Health & Baby

Tools & Resources

Font Size

Diarrhea in Babies

Poop is rarely a topic of discussion -- unless a baby is involved. New parents fret about their babies' bowel movements, just as they worry about their infants' diet or sleep patterns. Are the baby's stools coming too often or not often enough? Is their color normal? Are they too hard or too soft?

A baby's bowel movements normally come in different textures, colors, and odors based on what the baby is eating (breast milk, formula, or solid foods). Young babies' stool is normally loose compared to an adult's.

Recommended Related to Parenting - Baby (0-12 months)

Breast vs. Bottle for Feeding Your Baby

Many new mothers struggle with the decision to breast or bottle feed their new baby. Here's some guidance to help you choose what's right for you.

Read the Breast vs. Bottle for Feeding Your Baby article > >

A looser stool every once in a while is not uncommon. However, if bowel movements suddenly become much looser or more watery, frequent, and profuse, it may be diarrhea.

Baby Diarrhea Causes

Baby diarrhea can be caused by a number of things, ranging from a change in diet to an intestinal infection. Any of the following can cause diarrhea in babies:

infection caused by a virus, bacteria, or parasite
food allergy or sensitivity to medicines
drinking too much fruit juice
poisoning

Babies can pick up the bacteria and viruses that cause diarrhea through contact with contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces and then placing hands into mouths.

Frequent hand washing is important to prevent diarrhea, especially before and after eating, and after using the bathroom. Keep bathroom and kitchen surfaces clean and maintain safe food handling.

Effects of Baby Diarrhea

Diarrhea can affect the baby's normal balance of water and salts (electrolytes). When too much water and electrolytes are lost in diarrhea, babies can become dehydrated. Dehydration can happen very quickly in babies -- within a day or two after the diarrhea starts -- and it can be very dangerous, especially in newborns.

Look for these signs of dehydration in your infant:

urinating less often than usual (fewer wet diapers)
irritability
signs of thirst
dry mouth
no tears when crying
unusual drowsiness or lethargy
sunken soft spots on the top of the baby's head
skin that isn't as elastic as usual (doesn't spring back when gently pinched and released)

Call your pediatrician if you see any of the signs of dehydration listed above, or if:

Your baby is younger than 6 months
Fever of 101.4 degrees F or higher
Abdominal pain
You notice blood or pus in the baby's stools, or the stools are black, white, or red
Your baby is very lethargic or is vomiting

Babies with severe diarrhea who become dehydrated will need to receive intravenous fluids (IV) in a hospital.

Baby Diarrhea Treatments

Doctors usually don't recommend over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medicines for children. However, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic for a bacterial infection or an anti-parasitic drug for a parasite infection.

Make sure to check in with your doctor. If dehydration is severe, intravenous fluids may be necessary for treatment.

Your pediatrician might recommend that you give your baby an oral rehydration solution (ORS). These solutions, which you can buy at your local supermarket or drug store, contain fluid and electrolytes to replace what your baby has lost.

If your child is on solid foods, your doctor might recommend switching to bland, starchy foods like strained bananas, applesauce, and rice cereal until the diarrhea stops. Mothers who are breastfeeding might need to adjust their own diet, removing any foods that could trigger diarrhea in their baby.

Babies with diarrhea who are on solid foods should avoid eating anything that can worsen the condition, including:

greasy foods
foods that are high in fiber
milk products (milk, cheese)
sweet foods (cake, cookies)

Diarrhea that's caused by a viral or bacterial infection is very contagious. Wash your hands with warm water and soap every time you change your baby's diaper to prevent the infection from spreading. Keep the diaper-changing area clean and disinfected. Keep your child home from day care until your doctor gives you the OK.

WebMD Medical Reference

View Article Sources Sources