Loose Bowels

Updated on February 17, 2010
B.H. asks from Brooklyn, PA
13 answers

The little guy has had loose bowels for the last week. Now he is starting to get a diaper rash where ever the desiden doesn't reach. He is a year old and may be cutting teeth. He is on regular milk now. Is there something I shoudn't give him to eat besides fruit or foods with acids. Do you know of anything that can help?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.W.

answers from Philadelphia on

The brat diet is good for diarreha. Bananas,apples,rice and toast. May be the milk is giving him diarreha? Try switching to lactose free milk or soy milk and see what happens. put him in the bathtub with some baking soda for the diaper rash. when he is done let him get some air to his butt before you put the diaper back on. sometimes they can also get diarreha or loose bowels when they are teething. if he is in pain give him some hylands teething tablets to help him sleep. sorry he is not feeling well. good luck.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

If he is eating and does not seem to be bothered by it, besides the rash I wouldn't worry so much. When my little ones had this reaction to teething, the rash was almost like a scald and was soooo sore, the only thing I found that worked for the rash was something called Pinxav, (Pink Salve) it is the ONLY thing that helped, it has a cooling sensation and spreads easily. The only thing is, I had to order it online, but it is the best thing EVER... Go to http://www.pinxav.com/. I got the huge tub, because it is worth it. Hope this helps.
M. :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.C.

answers from Harrisburg on

No juices either. Does he like yogurt? If so give him that because it has loads of "good" bateria in it that will help with the loose poop. Also to help with the diaper rash, soak him in the bath with baking soda, let him air dry and then I found the desitin in the purple tube works best on clearing up diaper rash over night. Hope he is feeling better soon.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.S.

answers from Lancaster on

I would change out the milk for a week or two, to see if it is dairy sensitivity.
I would give probiotics.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

HI B.-
so, you mentioned that the issues all started with the introduction of milk. i would say that your little guy is allergic to the milk as his stools are now really loose, and then add the diaper rash. Cow's milk is not a good product for people although the media tells us all teh time how great it is. and in your case, it seems their are issues with his digestion as a result of introudcing the milk. my suggestion is to stop teh milk first off and see if the issues go away.
then try coconut milk or even goats milk (although that has a funny flavor which may not go over well) or almond milk. SO Decadent makes coconut milk, and ALmond breeze makes the almond milk. but your son will be perfectly ok without milk. if he gets plenty of greens, then he will get his nutrients and calcium, more so than from milk.

J.
nutrition coach
www.nutrition-in-motion.net

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Houston on

BRAT: bananas, rice, applesauce, toast (includes crackers, cereal, etc.). Avoid juice as it will exacerbate the loose bowel.

Yogurt (sweetened with something other than high fructose corn syrup) will help repopulate the bowel with healthy bacteria--kefir and greek yogurt are great options for kids this age.

Change diapers more often than usual. Plain water to clean as much as possible and use a hair dryer on low to completely dry the diaper area before using any sort of cream--get in all the cracks and crevices. If you don't see some improvement after 24 hours of using this method for every diaper change, it may have developed into a yeast infection which will need a different course of treatment.

Warm baking soda bath will also soothe...be careful this makes the tub extra slippery.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Continue to load up on the diaper cream and in the interim, put him on the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast), let him eat tons of yogurt and your local grocery store should have an over the counter probiotic supplement that you can give him as well. That's what my ped recommended when we had this issue. He's probably cutting teeth, like you said, since that can cause horrible diaper problems. Something about all of that extra drool and whatever in their mouth, eventually makes it's way through their system and causes disasters in the diapers.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Our ped. recommended Florastor for Kids and I consider it a miracle worker. Stopped her diarrhea with two doses. It's a sweet granular packet that you can mix with juice or yogurt or even milk. One packet per dose, two doses per day.

Most pharmacies keep it behind the counter and I recommend calling around first, because not everyone carries it. I found the best price at Giant Eagle ($18.95/20 packets), second best at Target ($21.95/20 packets).

HTH,

Kali

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My daughter had this problem with each tooth. She would get evil diaper rash - i always thought it was because her excessive drool made her poop and her pee extra acidic. She would actually get a worse rash in the front than on her bottom so i think the pee was worse. I always tried to give her a lot of bananas and also yogurt with live acidopholis. I would also get pro-biotic powder and put half a packet into her bottle once a day. Hope one of those help!

Also, for the diaper rash, especially at nighttime, we would first use powder, then A&D ointment (we found that desitin or anything with zinc oxide made it worse), then more powder. Seemed to work pretty well. If that doesn't work - it could be a yeast infection and you could pick up some lotrimin at the pharmacy which works wonders or get a prescription for something stronger.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.F.

answers from Phoenix on

Try giving him yogurt. Sometimes the good bacteria in our digestive tracts gets overpowered by bad bacteria from illnesses and it takes a while to restore that balance. The good bacteria in active-cultured yogurt or from Acidophilous supplements (available most places) put more of that good bacteria back into the body. The supplements are easy to use if he's not a big yogurt eater or you want faster results, as they're powder in a capsule that you can add to his milk, sprinkle in any food. Good luck!

D.S.

answers from Allentown on

Hi, B.:
Try using some pro biotics or friendly bacteria for infants from the
health food store.
Ask the ped dr for vusion for the diaper rash and hurricane gel for his gums.

Hope this helps. D.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.H.

answers from Lancaster on

Whatever is in the loose bowels is acidic and causing irritation on the skin when it comes out. Use vaseline instead of all the prescribed creams and smear it all over his bottom in places where the bowel movement touches. This creates a protective layer for the skin and doesn't allow anything to touch it, thus it becomes a lot less irritated. Worked better for me than the creams.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions