If your baby has diarrhea, particularly if he is 2 months old or younger, you should act with extreme caution. "Your Baby's First Year" by the American Academy of Pediatrics cautions parents that diarrhea can quickly cause extreme dehydration in infants. Call your pediatrician immediately if the baby's diarrhea lasts more than a day and the child is running a fever, vomiting or obviously uncomfortable. In babies who aren't yet eating solids, diarrhea is likely caused by a virus. However, older babies may need to be checked for food allergies. (See Reference 1)
Step 1
Feed the baby half the usual amount she gets in one sitting, but twice as often. The website Ask Dr. Sears says that's the gentlest way to make sure babies suffering from diarrhea get enough nutrition and liquids, because digesting smaller amounts is easier on the system. (See Reference 2)
Step 2
Continue to breastfeed and bottle-feed your baby, particularly if it's his only source of nutrition. Even if the child has severe diarrhea and vomiting, he still needs all the food you can get into him. Halting feedings will only make him weaker. (See Reference 1, 2)
Step 3
Feed stomach-soothing foods to older babies. These items include mild rice cereal, bananas, unsweetened apple sauce, white grape juice, breast milk, half-strength formula and yogurt. Dry toast is also an option for babies who can chew food. (See Reference 2)
Step 4
Offer food frequently. If the child is hungry, she should eat. (See Reference 1)
Step 5
Give the baby a liquid electrolyte solution if the doctor says it's OK. This will keep the child's salts balanced and prevent further dehydration and discomfort. (See Reference 2)
Step 6
Ask your doctor if you can mix a small amount of probiotics in the baby's rice cereal, yogurt or applesauce. These healthy bacteria can regulate off-balance intestines that result from frequent diarrhea. (See Reference 2)
Things You'll Need
- Rice cereal
- Bananas
- Unsweetened apple sauce
- White grape juice
- Breast milk
- Formula
- Yogurt
- Dry toast
- Liquid electrolyte solution
- Probiotics
References
- "Your Baby's First Year"; American Academy of Pediatrics; 2010
- AskDrSears.com: Diarrhea
