Question : MY six-month-old son passes motion two to three times a day. Is this normal? We stopped breast-feeding him when he was two months old. What nutrients are needed for his brain development?

Answer : AS long as the stool is soft, this is normal. Babies' stools are firmer once they start on solid food. Stool production depends on age, teething and fibre content of food. Each child has his/her own stool frequency pattern that changes slowly over time. Once your baby starts eating solids, his stools will firm up, but they will also change consistency based on what he's been eating.

If the stools change noticeably within only a few days, he/she may have diarrhoea. Avoid fruit juices, peas, pears, peaches, plums, prunes, and apricots until the stools are back to normal if he is having diarrhoea. It is best to consult a doctor if you notice the changes within only a few days.

A formula-fed baby usually passes motion once or more a day. Formula-fed babies are more prone to the illnesses that cause diarrhoea because they don't get the protective antibodies and friendly bacteria from breast milk.

The two clinically-studied strains of friendly bacteria such as Lactobacillus LAS and Bifidobacterium BB12 will be beneficial to children. These friendly bacteria also help to improve digestion and avert the development of atopic conditions such as asthma, allergies and skin rashes.

If your baby is already big enough to take solid foods, then carrots, rice cereal, bananas, potatoes and apple sauce can help slow down the production of stools.