Being a mother is so wonderful and makes us feel so important to the world, at least in the world of that little life in our hands. We are fully responsible for the care, teaching, and every step of that other life, and we can’t always control everything, like our baby’s health. Unfortunately, they do get sick even with all our care, and we don’t always discover right away what the problem is, like in the case of a baby with diarrhea.
Diarrhea is not a symptom of just one health issue, which is why it becomes a worrying matter especially for first-time moms1. A baby with diarrhea could be dealing with teething, intestinal infection, allergy, vaccine reaction, worms, intolerance to a certain type of food, and other varied reasons. And how to figure out the real cause, or even to know if the baby has diarrhea if they usually already have looser stools? The best way for parents to find out what’s going on with their child is to always observe. In daily life, we can notice how much stool the baby passes and what the consistency and color of the stools are; if there is a change in this routine, something is wrong. Analyze if something new has happened, like teeth coming in, a recently applied vaccine, or a new food added to the baby’s menu.
The most common cause of a baby with diarrhea is still contamination with rotavirus2. Even with a free vaccine available to immunize children, many still catch the disease and show symptoms because they haven’t been vaccinated. Before this vaccine was developed, babies and children up to 5 years old had rotavirus at least once during this period. That’s why it’s important to always keep your child’s vaccination card up to date. But when it comes to diarrhea, the real concern isn’t the diarrhea itself, but the harm it can cause if not controlled in time. The biggest worry about a baby with diarrhea is possible dehydration, which in more serious cases can lead to death. This is especially risky for younger babies up to 3 months old, as they can dehydrate very quickly. That’s why, once it’s clear the baby has diarrhea, some important steps must be followed.
Baby With Diarrhea – What To Do?
While the baby has diarrhea, some steps are necessary to not only protect their health, but also keep them well hydrated and away from the risk of dehydration3.
- If the baby is breastfeeding, on-demand breastfeeding should be continued, providing constant hydration for the baby.
- For babies who are no longer breastfed, you should offer fluids constantly, preferably water or homemade oral rehydration solution.
- Choose light foods, with less fat.
If the diarrhea lasts for more than 3 days, if there is blood in the stool, high fever, or if the baby shows symptoms of 
dehydration along with weight loss, a pediatrician should be consulted immediately. The main symptoms of dehydration to watch out for are: crying without tears, dry mouth, excessive sleepiness, decreased urine output, and weakness. Usually, with proper care, diarrhea tends to go away naturally. Medications to stop diarrhea are not recommended unless prescribed by a doctor. The best way to prevent diarrhea at this age is to keep good hygiene, stay up-to-date with vaccines, and always keep the baby’s hands clean, since they bring germs from objects directly to their mouth. This way, the baby is much less likely to get sick and have these uncomfortable symptoms.
See also: Rotavirus Vaccine – Why Is It Important?
Photos: Christopher Lance, Ecohen
