Help with Baby Diarrhea

Go to Whole Foods and get their probiotic for infants (It's called Jarro).

Sounds like your son does have a virus. I would watch him very closely. Dehydration is a big issue with a lot of diarrhea/vomiting. If his skin color becomes more pale...or his eyes get that sunken look...or even if he starts acting lethargic, take him to the ER for fluids immediately.

You can help his fluid intake by nursing more frequently...or if you bottle feed, allowing him to take the bottle whenever he wants. The BRAT diet is designed to help diarrhea (bananas, rice, apples, toast). Give him the probiotic in his bottle (mixed with his formula or EBM) or you can mix it into a jar of food/yogurt, etc.

Definitely use your mommy instincts here. You may not have to "worry" for 10 days, but you may have to do something before then.

Hope your son is feeling better soon and this passes quickly!!

My son went throught this at about 1 year. Just pump the pedialite and crackers if he'll eat them, pieces of banana will help settle his stomach. For his butt, use vaseline (Petrolium jelly)!! Anything with diaper rash ointment has medication, which will only make his bottom burn and he will cry. If you use vaseline, this will create a water barrier so that his diahreah does not irritate anymore, and it makes it much easier to wipe him because you have that barrier. Also, try using a wash cloth instead of wipes, because the scents will also irritate his poor bottom. Hope this helps.

Sounds like a virus. Limit the amount of juice because the acids will hurt his raw diaper area more. Also limit the sugars like fruit as the produce water in the intestines causing more liquid poops. You need a probiotic to clear out the virus in his intestine a replace it with good bacteria. I would try pedialite mixed in his formula or breastmilk bottles to maintain the electrolites that he is losing in his system due to the purging and diahrea. It just needs to clear his system with time. Good luck.

Our peditrician was also very lax about diaherra but they did recommend Florastor Kids which is a natural probiotic that you can add to his formula (if you're nursing you might want to pump and bottle feed), or food. It's not avaiable everywhere, though, so check out their website for locations. Bland diet if he's hungry (apples, rice, bananas), but accept that he may not be. And, as if it's not bad enough that they are all poopy, diaper rash is clearly going to follow! I'd recommend ditching diaper wipes completely as they are actually very irritating. Use Kleenex Viva paper towels wetted with warm water, slather him with Desitin (it has the most zinc oxide--40%!) after every diaper change, try to give him some time to play naked (I know it sounds scary since he's pooping all the time, but it will help with the rash better than anything else!) on a covered area. Our docs also said Pedialyte, which my daughter won't have anything to do with or Propel Fitness Water, which she took very nicely.

Good Luck!

It sounds like roto-virus. If the diarrhea has a distinctive smell and/or green - it could be that. time is the only way for it to pass. My son had it and it was absolutely HORRIBLE!
In regards to diaper cream, cake it on as thick as you can. Use the highest brand you can with zinc.I think desitin had a night version that was almost 20% zinc (versus most of them 11%). My son only threw up on himself twice and never had a fever. When he started to get over it, he got a rash on his belly. The doctor said - because he was probably getting over it and his body was creating antibodies.

Roto-virus is HIGHLY contagious so make sure you wash your hands very well. The doctor told me that she has seen adults in the hospital admitted with their kids for dehydration. Roto-virus is the #1 way for someone to become dehydrated (as an illness). Stay away from juices for sure. I had 7 month twin girls at that time. Thankfully, they had the roto-virus vaccine. WIth the vaccine, it doesn't mean that they 'wont' get it - it but would have gotten a milder version of it. They did both get it - but it wasn't nearly as bad as my son.

It could be teeth too - as my son ALWAYS had bad diaper rash then too. However, if it is that frequent and it is very smelly, it could be ROTO. It took my 7 days to get over the really bad diapers. I hope that it isn't in your case!

10 Days? That's crazy, that's too long. Your baby could be dehydrated by then. It's time to find a different doctor.

Sounds almost like roto virus...poor thing. I know when my kids had it their bottoms were raw. The doctor can prescribe you nystatin to clear it up. Also, if he can go diaperless for a little while each day to let the air get to it, that helps alot.

I would definitely not wait until 10 days, you need to have him checked out sooner than that. You know your son better than anyone so go with your gut on finding another doctor or taking him in. In the meantime, make sure he's hydrated - give him water, even if it's only in sips, every hour - use an oral syringe if you have to, anything to keep him from getting dehydrated. Good luck!

We just had the exact same thing happen with both of our kids (both are 16 months old). It turned out it was a stomach virus. It lasted two days, but we had to change their diapers VERY often and I let them just run around without a diaper for short periods like right before a meal (when peeing or pooping wasn't very likely). The virus actually ended yesterday, but my daughter is still recovering from the rash. Triple paste and air are doing wonders though and I think it'll be gone by tonight.

Sounds like teeth but could be the flul. For his bottem buy regular desitin, the thick stuff. This will protect his bottem the best. Dont use a wipe to take it off though. Us a warm soft cloth. An old pillow case is great or a baby wash cloth. Avoid any juice because of the acid content. Go with a very light diet, broth, noodle soups, animal or regular chrackers, stuff like that. It should past be patient. Good Luck.

If he'll eat Activia yogurt, or if you can mix live probiotic cultures into something else that he eats, that will help reduce the redness on his bottom and make it less sore. The probiotic bacteria can actually digest the stuff in the diarrhea that has that burning effect.

B.

You need to check with another doctor or the hosptial, quickly! My brother, at the age of 16 months died from dehydration due to vomitting and diarrhea which lasted for 3 days. My son, at the age of 18 months, had diarrhea and some vomitting for 1 day. Because of my mom's experience with my brother, I took him to the hospital which is where they said he was dehydrated and hooked him up to an IV to rehydrate him. If I had waited another day or two, he may not be with us now. Dehydration is a very serious thing. Do not let this doctor make you think it is any less. Sure the virus may last for 10 days, but it is the diarrhea and vomitting that is the problem. Get your son checked to make sure he is hydrated and fast!

Sounds like roto, esp if you say it happens 6 to 7 times a day. that's deft not teething but roto. there's not much you can do. my son had it and just keep him hydrated. the BEST and i meant BEST diaper cream i've ever come upon is called Triple Paste. it's pricey but WORTH IT! esp since they get a horribile rash with the roto. you can get it at CVS, Walgreens or Target but its cheapest at target. 10 days is when the roto should be done but my son had it a little over 10. just make sure he eats and drinks a lot if possibile. good luck!

Dear G.,
Make sure that he is not eating any nuts as that is very irritating and can cause diarrhea. Put a layer of Desitin and then Vaseline on his bottom at every diaper change. Put it on thick to help protect his skin. keep him hydrated with plenty of liquids. If he is throwing up, just give him a teaspoon of Ginger ale every 15 minutes and see if he can keep it down.

G.,

My daughter also had this stomach flu the week of thanksgiving. I always look to askdrsears.com for assistance when I am unsure what to do in situations such as these when I need reassurance that my pediatrician has given advice. Look at the information about vomiting and diahrrea under the a to z link and you should see that unfortunately this viral bug just has to work itself out of your baby's system. Make sure to also keep you pediatrician notified on any concerns you might have. My husband and I also caught the bug so be careful to wash your hands at every chance!

Sincerely,
H. S.

There is a bad stomach bug going around right now - both of my kids have it. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do except make sure that your son stays hydrated and gets as much rest as possible. My doctor said not to give Motrin because it would upset my son's stomach. For diaper rash I recommend Desitin overnight (the dark blue tube - not the light blue tube). Also, you should put your son on the BRAT diet - no cheese, milk, fruit or vegtables - he can eat toast, rice, oatmeal, bananas, apple sauce, ect. (binding foods). Good luck!

Slather his skin with Aquaphor! It is great for protecting skin

It's going around. Every one of my friend's kids as well as my own son has had it. Watch out, the parents are getting it too. Just keep an eye on his liquid intake.
NO DAIRY! It makes it much worse. The only dairy in small doses that may be ok for him is yogurt because the bacteria is good for his tummy. Stick to the BRAT diet. Bananas Rice(cereal with water helps) Applesauce and Toast(dry). I kept my son on this for at least 5 days and then introduced other things such as chicken, and eggs slowly for protein. Dairy we stayed away from for 2 weeks. Stick to pedialyte, and if he won't drink it cause its gross move to apple juice and water. Just make sure he gets down at least an ounce per hour.
Dehydration shouldn't set in as long as he keeps down even two tablespoons per hour.
Diarrhea lasted in our house for 12 days, and we did see the DR. Apparently he got the flu at the same time as his eye teeth breaking through, so there was a combo effect making it last longer. Lots of baths helped, and for the raw tush we had to switch from Desitin to Lotromin(for jock itch) because the rach got yeasty which can be determined by little pimples in the rash. Just keep slathering the area and keep up extra hugs and kisses.
If you start noticing really dark circles under his eyes and few wet(not #2) diapers call your doctor. Also the pinch test helps to determine dehydration. Pinch the skin on his hand and see how long it takes for the pinch to go down and for the color to come back. it should go back to normal pretty much immediately. If it takes a while, he's dehydrated.
It's so disconcerting to deal with a sick baby, but hang in there. This flu is making it's rounds here this year. There's not much else you can do, and I'm so sorry. It will go away, and you both will feel much better because you have gotten through your first flu battle together. (I spent the entire week sleeping in my son's room in the glider when he was sick. I finally have caught up on sleep)
Remember, just like when you were pregnant, never be afraid to call the doctor that's what they are there for. If you get nervous or feel like something is off, trust your instincts and call. No matter how it goes down if it makes you feel better it was worth it. This is why they get paid the big bucks. Feel Better!

Hello, i have been a mom for 38 yrs and am a 7 time grandmother. I have run across this many time. I always used a little flour, a little nutmeg and a little water mixed up in a spoon and gave it each time they went. it is natural wont hurt them and just works that i all i know. and then as far as the skin i washed with a liquid baby soap and water but no wash rag (use only your hand) and even running luke warm water holding their little bottom under the running water. then i used corn starch patting it on each time. i used desitin but then you have to kind of get it off and it takes rubbing and that does not work and hurt sooo much. try it. my pediatriacian didnt have any objections to it. becky adair

So sorry that your son is sick. Sounds like it might be Rotovirus. The best thing to do is to change him often and to keep his tush covered with diaper rash cream as treatment and prevention.I usually do the diaper rash cream and then cover with vasoline to make a protective barrier. Good Luck and I hope he feels better soon.

My daughter also had the exact same thing for the last 7 days. She picked it up at the doctor's office when she went for her well check-up (how ironic). Unless he's running a fever, it is a just a virus and needs to run its course. There isn't anything the doctor can do to help him. Just be sure to keep your baby hydrated. My daughter still nurses so I found it easiest just to offer that to her but I know that the ped always suggests pedialyte (my daughter isn't a fan). Also, if you give juice, try that. It is going around so I wouldn't worry too much. With so much vomitting and the like at our house, we went with the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast). She doesn't eat bananas and is allergic to the rice but when she started feeling better, gobbled up the toast and applesauce. We are now on day 10 with just a little diahrea at this point. I am sorry your little one isn't feeling well but he will pull through. Just do what you can to make him comfortable.