When he was one year old, our son got a severe case of diarrhea that lasted for three days. We ended up going to the emergency room because he became completely dehydrated, and it was a painful experience. He completely recovered after the doctors gave him intravenous fluids, but we were in the hospital for two days.

It is very hard to find a vein for injecting the IV fluids when the person is dehydrated and it was heart breaking to watch the nurses search for a vein. We learned a lot during that experience and I wrote this article as a guide for how to treat diarrhea in infants and children.

Some babies may become lactose intolerant and in these cases it is advisable to avoid any milk products. However, you should consult with your pediatrician before deciding to stop breastfeeding or to stop feeding milk. It is very important to feed the baby with fluids like Pedialyte.

When Diarrhea is Dangerous

Diarrhea is characterized by the appearance of watery and loose stools more than three times in 24 hours.

The causes of infant diarrhea vary from teething, to gastrointestinal infections to antibiotics. In most cases, it will go away on its own. However, diarrhea can lead to dehydration which is a serious problem. Infants in particular can become dehydrated in a short period of time. Using oral rehydration solutions like pedialyte can help prevent dehydration. long sleeve mother of the bride dresses

One common cause of diarrhea in infants is the stomach flu (known medically as viral gastroenteritis). Many different viruses can cause stomach flu in infants. The most common types are Rotavirus, Adenovirus, Astrovirus.

Call your pediatrician right away if:

1. An infant under three or four months old has diarrhea.

2. The condition persists in infants for three days or longer.

3. Stools contain blood or pus.

4. Your baby has fever and is vomiting.

5. Your baby has not urinated in over six hours.

Signs of Dehydration

Dehydration in babies is a serious problem and you should always make sure your baby is getting enough fluids.