Can I ask about poo?

[JustAddWine]

How much and what consistency is normal in a toddler? Is there any such thing as normal?

My 16mo DS sometimes goes 3 or 4 times a day, other times not at all (very rarely he can go up to 8 times a day, but usually only when he's poorly). Consistency varies from loose (but not diarrea) to firm bum-shaped poos. Lately it's been particularly loose. The CM has suggested keeping a food diary as he could have an intollerence to something which causes his upset bowel.

I thought all this was quite normal though. Am I being too relaxed about this? Could something sinister be lurking in DS bowels?

Normal-if he has always been like this (going up to 8 times a day) then i wouldn't be too worried.

Not normal- if he used to only go once a day but is now going up to 8 times then maybe worth a trip to the gp, they will probably send a sample off for testing.

Does he eat a lot of fruit, veg and fibre?

Thanks for the replies.

The frequency comes and goes, some days it's one, other days its 3 or 4. (only very rarely does it reach 8 a day, and that's when he's ill)

He has a good balanced diet (IMO) and loves his fruit and veg. What I don't understand is that he eats the same sorts of things most of the time, so why does the poo-flow change so often?

Perhaps I'd better start a food diary then and see how it goes. GP wouldn't want to be contacted for anything so trivial as poo but I might mention it to the HV when I next take DS for a weigh in.