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 .

 

Tips to manage your baby when sick

If you observe your baby is not active and is not responding to the environment , it indicates the baby is unwell due to some reason and you need to act promptly to avoid the situation worsen. Baby will not be the usual self, will not take feeds as usual, vomiting, watery motions and will keep crying.

You need to prepare a list of observations prior to visiting the doctor to ensure you do not miss out the essential queries and information. Remember your pediatrician is your guide and you need to share all the observations of the child for a better diagnosis.

Here are a few symptoms to watch out, this will help you assess if your little one is sick.

• Does your baby have temperature (hot body)?

If you touch and feel your baby’s neck or forehead with the back of your palm you will not be able to assess if the baby has temperature. If the baby is sleeping under the fan or in a cool room you will not be able to identify the temperature. Therefore you need to check baby temperature with a thermometer.

Put the thermometer under the armpit. After a minute note the temperature. Add 1 deg to that reading and you will understand the temperature of the baby.

As the baby is small do not place thermometer in the mouth. It is very risky. These days digital thermometers and single use disposable thermometers are available.

It is very important that the temperature should not exceed 101 deg Centigrade and above . Few children will be affected with seizures. Therefore keep a vigilant eye on the baby. You can sponge the baby with a moist cloth(dipped in regular water).  Do not use chill water as the baby will shiver due to the sudden dip in temperature.

• Feeding is sufficient?

You need to watch out the fluid intake of the baby. If you feel the quantity is significantly lower than a normal day you need to consult the doctor and update the other observations. If the quantity of fluid intake is less marginally you can increase the intake gradually and continue to monitor baby.

• Baby is crying excessively ?

You need to watch if your baby is crying unusually . By now you are in a position to distinguish the cry when baby is hungry or sleepy. The child can be managed by feeding or rocking in a cradle and put to sleep. If the child is in pain or if unwell due to some problem , the child will not stop crying and will demand for your presence all the time. The cry will sound shrieking and with pain. You need to consult the doctor and explain symptoms.

• Baby is having difficulty in breathing?

A normal healthy baby will take shallow and easy breaths. The baby will sneeze, and sniff to clear the passage.

If you observe that your baby’s breath is unusual with a whistling noise, it is wheezing . This indicates that there is an obstruction to the flow of air leaving the lungs.

This condition is anticipated mostly in cold weather, winter. If your child is having difficulty to breathe i.e deep breathing you need to consult the doctor. There could be mild chest infection which heals with medication only.

• Is your baby vomiting ?

Babies vomit sometimes after feed when they are in god health too./ If you observe the vomiting has increased and in larger quantity , do not panic consult the doctor. Usually in such cases the liquid will have foul smell indicating bowel obstruction.

• Is your baby passing watery motions / stools ?

If you observe watery motions , abnormal smell too, nappies getting wet often. Baby is not active. This is due to the disturbance in digestion. This occurs when babies fall from a height or the effect of unhygienic conditions. Watch out for blood in the urine or stools. You need to ensure fluid intake sufficiently. Consult the doctor for further advise.

Baby may cry excessively due to colic pain or constipation .Baby will remain restless.You can follow home remedies for constipation.

• Any rashes, redness on the body?

Watch out for any rashes or redness on the body. It could be skin allergy due to food or clothing, condition called measles / chicken pox. Consult the doctor and take necessary treatment.

Generally when babies are unwell, babies will not sleep and will be restless. The eyes may look drowsy , at times they may not go to any other family member too. Basically check blood circulation by pressing the tip of the toe and releasing after a few seconds. If the toe tip turns red then it is a healthy sign. Nothing  to worry at all.

Best of luck !! Do take good care…