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Diarrhea Cures for Infants

Diarrhea in infants is the change in the normal bowel movement pattern. The bowel movements increase in number and become watery in texture. It may also be accompanied by abdominal cramps, stomach ache, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and blood. Diarrhea can be a symptom of food sensitivity. This is suspected if the infant has diarrhea about 15 to 20 minutes after eating. It can also be a sign of illness in a breast fed baby or a reaction to formula in a bottle fed baby. Diarrhea is common when a baby has an allergy to milk.

  1. Rehydration

    • Diarrhea in infants is dangerous due to the possibility of dehydration. Signs are the lack of urine, excessive thirst, irritability, loss of appetite, weight loss, dry mouth, and no tears when the infant is crying. Dehydration is the result of water loss when the fluid intake does not keep up with the loss. To help remedy this in infants it is best to give oral rehydration solution (ORS) which is available in most grocery stores and pharmacies. This is designed for babies and contains a balance of water, electrolytes and sugar. Avoid giving the infant just water since it does not contain the salts and nutrients necessary to combat dehydration.

    Foods

    • If the infant is being breast fed then continue to breast feed the baby. It is the best way to get liquids into the baby. If the baby is being bottle fed then consider switching to a lactose free formula. The lactose in milk products could make diarrhea worse. If the infant is eating solid food, consider foods that help stop diarrhea such as rice cereal, bananas, dry toast, applesauce, and yogurt. There are certain foods to avoid when an infant has diarrhea. These include most dairy products, fruit juice, peaches, apricots, pears, peas, plums and prunes.

    Medical Care

    • Diarrhea is a sign that the body is trying to get rid of an infection. Do not give an infant diarrhea medicine since it might interfere with the infant's effort to heal. Antibiotics are usually not necessary. It is best to let the diarrhea run its course by keeping the infant well hydrated. There are times when it is best to contact your care provider. If the infant is younger than 6 months old, automatically call the care provider. If the infant is older than 6 months, look for signs of dehydration, a fever higher than 101.4 degrees Fahrenheit, vomiting for more than eight hours, any blood in the stool or vomit, or the possibility that the infant could have ingested something poisonous. Any of these signs can justify a trip to the emergency room.

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