Loose motions in Infants

Know the Causes and Treatment of Loose Motions in Infants

Bowel movements in infants usually occur in different colors, textures and odors, depending upon what the infant are consuming (solid foods or formula or breast milk). Remember, the stool of an infant is generally loose compared to the stool of adults. It is common for your infant to have looser stool every once in a while. However, if the frequency of their bowel movements increase and become more watery or loose suddenly, then it might be the symptom of loose motion which is also referred as diarrhea. Loose motions in Infants are usually cased due to bacteria, virus and food poisoning and for a variety of factors. 

Causes of Loose Motions in Infants

Loose motions in Infants can be caused due to different factors, ranging from changes in diet, intestinal infection, viruses and bacteria and due to various other environmental factors. Infants are prone to pick up the viruses and bacteria from direct contact with the contaminated water or food or by touching the surfaces that are contaminated and placing the hands on their mouths.

Some of the causes of loose motions in Infants include:

·         Sensitivity to medicines, or food allergy

·         Drinking contaminated water or consuming allergic foods

·         Food poisoning

It is recommended that washing hands frequently is necessary to prevent loose motions in Infants. You must wash your hands before feeding them, after changing their diapers, and using the bathroom. Keep the surfaces of your house clean and hygiene, especially the surfaces where your baby usually play and try to maintain clean and hygiene food handling. 

Treatments for Loose Motions in Infants

 Loose motion for babies is really a terrifying situation and treatments should be started immediately to improve the condition and help baby lead a healthy life ahead. The pediatricians usually administer over-the-counter loose motion medicines for babies. If the cause of loose motion is bacterial infection, then the doctor may prescribe antibiotic and for parasite infection the doctor may recommend anti-parasitic medicines.

In some cases, the pediatricians may also administer intravenous fluids or IV in hospital to keep the baby hydrated. Most of the infants usually become dehydrated with frequent bowels and hence to keep them hydrated IV is administered by the doctors.

Oral dehydration solution is also administered in the case of loose motions in Infants. It keeps the baby hydrated during the condition when most of the body’s fluids are lost during loose motions.

Infants that are on solid foods are recommended to have bland or starchy foods like applesauce, bananas and rice cereal till the condition improves. It is also recommended that mothers who are breastfeeding must make small adjustments in their regular diet. They must avoid consuming foods that may trigger or worsen loose motions in infants.

To improve the condition of loose motion for babies it is necessary to avoid greasy foods, foods that are rich in fiber, dairy products, soda, cookies and sweets. Most importantly, keep the baby hydrated and maintain proper hygiene to prevent such critical ailments in babies.

Loose Motions in Infants

loose motion for babies: How To Tend Effectively

Loose motion is something that literally makes the body weak and creates horrible water scarcity, which, in worst possible cases invites death. When loose motion occurs to babies or infants it is necessary for the mother to take good care of the baby also give special attention to the food and liquid given during the period. It is common that during loose motion or diarrhea kids refuse to take food, they don’t feel the apatite any more nor do they feel any craving for anything. Stuffing them with heavy food is detrimental keeping in mind the deteriorating condition of their digestive system. You should make a diet schedule and follow it suitably, then only the worsening condition be healed. Now many will provide suggestions, many will advise you to give the child varying medicines but you should be conscious enough that the child must not feel stressed when it comes to digesting anything.

Loose Motions in Infants

Ø   As diarrhea creates scarcity of water in body, so after every bout of loose stool you can feed your child few teaspoon of coconut water, lemon water, buttermilk or simple regular water. If your child is on breastfeeding keep on feeding him, as breast milk is the best thing during loose stool, it provides important nutrients and improves digestion. Oral Rehydration Solution pack is available in chemist shops you can prepare drink, buying one packet and feed your child all through.

Ø   Loose motions in infants generate antipathy for food, so you should provide food items which are easy to digest. Your child may react in a fussy manner but you should keep patience and feed him/her. Some foods like moong dal khichdi, clear chicken soup, vegetable soup, dry toast, soft rice and varying such items you can give to your baby. You can add little amount of butter as your child requires butter for calorie. If your baby tends to vomit every 20/30 minutes then follow simple routine of feeding the child teaspoons of water.  You can offer your child few fruits, which are rich in potassium such as ripe bananas, baked apples.

Ø   When there is loose motion for babies you must not give your child food items like sugary items as it may worsen the condition of the baby. Moreover you should not include food items like spicy food or salads. Few elderly women provoke you to use some traditional home remedies but before trying them out, you must talk to the doctors. You can boil water or choose bottled water. If your child is not willing to have foods, you can always give crackers and light biscuits. But you must not forget about giving water to your child.

Ø   If your child does not seem to improve then you should immediately take the child to the pediatric. It may happen that the child cannot digest any food, in such condition you must consult the doctor. If you find your child to have fever or if his eyes seem droopy or if he looks dehydrated then you must not delay in consulting the health practitioner. When you find blood in the stool, if you find blood in throw up then you should be alert in tending the child. Remember, if tended properly then diarrhoea and vomiting can be cured applying home remedies.