Diarrhea in children can lead to dangerous medical conditions. Your pediatrician might recommend a temporary change in diet to alleviate your child's loose stools and shorten the time his diarrhea lasts. The ABC diet limits your child to high-fiber foods that add bulk to his stool.
ABC Diet for Diarrhea
The ABC diet consists of high-fiber foods that create less mushy stools. The diet limits your child's diet for a few days to applesauce, strained bananas and carrots and other high-fiber foods, such as potatoes and rice cereal. Pediatricians sometimes recommend the ABC diet for babies and children younger than one year old who have diarrhea. In addition to creating a more solid stool, the ABC diet can reduce the time your child has diarrhea.
Diarrhea in Children
The causes of diarrhea in children include food sensitivity, illness, infection and antibiotics or other medications. Parasites, viruses and medical conditions can also cause diarrhea in children. Most children can eat normally during a bout of diarrhea. Some children lose their appetite or experience temporary lactose intolerance, which can worsen diarrhea. Diarrhea can cause a loss of fluids that results in dehydration, a serious medical condition in babies and children.
Dietary Changes and Age
Infants with diarrhea might require a clear liquid diet for up to a day to allow the bowels to rest. Infants often require electrolyte replacement liquids to prevent dehydration. After the bowels have rested, infants can switch to the ABC diet, with a doctor's approval. A bland diet without spices or grease works best for older children. After 24 hours on the ABC diet, children return to their normal diet, with doctor approval. Contact your doctor if the child's diarrhea symptoms continue or return.
Precautions
Contact your pediatrician if your child has diarrhea for more than two or three days or if she has concurrent diarrhea, weight loss, vomiting, fever or stomach cramps. Notify the doctor if your child has mucous or blood in her stool, if she seems lethargic or has signs of dehydration. Dehydration symptoms include lack of urination for at least six hours, no tears, sunken eyes and dry, sticky mouth.
Alternatives
The BRAT diet -- bananas, rice, applesauce, toast - is another bland diet that helps treat diarrhea. It is recommended for toddlers and older children who have diarrhea or upset stomachs.
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