Food for Toddlers with Diarrhea
Similar to diarrhea in adults, toddler diarrhea is a common health condition in children. You can easily identify whether your kid is suffering from toddler diarrhea or not, based on the nature of stool and the frequency of bowel movement. For example, if your child is passing watery stools at least three times a day, then he is experiencing loose motion or diarrhea. It is estimated that more than one billion toddlers seek medical help every year because of diarrhea.
Causes of Toddler Diarrhea
Diarrhea in toddlers can be caused due to several reasons, out of which the most common are infections by bacteria and virus, food allergies, food intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance) and introduction of new foods in the diet plan. Very often, toddlers with diarrhea are diagnosed with stomach flu (gastroenteritis), in which the bacterium strain, Salmonella, and other viruses cause inflammation of the stomach and intestinal lining. It is estimated that rotavirus alone is responsible for causing about 10 percent cases of toddler diarrhea.
Good Food for Toddlers with Diarrhea
Since children are more susceptible to dehydration, toddler diarrhea should be treated as soon as possible. Treatment for diarrhea in toddlers mainly involves preventive measures and combating dehydration complications. Most mums are very worried about how to treat diarrhea in toddlers. It is to be borne in mind that an episode of diarrhea in toddlers may last for about a week. Nevertheless, with effective medical intervention and incorporation of healthy food for toddler's diarrhea, the duration can be as shortened to about 2-3 days.
Feed Plenty of Fluids
Drinking ample amounts of fluids is the key to preventing dehydration in toddlers who are suffering from diarrhea. In fact, you cannot find effective alternative food for a sick toddler, other than giving him plenty of fluids and water. You can replace apple juice and cherry juice, that contain high amounts of sorbitol, with grape juice. Doing so helps in keeping your child well-hydrated and fresh. If toddler diarrhea is associated with vomiting, then sipping clear fluids also helps in stopping regurgitation.
Incorporate Easy-to-Digest Foods
Do not feed your kid immediately after a bowel movement, rather let the gastrointestinal tract rest for a few hours. After that, have your kid eat easy-to-digest foods like strained bananas, rice, applesauce and mashed potatoes. Ascertain that you serve in small sections, so as to ensure complete digestion. Feeding large meals at a time increases indigestion, which in turn worsens toddler diarrhea.
Give Rehydration Fluids
If the child is very weak and shows signs of dehydration and increased tiredness, then the doctor may recommend rehydration fluids, which are sold in pharmaceutical stores. Make sure that you check the reliability of the brand and expiry date of the fluids before feeding them to your kid. Feeding your child with such oral rehydration fluids will not stop diarrhea, but will aid in replenishing the lost electrolytes (specifically potassium and calcium).
Foods to Avoid for Toddlers with Diarrhea
Besides these healthy food for toddlers, there are certain food items that should be strictly avoided while treating toddler diarrhea. For example, if your kid is intolerant to lactose and milk protein (casein), then avoid milk and dairy products as they trigger diarrhea. In addition, foods containing complex carbohydrates and sugars are difficult to digest, thus worsening toddler diarrhea. Hence, you can exclude such food items from the diet, until your child recovers fully from toddler diarrhea. Also remember that over-the-counter medications for diarrhea are strictly not recommended for kids.
Since the main trigger for toddler diarrhea is consuming foods and drinks contaminated with diarrhea causing pathogens, you should be very choosy about the foods and keep a strict watch regarding his diet. If diarrhea and vomiting in toddlers continue for more than 24 hours, then it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention. Call the doctor if the child manifests dehydration symptoms like dry mouth, sunken eyes and abdomen irritability. By introducing healthy food for toddlers with diarrhea and following the doctor's advice, you can combat the risk factors for developing chronic toddler diarrhea.
