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Baby's First Cereal
Foods for a Baby With Diarrhea
by Christine Albury
Description: What and what not to feed a baby who has diarrhea.
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Once your doctor has discovered and dealt with the cause of your baby's
diarrhea, there are certain foods you can offer that may help "bind"
your baby as his delicate intestines recover - and some other foods that
you should definitely avoid!
Remember - You should always discuss any episodes of diarrhea with
your child's doctor, as diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration in young
babies.
FOODS THAT CAN HELP STOP BABY'S DIARRHEA
- Infant rice cereal
- bananas
- breast milk/formula
- cooked
carrots
- dry toast
- pasta
- cooked, white potato
- white grape
juice
- yogurt (bio yogurt in particular, which contains the
"gut-friendly" bacteria Lactobacillus. Research has shown that Lactobacillus can
be effective in stopping diarrhea. Some paediatricians may also
recommend acidophilus supplements, which are available from most vitamin
stores)
- applesauce
FOODS TO AVOID WHEN BABY HAS DIARRHEA
- Cow's milk-based formula - some doctors will suggest switching
to soy formula for a couple of weeks, because your baby's intestines
may have trouble digesting cow's milk following a nasty bout of
diarrhea
- dairy products, with the exception of yogurt (for the reasons given
above)
- cherry juice
- apple juice (it may seem confusing, but
applesauce firms your baby's stools whereas apple juice loosens
them. This is because applesauce is made from the whole fruit and therefore
contains the pectin and fibre that firm stools. Apple juice, on the
other hand, contains a natural sugar - sorbitol - which is known to cause
or aggravate diarrhea)
- pear
juice
- peaches
- apricots
- pears
- plums
- peas
- apricots
- prunes
BREASTFEEDING
Don't stop breastfeeding if your baby has diarrhea - it actually helps
hasten your baby's recovery. But consider avoiding things like coffee
and cola, which may pass through your milk and make your baby's diarrhea
worse!
A good rule to follow is to feed your baby little and often as he
recovers from diarrhea. Babies' intestines heal relatively slowly, so it
may take a while for his stools to firm up completely. If you are at
all concerned about persistent diarrhea in your baby, then you should
discuss your concerns with your child's doctor.
Christine Albury is the owner/editor of Homemade Baby Food Recipes, your complete guide to solid feeding during
baby's first year, which includes tips for dealing with common feeding problems and baby food allergies.
