Diarrhea in babies and young children

Frequent watery stools, abdominal pain, and fatigue: If you notice these symptoms in your baby or toddler, you are probably dealing with diarrhea. Understandably, you are concerned about these symptoms and want to help your child recover quickly. In this article, you will learn, among other things, what triggers diarrhea in your little explorer, how teething is related, and which home remedies can help babies and toddlers with diarrhea.

How can I recognize diarrhea in babies and young children?

Diarrhea in your little explorer occurs when the intestinal mucosa is irritated and nutrient absorption and digestion are disrupted. As a result, your baby or toddler excretes above-average amounts. Chair out, which is essential watery and loose is normal. But how can you recognize diarrhea in your baby? Do you notice that your Baby more than 5 thin stools per day and your Toddler with more than 3 loose stools per day , if diarrhea is mentioned. If this condition lasts longer than 24 hours, you should consult a pediatrician.

The following symptoms may occur simultaneously with diarrhea:

• Cramping abdominal pain and bloating

• Nausea and vomiting

• Loss of appetite and weight loss

What are the causes of diarrhea in infants and children?

That your baby or toddler is suffering from diarrhea can have quite different causes. Diarrhea is most commonly caused by viruses , for example through noroviruses, rotaviruses, or adenoviruses. But bacteria can also cause infections in your child's gastrointestinal tract.

Other causes of diarrhea in your little explorer could be:

• Food intolerances, for example lactose intolerance

• Dietary change, for example after the introduction of complementary foods

• Too much fruit juice or hard-to-digest foods

• Side effects of medications

In addition, environmental changes can cause stress and psychological strain in little explorers, which may manifest as diarrhea. This is especially the case when your child has to adjust to a time change. But also during weather changes – particularly in heat – can babies or toddlers get diarrhea.

Diarrhea and teething: How are they connected?

Maybe you've heard from friends' parents before that babies during Teeth often get diarrhea. That's true, but still, diarrhea and teething are only loosely connected. You can imagine it roughly like this: Teething is incredibly exhausting for your little explorer. That in turn weakens the immune system , which makes it more susceptible to illnesses. Viruses and bacteria therefore have an easy time during this period. Additionally, your baby chews more on toys or teething rings and sucks on its own hand while teething. So if you're wondering whether your baby's diarrhea is caused by teething or an infection, the answer is: Probably a mixture of both. ;)

When should I take my child to the doctor with diarrhea?

Does your baby or toddler have diarrhea? accompanied by further complaints , you should see a doctor . This way, serious illnesses can be detected or ruled out, and you will receive valuable advice on treating your little explorer.

Seek medical advice if you notice the following symptoms in your child:

• Your child complains about intense, colic-like Stomach pain .

• Your baby's bowel movements indicate Blood inclusions .

• The Diarrhea is large-volume and very watery.

• Your little explorer gets high Fever above 39.5 °C.

• In addition to diarrhea, your child must also vomit .

• The Chair color Your stillborn is white.

• Your baby or toddler refuses food .

• A Gefahr droht Drying out .

In general: The younger the child and the greater the water loss, the more dangerous the diarrhea is. You can roughly estimate that diarrhea in infants is concerning if there are 4 or more watery stools, and in toddlers if there are 6 or more watery stools within 24 hours.

Are there home remedies for diarrhea in babies and young children?

Your little explorer is suffering from diarrhea, and you're wondering what you can do at home? Fortunately, there are numerous home remedies for diarrhea that promise quick relief, even for babies and toddlers. Your top priority should be to Compensate for mineral loss , which your child experiences due to the high fluid loss. An example of this is a suitable . Electrolyte mixture , which you might already have in your First Aid Kit store. Otherwise, you can also get such a solution at the pharmacy. Get advice here again on how much you can administer to your little explorer. As an alternative to the electrolyte solution, you can also give your child Salt and dextrose to restore a healthy mineral balance.

Additionally, you should keep the following tips in mind for diarrhea:

• Fluid intake : If your baby or toddler has diarrhea, increased fluid intake is very important. Therefore, children who are no longer exclusively fed with breast milk or infant formula can also be given tea. Teas that are gentle on the stomach and intestines include, for example, fennel or chamomile tea, as well as diluted black tea.

• Nutrition for babies : If your baby is struggling with diarrhea, eating may be difficult. However, exclusively breastfed babies should continue to receive breast milk, as it strengthens the immune system of the little explorers. If your baby is already on complementary foods, you can switch to a weak tea for 6 to 8 hours, which you can enrich with salt and dextrose for additional minerals.

• Nutrition in young children : Do you also wonder what your toddler can eat during diarrhea? Doctors recommend a starchy and as low-fat as possible diet. Suitable options include rusks, toast, and salted pretzels. But carrot puree, mashed potatoes, as well as grated apple or pureed banana are also easily digestible during a bout of diarrhea. Broth provides additional minerals.

To prevent your baby or toddler from developing infections in the diaper area due to diarrhea, we recommend that you, diaper to change more frequently . This prevents skin irritations and thus protects against an wounded baby bump . Even gentle Wipes with 99 % water and moist washcloth keep the diaper area of your little explorer clean during a diarrhea illness and provide abundant Care .

How can I prevent diarrhea in children?

Once the viruses and bacteria have settled comfortably in your little explorer's body, you can no longer prevent a diarrheal illness. Plenty of affection is then the most helpful for your child. Nevertheless, you can follow some tips in everyday life to protect your baby or toddler from the triggers of diarrhea:

• Pay attention to both your fingers and the Wash your little explorer's fingers frequently. . This kills bacteria and is especially important when your child is in the oral phase and frequently puts their hands in their mouth. For the same reason, you should also your Toys clean often enough .

• Wash food thoroughly from. Of course, you should also pay attention to this for all foods you consume yourself. Since your child's gastrointestinal tract is still more sensitive, we recommend cleaning especially fruits and vegetables before eating.

• Remember to also include the ones you use. Carefully clean kitchen appliances and surfaces . Bacteria also tend to settle here and can enter the food during meal preparation.

• Give your little explorer only Drinking water, which is also designated as such . Water from natural sources can cause diarrhea in your child.

If your child is suffering from acute diarrhea, you should closely monitor the accompanying symptoms and the development of the stool. If there is no improvement within 24 hours at the latest, we recommend consulting a pediatrician. Even with frequent recurring diarrhea, medical advice can help identify the cause of your baby’s or toddler’s digestive problems. In any case, we hope that your little explorer will feel better again soon!