When a baby has diarrhea, he needs to get enough fluid and food to keep him from getting dehydrated. However, not all foods are suitable for babies when they have diarrhea. So, what kinds of foods are suitable to be given when the baby has diarrhea and how to overcome them?
Diarrhea in babies is most often caused by a viral infection. But sometimes, diarrhea experienced by infants can also be caused by bacterial or parasitic infections, poisoning, drinking too much fruit juice, to the side effects of drugs.
Babies can also experience diarrhea due to an allergy to formula milk that he consumes or lactose intolerance.
Under normal conditions, babies do defecate frequently (more often than adults). However, babies are said to have diarrhea if the texture of the feces that were originally dense turn out to be more watery (diarrhea), or if bowel movements occur more frequently, causing it to limp or fuss.
Handling and Food For Baby Diarrhea
Diarrhea caused by a viral infection can resolve on its own in a few days. However, babies need to get adequate fluid and food intake during diarrhea.
This is because the baby's body fluids wasted a lot when diarrhea or vomiting. If fluid intake and food are not enough, the baby is prone to dehydration.
The following are the steps for handling diarrhea in infants by providing the right foods and drinks:
1. Give breast milk and electrolyte fluid
Diarrhea in babies under 6 months can be overcome by giving breast milk more often, especially when he is vomiting and diarrhea. In infants over 6 months of age, breast milk may be continued while interspersed with rehydration drinks, such as ORS or pedialite, each time he defecates and vomits.
Breastmilk contains immune builders that can help your child fight infection. Therefore, breast milk is important to be given when Little Diarrhea.
But remember, give milk or rehydration drink to the baby little by little but often, to prevent nausea and vomiting.
2. Choosing foods for diarrhea
In addition to keeping your child hydrated, overcoming diarrhea in infants can also be done by providing some food below. However, feeding should only be done for babies aged 6 months or more.
Here are some types of complementary foods that can be given when the baby has diarrhea, namely:
- White rice or porridge.
- Chicken meat.
- Egg.
- Fruits, such as bananas, watermelons, and melons.
- Vegetables, like carrots and potatoes.
- Cereals.
During diarrhea, give the above foods in small portions but often. Make sure the vegetables or meat that you are serving are cooked well and the fruits have been washed thoroughly.
Also avoid serving foods that easily cause bloating, such as broccoli, paprika, peas, berries, beans, corn, and green vegetables. These foods can worsen diarrhea in babies.
3. Give probiotics
Probiotics are good bacteria that function to keep the digestive tract healthy. These good bacteria can help fight the pathogenic bacteria that cause diarrhea and strengthen the baby's immune system. For this reason, probiotics are included in the food group to overcome diarrhea in infants.
Probiotics can be obtained through probiotic supplements, formula milk, or foods containing probiotics, such as yogurt.
However, not all babies can consume probiotics for diarrhea. A new baby may be given probiotics when he has received complementary foods for breast milk or when he is over the age of 6 months.
In addition to some of the above types of food, babies with diarrhea may also need zinc supplements. To determine the dosage and method of administering this supplement, you can consult further with your pediatrician.
Keep in mind, not all diarrhea in infants needs to be treated with antibiotics or antidiarrheal drugs. Antibiotics are only effective for treating diarrhea due to bacterial infections. Diarrhea due to viral infection does not require antibiotics. While antidiarrheal drugs are not necessarily suitable and safe for infants and children.
Other Things to Look For When a Baby Has Diarrhea
Since babies will defecate more often during diarrhea, you need to pay attention to their cleanliness. Change diapers regularly. Dirty diapers are at risk of causing diaper irritation and rashes.
When changing your baby's diapers, do it carefully. Use a soft cloth soaked with warm water to clean the skin, then let it dry.
Before installing diapers, first apply an ointment or moisturizer that contains petroleum jelly or zinc oxide. This action is done so that the baby feels more comfortable when using diapers, while preventing rashes caused by diaper friction. Don't forget to wash your hands before and after changing diapers and cleaning the dirt, yes.
With proper care and administration of food and fluid intake, diarrhea can usually improve itself within a few days.
However, your child should be immediately taken to the pediatrician if the diarrhea he experienced did not improve within 2 days or accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, dark stool or blood in the stool, rarely urinating, and appear very weak.
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