i do not know if this is appropriate for a 4 month old - or even if anthing
is necessary - but would mineral oil be a possibility?  if the risk is
serious when this baby goes a week between stools (as seems to maybe be the
case), and the doctor says minerla oil (small quantity) won't hurt, perhaps
that could be a solution instead of corn syrup in a bottle.  the mineral
oil could be given with a medicine dropper or spoon -i believe it would
just be a teaspoon or so, but not sure.  My daughter was a one weeker
between stools as a baby, and i wasn't worried - i knew it was normal.  but
as a toddler and preschooler, she was horribly constipated and began
holding her stools out of fear of pain.  Nothing worked - until our new
pediatrician suggested mineral oil - and i sure wish someone had sugested
it earlier.  i was worried about nutrient loss, but the ped. reassured me
that children take megadoses of the stuff before any problem might occur
(she said some kids are taking 8-10 Tablespoons a day or more - My daughter
was only taking 1 tablespoon, after an initial few months of 2).  It worked
like a charm and reversed the viscous cycle she was in - she did have to
take it for over a year though, before we could stop.

This brings me to another wondering - has any connection been found between
these babies who stool infrequently as normal breastfed babies and future
constipation or problems with stooling as older babies or children?  i
woudl be really curious and it would be helpful in assuaging moms whose
babies have irregular stooling patterns. any thoughts?
Lyla Wolfenstein
[log in to unmask]

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html