Diarrhea in Infants

Diarrhea in Infants

Your baby’s bowel movements are normally soft and can even be loose, especially if you breastfeed your baby. Diarrhea is different than your baby’s normal bowel movements. Diarrhea:

• Usually comes on suddenly.
• Is frequent.
• Is watery.
• Occurs in large amounts.

Diarrhea can make your infant weak and cause him or her to become dehydrated. Dehydration can make your infant tired and thirsty. Your infant may also urinate less often and have a dry mouth. Dehydration can develop very quickly in an infant and it can be very dangerous.

Diarrhea typically lasts 2–3 days. In most cases, it will go away with home care. It is important to treat your infant’s diarrhea as told by your infant’s health care provider.

Follow these instructions at home:

Eating and drinking

Follow your health care provider’s recommendations:

• Give your child an oral rehydration solution (ORS), if directed. This is a drink that is sold at pharmacies and retail stores. Do notgive extra water to your infant.
• Continue to breastfeed or bottle-feed your infant. Do this in small amounts and frequently.Do notadd water to the formula or breast milk.
• If your infant eats solid foods, continue your infant’s regular diet. Avoid spicy or fatty foods. Do notgive new foods to your infant.
• Avoid giving your infant fluids that contain a lot of sugar, such as juice.

General instructions

• Wash your hands often. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Make sure that all people in your household wash their hands well and often.
• Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your infant’s health care provider.
• Watch your infant’s condition for any changes.
• To prevent diaper rash:
  • Change diapers frequently.
  • Clean the diaper area with warm water on a soft cloth.
  • Dry the diaper area and apply a diaper ointment.
  • Make sure that your infant’s skin is dry before you put a clean diaper on him or her.

Keep all follow-up visits as told by your infant’s health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your infant has a fever.
• Your infant’s diarrhea gets worse or does not get better in 24 hours.
• Your infant has diarrhea with vomiting or other new symptoms.
• Your infant will not drink fluids.
• Your infant cannot keep fluids down.

Get help right away if:

• You notice signs of dehydration in your infant, such as:
  • No wet diapers in 5–6 hours.
  • Cracked lips.
  • Not making tears while crying.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Sunken eyes.
  • Sleepiness.
  • Weakness.
  • Sunken soft spot (fontanel) on his or her head.
  • Dry skin that does not flatten out after being gently pinched.
  • Increased fussiness.
• Your infant has bloody or black stools or stools that look like tar.
• Your infant seems to be in pain and has a tender or swollen belly.
• Your infant has difficulty breathing or is breathing very quickly.
• Your infant’s heart is beating very quickly.
• Your infant’s skin feels cold and clammy.
• You cannot wake up your infant.