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.