Infant Diarrhea Treatment

Infant diarrhea is a frequent occurrence that can happen anytime your baby experiences some kind of digestion issue or illness. There are a few conventional cures for infant diarrhea and a few key things to watch for before you call a doctor.

Keep Hydrated

Keeping your baby hydrated through the entire episode of diarrhea is key to preventing an even more serious illness. Infant diarrhea is most frequently viral in nature, but it can also occur from an intolerance to certain foods, or be caused by a bacteria. Generally doctors do not prescribe antibiotics for diarrhea, since it clears up on its own within a few days.

If you are breastfeeding your infant, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital information about diarrhea in breast-fed infants recommends that you continue breastfeeding to keep your infant fed and hydrated, but to change your diet to see if this potentially affects your infant's bowel movements.

In between breastfeeding sessions, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital recommends giving your child an oral rehydration solution. An oral rehydration solution can be home made -- 1 tbsp. of sugar and a pinch of salt in a quart of distilled water, or it can be an over-the-counter electrolytic drink specially formulated for infant diarrhea.

If you are not breastfeeding, the hospital recommends you take your infant off of solids and complex foods, then start with a diet of clear liquids and slowly work up to semi-solids. Although the results will not be immediate, if your infant's condition does not improve during this process, seek medical attention. Strive to keep your child well-hydrated through this process.

A home remedy

An overripe banana may be just what you need. Let the banana ripen to the point where it has a lot of black spots, then mash it and feed it to your child. This remedy is said to work almost instantly in stopping loose, watery bowel movements.

When To Call a Doctor

While most cases of diarrhea clear up fairly quickly, if your infant has diarrhea for longer than 24 hours with no sign of improvement, the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (Mayo Clinic) recommends you contact a doctor immediately. If the diarrhea is combined with fever or vomiting, the bowel movements increasingly watery or if your child is listless and her skin does not flatten immediately after being pinched, it is imperative for you to contact a doctor or take your child to the emergency room.

A Final Warning

If your child experiences chronic diarrhea, or seems to have diarrhea more often than normal, there might be an underlying condition. Contact your pediatrician to ensure your infant's continued health.