Your child has diarrhea? Don’t panic, there are some simple things you can do at home to relieve his or her symptoms and get them back to normal in no time! Keep reading and learn 7 natural remedies that can help you treat diarrhea in kids and make sure that your little one feels better right away.
Increase your child’s fluids:
As diarrhea can cause dehydration, it’s important to monitor your child’s fluid intake and ensure that he or she is drinking enough liquids. For babies and small children, diluted Pedialyte may be easier for them to drink than plain water. Children should also avoid caffeinated beverages as they can worsen diarrhea symptoms. If your child has a fever along with diarrhea, check with a doctor before giving any over-the-counter medications. A fever may indicate an infection, which requires medical attention.
Try using kaolin-pectin, a home remedy for diarrhea:
Kaolin-pectin can help slow down diarrhea, so it can be especially helpful for children with rotavirus diarrhea. The compound, which comes from kaolin clay and apple pectin, also helps heal and protect damaged intestines. You can make a kaolin-pectin solution by mixing 3/4 cup of water with 1/2 teaspoon of kaolin and 1/2 teaspoon of apple pectin powder. Give your child two teaspoons at a time as needed until his symptoms start to improve.
Add some solid foods:
To prevent dehydration and keep your child on a regular eating schedule, mix some solid foods into their diet. Choose mild and easily digestible foods like bland toast, bananas, or boiled potatoes. Foods high in fiber will also help restore balance to your child’s digestive system. Start with small portions of one food at a time and slowly increase your child’s intake as symptoms subside. In most cases, diarrhea will clear up within 24 hours if home remedies are used promptly. However, if it doesn’t improve after three days or is accompanied by other troubling symptoms like fever or vomiting then it’s best to see a doctor right away; there could be more serious causes for diarrhea in kids than overindulgence.
Watch out for dehydration:
Make sure your child is drinking enough water and isn’t getting dehydrated. To determine if a child is dehydrated, simply feel his or her back with your hand. If it feels unusually warm, then there’s a good chance that you need to give him or her an extra glass of water. Be careful not to overdo it; too much water can lead to its own set of issues. The general rule is half an ounce for every pound of body weight every day (or half a cup per 30 pounds). For example, if your child weighs 30 pounds, then he should be drinking about one cup of water each day.
Get medical help if you’re concerned:
When your child has diarrhea, it’s tempting to try and take care of it yourself. But some cases of diarrhea are more serious than others, so it’s a good idea to get help from a medical professional if you see these symptoms: blood in or around their stool; pain with bowel movements; fever. If you’re concerned about your child, find out what’s causing their diarrhea and consider other home remedies for dealing with it.
Consider contacting your doctor if the symptoms last more than three days:
The first thing you need to do is figure out what’s causing your child’s diarrhea, and your doctor will be able to help with that. Just make sure that you contact him or her in a timely manner. There are several different things that can cause diarrhea in children, including: infection (viral or bacterial), food allergies, lactose intolerance, celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
Know how to prevent it:
To treat diarrhea in kids, it helps to know what causes it in general. Foodborne illnesses like E. coli and Salmonella, as well as viral infections like Rotavirus or Norovirus can all lead to serious bouts of diarrhea in young children. Although all are easily treatable by antibiotics or vaccines, prevention is still important. The CDC recommends thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water before handling food, and keeping clean surfaces around your kitchen sink—especially during high-risk times when flu season is in full swing. Pay attention if your child is sick; if they’re not bouncing back after 24 hours of consistent fluids, you may need medical attention for something more serious.