Question

How do you handle a baby who keeps having diarrhea?

Answer

When a baby experiences diarrhea, it’s important to first observe the baby’s mental state and the frequency and nature of the diarrhea. If the baby has frequent diarrhea and shows signs of dehydration, such as sunken eyes, decreased skin elasticity, and reduced urine output, immediate medical attention is required. In cases without apparent dehydration, the following measures can be taken:

  1. Appropriate Fasting: During the acute phase of diarrhea, it is advisable to reduce food intake slightly to alleviate gastrointestinal burden, but fasting should not last too long, generally not more than 8 hours.
  2. Rehydration: If the baby has mild dehydration symptoms, oral rehydration salt solution can be used to replenish fluids.
  3. Small Meals, Frequent Feedings: After resuming eating, it’s best to adopt a small meals, frequent feedings approach, providing easily digestible, low-fiber foods.
  4. Probiotics: Under a doctor’s guidance, probiotics can be administered to help regulate the intestinal flora. It is important to note that if the baby’s diarrhea does not improve or if severe symptoms such as fever or bloody stools appear, immediate hospitalization is required for examination and treatment. Additionally, the causes of a baby’s diarrhea can be diverse, including viral infections, bacterial infections, and food allergies. Therefore, parents should carefully observe their baby’s symptoms and promptly report them to a doctor for accurate diagnosis and treatment.