Infantile diarrhea: what parents should know

Diarrhoea means stools are looser or more watery than usual, often with a change in frequency. In breastfed babies, naturally soft stools can be normal, so the change from that child’s usual pattern matters. Viral gastroenteritis is a common cause, while contaminated food, food intolerance, or some medicines can also contribute. Ongoing or recurrent diarrhoea may need evaluation for other digestive conditions. The main concern is loss of fluid and salts, especially when vomiting occurs too.

Continue breastfeeding or usual formula unless a clinician tells you otherwise. Offer smaller feeds more often if the baby is vomiting or tiring. Ask a pharmacist or clinician whether an oral rehydration solution is suitable; use the product exactly as directed. Avoid juices, fizzy drinks, homemade mixtures, and anti-diarrhoeal medicine unless prescribed. Wash hands carefully after nappy changes, clean feeding equipment, and record stools, vomit, feeds, wet nappies, and temperature.

Seek urgent help if the baby is difficult to wake, has a dry mouth, no tears, very few wet nappies, sunken eyes or soft spot, blood in the stool, green vomit, severe abdominal swelling, or breathing changes. Contact a clinician promptly for diarrhoea in a very young infant, repeated vomiting, fever, refusal of feeds, or symptoms that are worsening. Do not wait for dehydration to become obvious.

Ask whether the stool change is diarrhoea for your baby’s feeding pattern, how much fluid to offer, whether testing is needed, and which hydration signs should trigger same-day review.