Alina Hines
Newborns tend to have soft and watery stools, especially if they are breastfed. However, it can be challenging to determine whether they have diarrhoea or not. Diarrhoea in newborns is characterised by very watery stools that are more frequent and larger in size than usual, often leaking out of their diapers. It is important to monitor your newborn's poop consistency and frequency to identify any potential issues. If you suspect that your newborn has diarrhoea, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional for guidance and appropriate treatment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency | More than usual |
| Texture | Very loose and watery |
| Size | Larger than usual |
| Colour | Yellow, but can vary |
What You'll Learn
Diarrhoea: when to worry and how to treat it
When to worry
Diarrhoea in babies is common and usually resolves on its own. However, if your baby is showing any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor:
- Dehydration is the most important complication of diarrhoea. If you notice any of the following signs, contact your doctor right away:
- No urine in over 8 hours
- Dark urine
- Very dry mouth and no tears
- Sunken soft spot on the top of their head
- Pale or mottled skin
- Dry eyes with decreased or absent tears
- Dry tongue and inside of the mouth
- Severe diarrhoea: 10 or more watery stools in a 24-hour period
- Fever over 104° F (40° C)
- Fever in babies less than 12 weeks old: Do NOT give your baby any fever medicine before being seen
- Weak immune system: e.g. sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer, organ transplant, taking oral steroids
- Your baby looks or acts very sick
- Constant stomach pain lasting more than 2 hours
- Vomiting 3 or more times
- Age less than 1 month with 3 or more diarrhoea stools in the past 24 hours
- Diarrhoea lasting more than 7 days or vomiting lasting more than 2 days
- Blood or mucus in your baby's diarrhoea
- Your baby has a fever and diarrhoea that last for more than 2 to 3 days
- Your baby is much less active than normal (not sitting up at all or looking around)
- Your baby seems to have stomach pain
How to treat it
If your baby has diarrhoea, you can provide the following treatment at home:
- Keep your baby hydrated: Continue to breastfeed or formula-feed your baby as normal. If you are breastfeeding, offer more feeds than usual. If your baby is formula-fed, you can offer small sips of cool, boiled water in between feeds. Ask your doctor about giving your baby electrolyte drinks like Pedialyte to replace lost fluids and salts.
- Change your baby's nappy frequently: Keep them as dry as possible to prevent a nappy rash. Use a barrier cream each time to protect their delicate skin.
- Solid foods: If your baby has started solids, offer their favourite foods or easy-to-digest foods such as porridge or yoghurt. Avoid foods that can make diarrhoea worse, such as cow's milk (unless it's in their formula), apple juice and other fruit juices, and sports drinks made for adults.
- Medications: Do not give your baby anti-diarrhoea medication unless directed by your doctor. If your baby is in discomfort, you can give them paracetamol according to the manufacturer's advice.
When to call a doctor
Contact your doctor if you notice any of the following:
- Your baby stops feeding
- Your baby is showing signs of dehydration
- Your baby has diarrhoea and vomiting
- There is blood or mucus in your baby's diarrhoea
- Your baby has had diarrhoea for longer than seven days or vomiting for longer than two days
- Your baby has a fever
- Your baby has neck stiffness
- Your baby has severe abdominal pain or green vomit
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What causes newborn diarrhoea
Newborns tend to have softer stools than adults, so it can be difficult to know when they have diarrhoea. However, if their stools are more watery than usual, they are passing more stools than usual, and they are more foul-smelling, then they likely have diarrhoea. Diarrhoea in newborns is usually caused by a stomach bug virus, such as rotavirus or norovirus, or by a bacterial or parasite infection. It can also be caused by changes in the mother's diet if the newborn is being breastfed, or by changes in the newborn's diet. This includes the introduction of solid foods, which can throw a wrench into a baby's digestive system.
In rarer cases, diarrhoea can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as a cow's milk protein allergy, lactose intolerance, or even cystic fibrosis. If you suspect your newborn has diarrhoea, it is important to monitor them for signs of dehydration, which can be dangerous, especially in newborns. Signs of dehydration include fewer wet nappies than usual, dark-coloured and/or smelly urine, sleeping more than usual, a sunken soft spot on the top of their head, and pale or mottled skin. If you suspect your newborn is dehydrated, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
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How to spot the signs of newborn diarrhoea
Newborns tend to have soft and watery stools, so it can be tricky to spot diarrhoea. However, if you notice the following, your baby may have diarrhoea:
- Watery stools: If your baby is passing truly watery stools, or stools that are more watery than usual, they may have diarrhoea.
- Frequency: If your baby is passing stools more frequently than usual, this could be a sign of diarrhoea.
- Amount: If your baby is passing larger stools than usual, or stools that are leaking out of their nappy, this could indicate diarrhoea.
- Smell: Diarrhoea stools often have a more foul smell than normal.
- Colour: While there is no one colour that baby stools should be, a sudden change in colour could be a sign of diarrhoea.
If you suspect your baby has diarrhoea, it is important to monitor them for signs of dehydration, as this is the main risk associated with diarrhoea. Signs of dehydration include:
- Dry mouth
- No tears when crying
- No wet nappy for 6-12 hours
- Sunken soft spot on the top of the head
- Pale or mottled skin
- Irritability
- Crying without shedding tears
- Sleeping more than usual
If your baby is displaying any of these signs, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
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Dehydration: how to spot it and what to do
Dehydration is a serious complication of diarrhoea and can be dangerous for newborns if left untreated. It occurs when the body has lost too much fluid, which can happen due to vomiting or diarrhoea. Newborns are more susceptible to dehydration because of their small size. Here are some ways to spot dehydration and tips on what to do:
Signs of Dehydration in Newborns:
- Sunken soft spot on the top of the head
- Sleeping more than usual
- Crying with little to no tears
- Cold or discoloured hands and feet
- Fewer wet nappies than usual
- Dark-coloured and/or smelly urine
What to Do if You Suspect Dehydration:
- Continue breastfeeding or formula feeding your baby at regular intervals. Breastfed babies may require more frequent feedings.
- If your baby is formula-fed, offer small sips of cool, boiled water in between feeds.
- Do not give your baby fruit juice or carbonated drinks as they can worsen diarrhoea and lead to further dehydration.
- Consult your doctor or pharmacist about giving your baby oral rehydration solutions like Pedialyte to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.
- Change your baby's nappy frequently and use a barrier cream to protect their skin.
- If your baby is eating solid foods, offer easily digestible options such as porridge or yoghurt.
- Consult your doctor if you notice any signs of dehydration or if diarrhoea persists for an extended period.
Remember, it is important to monitor your newborn's feeding and diaper changes to ensure they are getting adequate fluids. Dehydration can progress quickly, so don't hesitate to seek medical advice if you have any concerns.
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What to feed a newborn with diarrhoea
Newborns tend to have soft and runny stools, especially if they are breastfed. They also tend to poop a lot, sometimes several times a day. So, it can be hard to know if they have diarrhoea or not. However, if your infant has stools that are very runny or larger in size, and are more frequent than usual, then they have diarrhoea.
If your baby is experiencing diarrhoea, it is important to keep them hydrated. Continue to feed your baby with their usual milk, whether that is breast milk or formula. If you are breastfeeding, offer more feeds than usual. If your baby is formula-fed, you can give them small sips of cool, boiled water in between feeds. Avoid giving them fruit juice or carbonated drinks, as these are not suitable for young babies and can worsen diarrhoea, which may lead to dehydration.
If your baby has started eating solid foods, you can offer them easy-to-digest foods such as porridge or yoghurt. There are no specific foods that should be avoided. However, some foods that can help soothe diarrhoea include:
- Bananas
- Rice
- Applesauce
- Toast
If your baby is in discomfort, you can give them paracetamol in line with the manufacturer's advice. Anti-diarrhoea medicines should not be used unless directed by a doctor.
It is important to change your baby's nappy regularly and use a barrier cream each time to protect their delicate skin. If their skin gets sore, ask your pharmacist for a nappy rash cream.
If your baby shows any signs of dehydration, contact your doctor immediately. Signs of dehydration include:
- Fewer wet nappies than usual
- Dark-coloured and/or smelly urine
- Sleeping more than usual
- Sunken soft spot on the top of their head
- Pale or mottled skin
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Frequently asked questions
It can be difficult to tell if a newborn has diarrhoea, especially if they are breastfed as their poop tends to be softer and more watery. However, if your baby is passing more frequent stools than usual and they are very watery, then they likely have diarrhoea. Other signs include foul-smelling stools and leakage from the nappy.
Diarrhoea in babies will usually clear up on its own and does not always require medical treatment. However, it is important to ensure your baby stays hydrated. Continue to breastfeed or formula feed as normal and offer extra feeds if necessary. You can also give your baby oral rehydration solutions like Pedialyte to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. If your baby has started solids, offer them easy-to-digest foods such as porridge or yoghurt.
If your baby shows any signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies than usual, dark-coloured urine, increased sleepiness, a sunken soft spot on their head, or pale skin, seek medical advice immediately. Other red flags include blood or mucus in the diarrhoea, diarrhoea lasting more than seven days, a fever, neck stiffness, severe abdominal pain, or green vomit.
