juice and it worked. OH BOY DID IT WORK!!! If that continues to do the trick on day 4 when needed, that is fine with me. Sounds like I don't really need to worry about increasing the frequency as much as I need to watch for straining and/or firm stools. Ped also said to stop giving dark Karo since it isn't working all it is doing is giving her a big dose of sugar.