I'm worried about my LO's poops

[owltrousers]

5 month old DS, he's always been formula fed - SMA Anti reflux formula on GP's advice. He's always had very dark sticky poo's but usually 1 a day and fairly loose and healthy looking.

Recently (past 2-3 weeks) he's hardly pooed at all and when he does its super dark, smelly and log shaped. It seems hard work for him to poo as well and sometimes he gets a sore bottom afterwards. Its literally every 6 or 7 days now. On top of this he's extremely fussy at bedtime due to excessive wind.

I took him to the GP who felt his tummy and said nothing was wrong. I explained about his poos and the colour / hardness and she said to give him more water with OJ in it. So I have been, to little change. I even tried giving him pureed prunes as part of weaning and still no change.

Should i be worried?

Hi Op,
First off are you weaning as the description of the poos sounds like your little one is taking solids?. I would maybe back of the weaning for a week or so and just keep your LO hydrated in the heat assuming you're in the U.K with this unusually hot summer. 😓
You can always ease back into purées once a day and build up from there very slowly and by time they are 6 months start offering finger food.
Formula does also and can cause some constipation, my little one was a little constipated in the early weeks (just briefly) but completely improved very quickly. You can offer a little cooed boiled water just an oz or so to help with the hot weather. As soon as they turn 6 months tap water with meals is fine or filtered tap water if possible?

Hi @lovingsummer6543 thank you.

We've just started weaning yes, only doing purees and the odd wafer at the moment however, I figured that purees would help his poop.

He drinks a lot of cold boiled water already.

I’d totally take away the food with poops like this and reintroduce a little later

I’d just stop weaning him until he’s 6 months old.

But yes, when you introduce food his poo will change. And get smellier!