Question
My baby was born 10 days ago, and she didn’t cry much before, but she loves to laugh, and everyone in the family likes her. However, for the past two days, the child has had some diarrhea. How should I treat it?
Answer
The dietary principles for treating common pediatric diarrhea involve reducing food intake to alleviate the burden on the intestines, limiting fat to prevent low-level fatty acids from stimulating the intestinal wall, and limiting carbohydrates to prevent fermentation products of intestinal contents from promoting increased intestinal peristalsis. The most common cause of baby diarrhea is indigestion, especially during the transition period of introducing new foods. When adding complementary foods, introduce one new food at a time, starting with small amounts and gradually increasing as the baby gets accustomed. If the baby is breastfed, the mother should also be mindful of what she eats.