How to Treat a Child's Diarrhea

Diarrhea is unpleasant and embarrassing for children; it can also cause severe dehydration or signal other health problems. Treatment is fairly straightforward, though ' just follow these instructions and give your child lots of extra hugs, too.

Things You'll Need

• Bananas
• Saltine Crackers
• Electrolyte Replacement Drinks

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Instructions

• 1

  Try to determine the cause of the diarrhea. Could your child have food poisoning or stomach flu? Could he be reacting to a new food in his diet?

• 2

  Act quickly to prevent dehydration. If your child is a breast-fed baby or toddler, nurse him as often as possible and remove all other foods from his diet for a few hours.

• 3

  Offer an oral electrolyte solution to prevent dehydration for an older child or non-nursing baby or toddler, and avoid other foods for a few hours.

• 4

  Offer your child an over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medication if necessary. Ask the doctor or pharmacist about medications that are safe to give your child.

• 5

  Give your child something to eat about eight hours after you begin treatment. Stick to bland foods until he's feeling better.