What Causes Diarrhea in Babies?

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When infants have diarrhea we can see an increase in the frequency and looseness of the bowel movements. This can be very uncomfortable for young babies but also a great concern for mom.

And when a baby has severe diarrhea there is always the possibility of dehydration when baby looses too much fluid.

Breastfeeding mothers know that it is quit normal for their babies to have lots of soft stools a day. But how many stools a day is normal?

Every baby’s bowel movement pattern is different. Some have 4 to 5 poops a day and some have more than that.

Warning signs of diarrhea in babies:

More than eight watery stools a day.
Unusual odor.
Stools also contain pus or blood.
Baby may have other symptoms like fever and vomiting.

Reasons for diarrhea in infants.

Gastrointestinal infections.

One of the reasons of diarrhea in babies is a viral infection caused by
viruses like the rotavirus, norovirus and adenovirus.
Bacterial infections usually caused by contaminated food and poor hygiene.
Bacteria like Staphylococcus, Shigella, Salmonella and e-coli cause severe
symptoms, like vomiting, fever, severe abdominal cramps and diarrhea.
Parasites. Usually causing infection of the intestines by drinking contaminated water.
Antibiotics kill the natural flora of the body (good bacteria) in the intestines giving Clostridium difficile (bad bacteria) a chance to grow and cause infectious diarrhea.

Food related causes.

Food allergy. This is an allergic reaction to certain foods (or milk) .The reaction may manifest in different places like in the skin (hives) or intestines (diarrhea). A more severe reaction can cause breathing problems and become life threatening for your baby.

Food Intolerance. In young infants this usually is a lactose intolerance because they only drink milk. Lactose is the sugar found in milk. With a lactose intolerance your baby has problems digesting this lactose. This problem can occur with formula and breast milk.

But even a change in a mothers diet can cause diarrhea in a breastfed infant. Certain foods like onions, cabbage, chocolate or spicy foods can cause gas, colic and diarrhea. If you notice that some foods are making your baby suffer, try to avoid them in the future.

Too much sugar in baby’s diet can cause diarrhea in babies. Too many sweetened drinks upset your infant’s stomach. Try diluting juices with water before giving it to your baby.

Too rich formula. Try to mix the right amount of formula and water. If the milk is to rich it may upset baby’s tummy and cause diarrhea.

We often see that babies with an ear infection or babies that are teething are having diarrhea as well. Many parents claim their baby has loose stools when new teeth are ready to erupt. It is still not proven though that there is a relation between teething and diarrhea.

Child Poisoning. Your infant may have ingested something poisonous that causes diarrhea.

Diseases that cause diarrhea.

Intestinal disorders like Crohn’s disease, celiac disease or colitis are more rare causes of diarrhea in babies.
But also diabetes, thyroid and other endocrine diseases are responsible for diarrhea problems.

How long should you wait before you go to the doctor.

If your baby is drinking well and acting fine, you can give it a 3 to 5 days. You will definitely have to call your doctor when apart from diarrhea your baby also:

has signs of dehydration.( irritability, decreased appetite, no urine for 6 hous, more concentrated urine, dry mouth, thirst, sunken eyes, lack of tears when crying, sunken fontanel, skin that isn't as elastic as usual);
Is listless or unusually sleepy.
Has blood in the stools.
Has a belly that seems swollen, hard, or painful when touched
Is vomiting more than eight hours or has blood in his/her vomit as well.
Has a fever (rectal temperature of 100.4 F or more)

Babies can easily get dehydrated when they have persistant and severe vomiting and diarrhea. Watch your child closely, dehydration is not to be underestimated, it can lead to brain damage and death. When you are worried do not wait to contact a doctor, your baby may need to go to hospital for rehydration therapy with intravenous fluids.

Go to next page Cures for Diarrhea in Babies

Go back to taking care of newborns.

The information on this page is given as a reference guide and is not a substitute for professional medical help.