Life

Romrodphoto/Shutterstock
7 Cures For Baby's Projectile Diarrhea

by Sarah Bunton

I was recently having a conversation with a group of moms where we exchanged our worst horror stories of motherhood. One thing everyone agreed on is that being a parent is a lot like being in the boy or girl scouts. Certain experiences, especially the gross ones, should earn you a badge of distinction in parenting. In particular, everyone agreed that life would be so much easier if the cures for projectile diarrhea in babies were included in some kind of manual for new parents. But, as you probably already know, no one gives you an instructional guide when you have your baby.

Unfortunately, no matter which healthy habits you adopt or how diligently you clean, almost all little ones will catch some kind of stomach virus, have a bad reaction to something they ate, or have digestive troubles that result in the kind of bowel movements that can contaminate everything within a five mile radius. It's just one of those things that every new parent goes through and comes out on the other side with a greater appreciation for solid stool (and scented trash bags). So if your child is in the throes of terrible tummy troubles, check out these cures for projectile diarrhea in babies. And maybe consider buying a nose plug and disposable gloves.

1

Replace Good Gut Germs

Though bad bacteria may be what started this disaster, replacing the good germs could put an end to the diarrhea. As pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Shaista Safder told Parents, "probiotics found in yogurt or available in oral drops can help restore healthy bacteria in the digestive tract." Of course, you might want to check with your pediatrician before taking any action on your own.

2

Cut Out Sugar

Surprisingly, sugar can be found in a variety of food and beverages you may not have considered. According to Baby Center, fruits, juice, and even Gatorade contain sugar, which makes diarrhea worse by pulling more water out of your baby's system. Cutting out anything sugary can help shorten the length of time your little one is sick.

3

Go The Guar Route

According to the official site of Dr. Sears, "guar fiber has been proven to be very effective in the treatment of diarrhea." Brands like Sun Fiber and Regular Girl are tasteless options that are touted as safe for children.

4

Ask For OTC Alternatives

Your instinct may be to pop over to the local pharmacy and pick up an over the counter medicine like Pepto-Bismol. As it turns out, however, anti-diarrheal medications can harm infants, as pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Ortiz explained to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Check with your local pharmacist or pediatrician to see what kind of baby-friendly substitutes they recommend for treating diarrhea.

5

Continue Breastfeeding

If you are able to, the experts at Health Line noted that, "breast milk can help ease symptoms of diarrhea and speed up recovery." The same may not apply to babies or toddlers who drink milk since they digest lactose differently than breast milk.

6

Carbo-Load

According to Baby Center, babies with diarrhea benefit from, "complex carbohydrates, like breads, cereals, and rice," because they restore essential nutrients needed to fight infection. So if your little one is old enough to eat solid foods or even diluted rice cereal, you might want to give this remedy a try.

7

Know When To Go

Sometimes your baby needs more than what at-home remedies and OTC medicine can provide. As noted on the official site of Dr. Sears, you need to know when to call the doctor about your baby's diarrhea. Signs that it's time to take a trip to the hospital include blood in stool, weight loss, severe dehydration, and abdominal pain that doesn't subside. As always, trust your parental instinct if you think your baby's stomach symptoms could be serious.