8 Month Old with Diarrhea for Close to 2 Weeks Now

You might try more carbs than bananas & applesauce from the BRAT diet to help "bind up" the poop more. I've also found yogurt to be helpful to help normalize her system, though at 8 months old I would check with your doctor first. They even sell probiotic powder which would be stronger than yogurt, but again I would definitely check with the doc before doing that. For her poor little hiney, spreading a liberal coat of vitamin E oil right out of the capsule might help, especially at night when it can sit there for a good long time. Good luck. The diarrhea will pass - she won't have it for the rest of her life! Hang in there!

you were told to LIMIT breast milk in a sick baby?!?!?! that's the most absurd thing I've ever heard! breast milk is the best thing you can give her to maintain proper hydration levels, and to balance out what she's losing to the diarrhea. I'm sorry, but if your pediatrician thinks that pedialyte is a better solution for your sick daughter's dietary needs than breast milk, I'd find a new pediatrician. seriously. limiting her breast milk intake is going to adversely affect your supply as well, and 8 mos is a bad time to be doing that.

I suggest you get a second opinion, find a new pediatrician, and nurse your baby girl as much as possible. her system needs to be cleaned out. she could be having an allergic reaction to something, which apparently didn't even occur to your pediatrician. there are so many things that a pediatrician should be exploring with you. the fact that yours is dismissive of your concerns and views your daughter's health from such a limited prism (so, green foamy diarrhea is nothing to worry about unless there's vomiting? bullocks!) means that he or she is not going to be much of partner to you through the next 18 years....

I remember our pediatrician telling us that stomach bugs can last 10 days to 2 weeks, so that might be what's causing the problem. That happened with my son. When I changed him I just used cotton balls and warm water (wipes irritated the skin). The BEST diaper rash cream I've found is by Weleda. It's expensive but totally worth it - you can find it in Whole Foods and other stores like that.

Limiting breastmilk seems like strange advice to me - I did the opposite to ensure that he was getting nutrients.

Good luck and hopefully it's just a virus and will end soon!

Ackkkk! I am shocked but not surprised that the Dr. told you to limit breastmilk! Sure, limit the perfect food for your child- no way!. Back to what might work for you. First, digestive enzymes. You can get them in powder or liquid. Also probiotics - acidophilus either chewable or liquid is essential with any digestive issue. Then, grated apple skin. This is from my grandfather who was a DR. and used many food remedies first before drugs. Rice is good, so are millet and barley. There are homeopathic remedies that are specific to this issue. There are several remedies, but I don't have enough info. to narrow it down for you. Feel free to contact me and I can let you know which one would prob. work.
Hope this helps.
L.

Can't help you with how to stop the diahrrea, I've always followed my ped's advice... However, the diaper rash is something that I DO have a remedy for... Equal parts, hydrocortison ointment, neosporin & desitin (the purple tube) squirted into a tupperware and mixed completely. Keep it covered in the tupperware in between uses. Apply with every diaper change. I saw a difference the same day. I wouldn't continue this regimen past the 2nd day- the hydrocortison cream isn't great for them when it's used too much... After the second day, I just used the desitin with every change and the 'concoction' at night before bed. This was a miracle solution. Good luck!

I find it a little frustrating you were told to limit breastmilk. Diarrhea is a result of your digestive system being weak, aka. virus, bacteria, or stress has weakened it. The probiotics in your breastmilk are one of the things that will actually help your baby. When my kids (or my husband and I) are sick with anything related to digestion, I give them probiotics. Probiotics are what line your digestive track naturally when you're healthy, and they are what help restore it to health. A health store can carry them (I have gone to a local Healthway and they had them), and they should have some powdered probiotic you can mix into a bottle for a baby.

My daughter was throwing up for 10+ days and when I took her to the Dr, they told me to just wait it out (of course they weren't the ones cleaning up puke all over the house). After one day of taking probiotics, she was better.

I hope she feels better! Being sick is no fun :(

That sounds awful! We have dealt with a few days of diarrhea and something that really helped the diaper rash is putting baking soda in my daughter's bath - it changes the ph of the skin they don't chafe as easily. Also, bananas have the opposite affect on my daughter so we can't give her any when she is having stomach issues - you could try cutting out the bananas. And I would also call your pediatrician again if you are still concerned and see what else they can tell you.