What to Feed when my Baby has Watery Motions – Diarrhea

Diarrhea in children is a stress for the mother and the child. Baby will suffer and will be restless crying due to tummy pains and repeated watery stools and the mother becomes tired with frequent nappy changes, having to cuddle the baby and unable to focus on anything else.

The stools will smell foul and at times have a different color. Babies even tend to vomit all that he had. He will be hungry but will refuse all feed given to the baby.

Diarrhea can also result from milk intolerance, food allergy, exposed to unhygienic conditions at home, during travel. Keep water containers closed. Preferably give boiled and cooled water (room temperature) to the baby, plenty of fluids to balance the health of the child.

Watch out if baby has blood in the stools. Baby may suffer from ear pain and high fever too due to viral / bacterial infection.

Diarrhea in children can lead to dangerous medical conditions. You need to consult your Pediatrician who will 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.

What is ABC Diet for Diarrhea

The ABC diet consists of high –fiber foods that makes less mushy stools. The diet consists of apple sauce, mashed bananas , steamed carrots , boiled potatoes and rice cereal. You need to follow this diet for a few days till babies stools have resumed normalcy. ABC diet is recommended for babies less than a year old suffering with diarrhea.

Can baby be fed with milk

Avoid dairy products. If the baby is less than a year old, continue Breast feeding. Breast feeding quickly brings down the infection in baby’s stomach, the recovery rate is quicker.

What is BRAT Diet for Diarrhea

Alternative diet for toddlers and older children is BRAT diet consisting of bananas, rice, applesauce, toast. Digestion happens well when they are fed with this diet. This change is only for a few days till system becomes normal.  BRAT diet is recommended when the child has stomach upsets and diarrhea.

How to avoid dehydration

Severe diarrhea conditions lasting for more number of times and longer duration, it can be a major health concern as the baby is losing plenty of liquids. The input quantity is not matching the output and baby becomes weak and dull. It could be fatal too, therefore you need to act promptly to reduce the viral / bacterial infection by consulting a doctor.

Symptoms of dehydration include lack of urine for 6 hours, sunken eyes, no tears and dry, sticky mouth.

Do not give over the counter medications as the infection could vary and wrong diagnosis can be even dangerous. Consult a pediatrician. Your baby needs to be in safe hands.

Pediatricians may also recommended ORS packets (Oral Rehydration Salts ) to balance the dehydration condition. Baby will recover quickly and become active. You can resume normal diet. Keep observing for any change in baby’s health.

There will be small challenges in the journey of motherhood. Face the challenges boldly. Seek help of elders and experts in your neighborhood. Interact and you will feel much lighter.

Traditional practice

In India , a practice called nazar utharna is followed by elders in the family, also known as “drishti theeyadam”, “kannu matuva” in South India. This is done when baby is active and suddenly become dull especially after the baby had a long day out , after a party or get together , looking cute and bubbly wearing colorful bright clothes.

The symptoms seen are: baby becomes sick, vomits, do not have appetite to take regular feeds. The elders in the family takes immediate action saying Baby ko nazar lag gaya hai.

A pinch of salt is held tightly between fingers and is taken above the baby from head to toe 3 times in anti-clock wise direction and then thrown off in running water. It is believed that the evil eye or nazar will be cast away. The other option is taking a dry chilli over the baby and disposing it on fire. If there is a bad smell with cracking sound, it will indicate baby had problem of evil eye and is cast off.

Nowadays everyone are into gas stove or induction top,  so the second option is totally off. Every Indian woman may have experienced this practice being done for a child in their lives . It is a psychological way to assure mother that all is well. The mother takes extra precaution by putting a black dot of kaajal  / eyetex under the feet of the baby to prevent such happenings .