Diarrhea can be caused by infection, disease, food sensitivity, or certain medications. If your child has diarrhea, it will usually pass within a few hours or so. To make sure your little one doesn't become dehydrated or malnourished when he has diarrhea, you need to make sure he drinks a lot and eats foods that make him feel more comfortable, and take care of his health.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Adjusting the Child's Eating Schedule
Step 1. Wait for your child to have more than one bowel movement
Before changing his eating schedule, make sure your child has more than one bowel movement (usually a short period of time). If he has one stool, it doesn't necessarily mean that your child has diarrhea. However, multiple bowel movements over a short period of time can be a sign that your child has diarrhea but his condition can improve by changing his eating pattern or schedule.
- Increasing the amount of water children drink and changing diet are the two main keys to dealing with diarrhea at home. This way, you can prevent your little one from becoming dehydrated and malnourished while he recovers from diarrhea.
- Adjusting the feeding schedule can also make your little one more interested in eating when he has diarrhea.
Step 2. Encourage your child to eat small meals several times a day
Instead of serving meals within the usual three-hour meal, offer small meals and snacks several times throughout the day so that the stomach feels more comfortable and your little one has an appetite. Prepare food in small portions in small bowls and give it to your little one. Always accompany food and drink plenty of water so that he does not become dehydrated.
Some sources suggest drinking first, then solids. You can give your child a few glasses of water before and after meals to keep their fluids in check
Step 3. Give your little one his favorite food
When experiencing diarrhea, it is possible he does not have an appetite. Therefore, try to focus on the ingredients or foods he likes and prepare the food in a way that will encourage him to eat.
For example, if your child loves chicken, try making chicken noodle soup. Soup will be easily eaten by a child with a sore stomach, and can provide the nutrients he needs to stay fit, regardless of the diarrhea he is suffering from
Step 4. Let your child return to a normal eating schedule gradually
If the diarrhea starts to improve after two or three days, slowly re-establish your normal eating schedule. This means that you can serve up a heavy meal for an hour or two, while still providing a few or two small meals and snacks. Do not force your little one to immediately follow his normal eating schedule after recovering because his body needs time to get used to processing or digesting solid food.
Sometimes, children have diarrhea again after returning to their normal schedule or eating patterns. This is usually caused because your little one's digestive tract has to get used to the food he usually eats. Diarrhea like this usually does not last long and is not the same as diarrhea caused by illness or infection. After about a day, the diarrhea usually subsides and the little one is able to return to eating the types of food he used to eat before
Part 2 of 3: Providing the Right Food and Drink
Step 1. Make sure your child is drinking enough
Dehydration is a complication commonly caused by diarrhea. Prevent dehydration in children by making sure they drink plenty of water. Give him fresh water for the first hour or two after signs of diarrhea appear, then give him drinks that contain sodium or other nutrients, such as milk. In fact, drinking too much fresh water can be harmful to health because fresh water does not contain sugar or essential electrolytes. Make sure your little one drinks eight to ten glasses of water per day to keep his body hydrated.
- Do not give fruit juices, such as apple juice or other pure fruit juices. Fruit juice can actually make diarrhea worse. However, if your child doesn't really like drinking fresh water, you can add a little fruit juice so that the drinking water has a slightly interesting taste and aroma.
- Do not give carbonated or caffeinated drinks, such as soda or caffeinated tea. Both types of drinks can also make diarrhea worse.
- If your child has problems with dairy products (or his diarrhea gets worse after consuming dairy products), don't give him milk. Instead, give him water mixed with a rehydration solution (or powder) product, such as ORS or Pharolite. You can also try similar products (eg Pedialyte) which you can buy from pharmacies or supermarkets. Older children can also consume sports drinks to restore body fluids, such as Gatorade or Pocari Sweat.
- Always consult a doctor before using or administering rehydration solutions to infants or children under 1 year of age.
Step 2. Prepare plain and starchy foods
Usually, children who have diarrhea like foods with a taste that tends to be bland and rich in starch. When cooking food, season your food with salt and pepper only. Try grilling your food so it doesn't have a strong smell or taste so your little one will still like it. Some examples of foods that you can prepare include:
- Grilled meats, such as beef, pork, chicken, fish, or turkey.
- Boiled eggs.
- Toasted bread.
- Unsalted pasta with cheese or white rice.
- Cereals such as cream of wheat, oats, and cornflakes.
- Pancakes and waffles from flour.
- Baked potatoes or mashed potatoes.
- Some vegetables that can be cooked, steamed, or sauteed in a little oil, such as carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, and chickpeas. Do not give vegetables such as gambas/oyong, broccoli, peppers, peas, peas, berries, dried prunes, green leafy vegetables, and corn because these types of vegetables can trigger bowel movements, and make the stomach bloated and full gas.
- Bananas and fresh fruits such as apples, pears, and peaches.
Step 3. Serve food without skin or seeds
To make food appear more appealing to your little one and easier to digest, remove all seeds and skins from the food. This means, you need to remove all the seeds contained in vegetables or fruits that are given to your little one. You will also need to peel the skin on vegetables or fruits, such as zucchini or peaches.
Step 4. Provide a snack that is rich in salt
Salty snacks are suitable for children who have diarrhea because they may have a sodium deficiency. Give your little one cool snacks like pretzels and salty crackers. You can also add salt to dishes, such as a pinch of salt to roasted chicken or baked potatoes.
Prepare a bowl of salty snacks so your little one can enjoy them throughout the day. The availability of snacks can encourage him to want to eat. Make sure he's also drinking plenty of water when he's enjoying salty snacks to balance sodium levels and prevent dehydration
Step 5. Give ice sticks and jelly to your little one
These snacks can be a good source of fluids so that your little one's body fluids are maintained. Give him ice sticks made of water and a little fruit juice. Avoid giving ice sticks that contain milk because milk can irritate the stomach. In addition, you can also provide ice cubes made from Pedialyte (or a rehydration product, such as Pharolite, which is already brewed).
Jelly made from fruits can also be given to ensure your little one gets enough fiber intake. This absorbent intake can help compact the feces and absorb water from the digestive system
Step 6. Give your child low-fat yogurt
Yogurt contains active cultures that help increase the number of good bacteria in your little one's digestive tract. Try giving a serving of yogurt every day to help the healing process.
- Choose low-fat and low-sugar yogurt. The content of fat or sugar that is too high can actually worsen the condition of diarrhea experienced.
- Try mixing yogurt with fruit in a blender to make a smoothie. If your child doesn't like yogurt, he or she may like a smoothie that contains yogurt. Try mixing 120 milliliters of yogurt with a banana or a handful of frozen berries. You can also add 120 milliliters of water so that your little one gets additional fluid intake.
Step 7. Avoid spicy and fatty foods
Spicy and fatty foods can irritate the stomach, making diarrhea worse. Do not give your little one spicy foods, such as curries, spicy soups, or other foods that contain chili. You should also not give foods that contain a lot of fat, such as fried foods, processed or prepackaged foods.
Do not give foods that are difficult to digest, such as sausages, pastries, donuts, and other foods that are processed and contain a lot of sugar and fat
Part 3 of 3: Taking the Child to the Doctor
Step 1. Take your child to the doctor if there is mucus or blood in the stool
This can indicate that the diarrhea he is experiencing is a symptom of a more serious health problem. It is important for you to pay attention to whether there is mucus or blood in your little one's stool and take him to a health care center as soon as possible so that he can be examined by a doctor.
Also pay attention to whether your little one has other serious symptoms besides diarrhea, such as vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, stomach pain, or high fever. Take him to the doctor if he experiences these symptoms
Step 2. Talk to your child's doctor if he continues to have diarrhea for more than two or three days
Usually, your little one will recover from diarrhea after two or three days, although sometimes it can take a week or two for him to return to his normal diet. If she continues to have diarrhea for more than two or three days, and her condition doesn't improve, call her doctor to see if you need to take your little one for a check-up.
You probably don't need to take her to the doctor unless she has blood in her stool or her diarrhea is severe
Step 3. Take your little one to the doctor if he shows signs of severe dehydration
Children with diarrhea are prone to dehydration, especially when they are not getting enough fluids. Some of the symptoms of severe dehydration include:
- Dry and sticky mouth.
- Not urinating in six to eight hours (or not urinating more than 3 times in 24 hours).
- There are no tears when crying.
- Sunken eyes.
- Decreased activity.
- Loss of weight.
Step 4. Talk about treatment options for your little one with your doctor
Doctors can examine your baby's stool sample to determine if the diarrhea he is experiencing is caused by an infection, or he should undergo other tests to determine the cause of the diarrhea he is experiencing. After your child has had an examination, the doctor may give you antibiotics to fight the infection or illness that is causing the diarrhea. In fact, antibiotics are rarely given to treat diarrhea, and are only given when the bacteria that causes diarrhea are known. Keep in mind that antibiotics are sometimes ineffective and can actually have an uncomfortable effect if given incorrectly.
- Most antidiarrheal medications are not actually recommended for children. It is likely that doctors will not give or recommend such treatment to treat diarrhea in children. As an alternative, doctors may suggest the use of over-the-counter medications specifically manufactured for children. For example, the doctor may suggest treatment with probiotics to relieve diarrhea in your little one.
- The doctor may also refer your child to a gastroenterologist, a specialist in stomach and intestinal problems or diseases, if the child's diarrhea does not improve or is associated with symptoms of other health problems.
