Diarrhea is something that no parents want to deal with in their baby. It makes the baby weak and dehydrated. But diarrhea is common in babies. So, newborn diarrhea treatment? Well, there are some ways through which you can treat diarrhea in your baby. But before that you need to understand, what does newborn diarrhea looks like?
If a newborn has diarrhea, you will see a lot of watery poop. When the baby poops occasionally, it is not a problem. But when they start doing it 3-4 times a day and the poop is watery, you should get alert before the situation worsens.
So, let’s understand a little more about newborn diarrhea treatment. Its causes and how to treat it-
Newborn Diarrhea Causes
There are many reasons a Newborn can get Diarrhea. Let’s the general cause, causes in breastfed babies and formula-fed babies-
- Illness- Sometimes bacteria, viruses, and any fungal infection can cause Diarrhea in babies. Babies’ immune system is very sensitive and you got to take care of them properly.
- Solid foods- If you have recently changed your baby’s diet, chances are they may get diarrhea in starting. Babies’ bowel movements need some time to adjust to new food. Also, it is possible that your baby may have an allergy or reaction to some food like egg, gluten, peanut, etc.
- Medications- If for some reason, you have to give your baby some antibiotics. Chances are they may upset their stomach and cause loss of stools.
- Travel- Just like we adults also have some hard time adjusting when we travel, similarly, infants and babies are at higher risk. So, you need to be careful of the weather and water while traveling.
- Teething- When your baby is going through a teething phase, they get diarrhea. During this phase, babies put almost everything in their mouth, which becomes an open gate for germs to enter their bodies. Natural home remedies for teething.
Newborn Diarrhea Treatment in Breastfed Babies
Apart from the above general causes, Breastfed babies can also develop Diarrhea due to the following reasons-
- Diet- Since you are breastfeeding, you need to take utmost care of your diet. Whatever you eat, will have a direct effect on your milk and your baby will get a taste of it. So, chances are your eating can cause baby diarrhea.
- Weaning- Many times children are prone to malnourishment which leads to illness, infection, and disease. After they stop breastfeeding, it gets difficult for them to cope with the nourishment which is also the cause of Diarrhea.
- Laxatives- Many times due to constipation mothers take a stool softener and some fiber supplement, if the laxatives are mild it won’t affect them. But strong laxatives may cause diarrhea in babies.
Newborn Diarrhea Treatment in Formula-Fed Baby
It is not necessary that babies who breastfed are only prone to Diarrhea, babies who are formula-fed can also get Diarrhea-
- Allergies- If the newborn is sensitive to some type of allergy or if the formula milk is not suitable for the baby, they may get diarrhea. Formula milk is made with cow’s milk, and the protein in cow’s milk can cause food allergies in babies.
- Contamination- You need to make sure that the formula of a baby is kept safe and secured. Many times germs find their way to the formula and contaminate it, which can cause diarrhea.
Diarrhea Scale
- Mild: 3-5 watery stools per day
- Moderate: 6-9 watery stools per day
- Severe: 10 or more stools per day
- The main risk from Newborn diarrhea is the Dehydration
Newborn Diarrhea Symptoms
Many times parents do not understand whether their child is suffering from Diarrhea or not. After all, they are new in this parenthood. So, look for the following symptoms. These are the symptoms of Diarrhea-
- Dry mouth
- Refusing to eat
- Dry skin
- Sunken eyes
- Sleepiness
- Floppiness
- Crying without shedding tears
- Weak cry
- Dry diaper for 8-12 hours
Newborn Diarrhea Treatment At Home
The main thing in treating babies for Diarrhea is to keep them hydrated. Hydration will help to flush out all the toxins and will keep the baby’s stomach good and easy.
- Continue Feeding- Just because your baby has got diarrhea, does not mean that you will stop feeding your baby. Feeding your baby is compulsory and important too. Giving them extra fluids during this time will help to recover from weakness.
- Take care of Baby’s Diaper- It is necessary that you keep a check on your baby’s diaper. Being in a wet diaper for a long can cause baby diaper rash, which will be more irritating for the baby as it makes the skin burn. So, keep changing the diaper often and keep the area clean and dry.
- Include these in Solid Foods- If you have started giving your baby solid food, then try to include these things in the diet to treat diarrhea soon-
- Pasta
- Banana
- Crackers
- Cereal
Food that can cause diarrhea are-
- Cow’s milk
- Apple juice or any fruit juice
- Fried food
- Spicy food
- Contact Doctor for Pedialyte- It is very important to protect your newborn against dehydration, the best way to do this is to give your baby electrolyte solution such as Pedialyte in between feedings.
Diaper Rash
If your baby has severe Diarrhea, chances of Diaper rash increase as the dirty diaper can affect the baby’s skin. In case, your baby develops Diaper Rash, do the following things-
- Keep changing your baby’s diaper frequently.
- Do not use wet wipes as many contain alcohol.
- Wipe the baby’s bottom with a wet cloth.
- Keep your baby’s bum open, so that, they get fresh air.
- Apply anti-rash cream and keep the skin moisturized.
- Try to avoid the use of powder, as it is ineffective and can cause breathing problems.
Conclusion on newborn diarrhea treatment
So, above are some of the ways to treat newborn diarrhea. Diarrhea in newborns is common, but you need to keep a check on it so that diarrhea does not get worse. The main risk of diarrhea is it causes dehydration.
Therefore, newborn diarrhea treatment is important. If even after doing the above things, you feel the diarrhea is not getting better, it is better to consult a doctor.
How did you treat your newborn diarrhea?
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