Every baby or child has different bowel habits. Your baby may have as many as 4 to 10 stools a day or as few as 1 every 3 days. Many breast-fed babies will have a bowel movement with each feeding and sometimes between feedings. During infancy, normal stool may be runny or pasty, especially if the baby is breast-fed. The presence of mucus in the stool is not uncommon. Unless there is a change in your baby's normal habits, loose and frequent stools are not considered to be diarrhea.

Diarrhea occurs when there is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements or bowel movements are more watery and loose than normal. Diarrhea has many causes.

Dietary changes

A child may develop diarrhea from a change in his or her diet. A baby's or child's digestive tract may not tolerate large amounts of juice, fruit, or even milk. Diarrhea may be caused by an increase in the amount of juice or fruit a child drinks or eats. Diarrhea that is caused by a change in the child's diet is not usually serious.

Infection

Diarrhea is often caused by a viral or bacterial infection, such as rotavirus, stomach flu (gastroenteritis), or food poisoning. Diarrhea is the body's way of quickly clearing any viruses, bacteria, or toxins such as botulism, from the digestive tract. Most cases of diarrhea are caused by a viral infection and will usually clear up in a few days.

Diarrhea may also be caused by a parasitic infection, such as Giardia lamblia. This parasite, as well as other viral and bacterial infections, may be spread by drinking untreated water, unpasteurized dairy products, or by poor hand-washing.

Other causes

On rare occasions, diarrhea can be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as:

• A problem in the digestive tract, such as inflammatory bowel disease.
• Diseases that interfere with the normal digestion of food (malabsorption), such as cystic fibrosis or celiac disease.

Children, especially those younger than 6 months of age and those with other health risks, need special attention when they have diarrhea because they can quickly become dehydrated. Careful observation of your child's appearance and how much fluid he or she is drinking can help prevent problems.

Review the Emergencies and Check Your Symptoms sections to determine if and when you need to see a doctor.