When we get sick we have a pretty good idea why or at least whats causing it. Maybe not all the time, but lots of times. However, when our infants are sick and have diarrhea we are lost as to what might be causing it and how we can make it better.

The most important thing to identify first is if your baby really has diarrhea or not. Infants frequently have soft and runny stools that might appear to be diarrhea but are actually not. The way to tell the difference is if your baby all of a sudden has an increase in bowel movements and if they are more watery than normal. For instance, if your infant frequently has one bowel movement per feeding and then all of a sudden has two you might suspect diarrhea. This is especially so if you notice she has a runny nose, fever, or another symptom.

There are a lot of reasons why a baby might develop diarrhea. One reason for a breastfed baby to develop diarrhea is if the mother significantly changes her diet. Another reason could be if your infant has developed an infection or is taking an antibiotic. In very rare cases your child might have a disease that needs to be addressed. However, in most cases diarrhea in infants is the result of something fairly benign that just needs to be addressed.

Most of the time diarrhea will resolve on its own within a week; however diarrhea should not be taken lightly. It can result in death if your child becomes dehydrated so that is what you should focus on treating more than the diarrhea itself. Continue feeding your infant on a regular basis, and if you breastfeed dont stop because this helps prevent diarrhea in the first place. If you believe your child is still dehydrated or thirsty then supplement with Pedialyte or another similar re-hydration drink formulated especially for infants.

You can treat diarrhea at home in most cases, however in some situations you need to contact your pediatrician. In the instance your child has diarrhea for more than one week and a fever for at least three days, infant refuses to drink, infant under three months has diarrhea with fever, crying with no tears, and the like should be signs that your child needs medical attention. If the stools have blood, pus, or mucus then a call to the pediatrician is also necessary.

Even if you arent sure if your child requires medical care dont put off calling if it will make you feel better. It is better to be safe than sorry and pediatricians would rather you call so they can make the decision regarding treatment than waiting when treatment is necessary and the child getting sicker.

Posted in Baby and Toddler

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