How to Feed Young Children When They Have Diarrhea

Diarrhea in children can result from infections, medical conditions, food sensitivities, or certain medications. When children have diarrhea, they may pass loose or watery stools for hours or even longer. Some forms of diarrhea are mild and resolve within a few days, while others may last longer. To ensure your child does not become dehydrated or malnourished, it is crucial to encourage fluid intake and offer foods that provide comfort and support their health.

Wait until your child has had more than one instance of loose stools. Before altering your child's diet, make sure they have experienced multiple instances of loose stools. Typically, this condition lasts for a short period. A single occurrence of loose stools does not necessarily indicate diarrhea; however, frequent instances within a short time frame suggest that your child has diarrhea, and adjusting their diet will be helpful.

• Increasing fluid intake and adjusting your child’s diet are key factors in treating diarrhea at home. These steps will prevent dehydration and nutritional deficiencies as your child recovers.
• Dietary changes can also make meals more appealing to your child during this time.

Give children multiple small meals throughout the day. Instead of sticking to three main meals, offer lighter snacks or small meals spread throughout the day. This approach helps your child feel lighter and eat more comfortably. You can prepare small portions of food and feed your child several times a day. Be sure to keep your child hydrated by offering fluids alongside meals to prevent dehydration.

• Some experts recommend offering fluids before meals and then solid food afterward. You can try giving your child water before and after meals to keep their hydration levels up.

Offer foods your child enjoys. Your child might lose their appetite during diarrhea, so focus on their favorite foods and prepare them in a way that encourages eating. For example, if your child loves chicken, try making chicken noodle soup. It's an easy-to-digest dish when they have stomach issues, and it provides necessary nutrients to prevent nutritional deficiencies despite the diarrhea.

Ease your child back into their normal diet. If your child's diarrhea resolves on its own after two or three days, gradually reintroduce them to their usual eating habits. You can offer one or two main meals along with a light snack or two. Avoid forcing them to eat as they normally would right after recovery, as their body needs time to readjust to solid foods.

• Some children may experience diarrhea again when returning to their normal diet. This is due to the intestines adjusting to the usual foods. This type of diarrhea is not the same as infection-related diarrhea and typically lasts just one day before they return to normal eating.

Ensure your child drinks enough fluids. Dehydration is a common complication of diarrhea. It is crucial to keep your child hydrated to prevent dehydration. Initially, offer plain water during the first one or two hours after diarrhea begins, then switch to other liquids that contain sodium and essential nutrients, like milk. Avoid giving too much plain water, as it lacks sugars and electrolytes that are vital. Your child should consume at least eight glasses of fluids per day to stay hydrated.

• Do not give your child fruit juices like apple juice or any other pure fruit juices. These can worsen diarrhea. However, if your child dislikes plain water, you can add a few drops of juice to flavor it.
• Avoid giving soda or caffeinated beverages such as tea with caffeine. These can exacerbate diarrhea.
• Do not give milk if your child has issues with dairy products or if milk worsens their diarrhea. Instead, offer water mixed with oral rehydration solutions like Rehydralyte or WHO oral rehydration solution. Pedialyte and Infalyte, available over-the-counter at pharmacies or supermarkets, are also options. Older children can drink sports drinks like Gatorade for rehydration.
• Always consult your doctor before using rehydration solutions for infants or children under 1 year of age.

Prepare light, starchy foods. Most children with diarrhea respond well to light, starchy foods. When cooking, use minimal seasoning with just salt and pepper. Try serving simple baked items to avoid strong flavors that might make your child reluctant to eat. Foods you can offer include:

• Baked dishes such as beef, pork, chicken, fish, or turkey
• Boiled eggs
• Toast made with white bread
• Macaroni and cheese or white rice
• Processed cereals like Cream of Wheat, oatmeal, or cornmeal
• Pancakes and waffles made from white flour
• Baked or mashed potatoes
• Cooked vegetables like carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, and green beans, steamed or sautéed with little oil. Avoid squash, broccoli, peppers, beans, berries, plums, leafy greens, and corn, as they can irritate the digestive system and cause bloating.
• Bananas and fresh fruits like apples, pears, and peaches.

Peel and remove seeds. To make food more appealing and easier to digest for children, peel and remove the seeds from vegetables and fruits before serving. Examples include zucchini and peaches.

Offer high-salt snacks. Salty snacks are beneficial for children experiencing diarrhea, as they help replenish sodium levels lost during the condition. Give your child salty snacks such as pretzels or crackers. You can also add salt when cooking, like sprinkling salt on roasted chicken or baked potatoes.

• Place salty crackers in a bowl for your child to nibble on throughout the day; this can make eating more enjoyable. Be sure to provide water with the salty snacks to balance sodium levels and prevent dehydration.

Offer fruit-based ice pops and jelly. These treats are a good source of fluids and can help maintain hydration. Choose ice pops made with mostly water and very little fruit juice. Avoid ice pops with dairy, as milk can upset your child’s stomach. You could also try offering Pedialyte ice pops.

• Fruit-based jelly is also a great option, providing fiber that helps firm up stools and absorb more water from the digestive system.

Incorporate low-fat yogurt into your child's diet. Yogurt creates a beneficial environment for good bacteria in your child's digestive system. Try to include one serving of yogurt daily to help with recovery.

• Choose low-sugar, low-fat yogurt. Excess sugar and fat can worsen diarrhea.
• If your child doesn't like yogurt, try making a smoothie. Blend half a cup of yogurt with a banana and a handful of frozen berries. You can also add half a cup to one cup of water to increase hydration.

Avoid spicy or greasy foods. Fatty and spicy foods can irritate your child's stomach and make diarrhea worse. Avoid giving your child spicy dishes like curry, spicy soups, or anything with chili peppers. Steer clear of greasy foods such as fried items, or pre-packaged and processed foods.

• Do not offer hard-to-digest foods like sausages, pastries, doughnuts, or high-sugar and high-fat processed snacks.

Visit the doctor if your child has mucus or blood in their stool. These signs could indicate that the diarrhea is a symptom of a more serious condition. Pay attention to the presence of blood and mucus in your child's stool and take them to the nearest medical facility for an evaluation.

• Also, watch for other serious symptoms beyond diarrhea, such as vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, abdominal pain, or a high fever. If your child exhibits any of these signs, seek medical attention immediately.

Consult a doctor if your child's diarrhea lasts more than two or three days. Diarrhea typically resolves within two to three days, although it may take one to two weeks for your child to return to their normal eating routine. If the diarrhea persists for more than two or three days and there is no improvement, call your doctor to determine whether a visit is necessary.

• You may not need to take your child in unless blood is present in the stool or the diarrhea becomes severe.

Take your child to the doctor if you notice signs of severe dehydration. Children with diarrhea are at a higher risk of dehydration, especially if they are not drinking enough fluids. Symptoms of severe dehydration include:

• Dry, sticky mouth
• No urination for 6 to 8 hours, or less than 3 times in 24 hours
• Crying without tears
• Sunken eyes
• Low energy or lethargy
• Weight loss

Discuss treatment options with the doctor. The doctor may conduct stool tests to determine if the diarrhea is caused by an infection. Other tests might also be suggested to help diagnose the cause of your child's diarrhea. Doctors rarely prescribe antibiotics for treating infections or illnesses that could lead to diarrhea. Antibiotics are typically only prescribed when the cause of diarrhea is identified as a bacterial infection, as they may not be effective or could cause unwanted side effects if used improperly.

• Most anti-diarrheal medications are not recommended for children. Doctors usually avoid prescribing these and instead suggest over-the-counter treatments specifically designed for kids. For example, the doctor may recommend probiotics to help manage diarrhea in children.
• If your child’s diarrhea persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, your primary care physician may refer you to a pediatric gastroenterologist, a specialist in stomach and intestinal conditions.