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What to feed a baby with diarrhea and vomiting


When your child has diarrhea: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Diarrhea is the passage of loose or watery stools. For some children, diarrhea is mild and will go away within a few days. For others, it may last longer. It can make your child lose too much fluid (dehydrated) and feel weak.

The stomach flu is a common cause of diarrhea. Medical treatments, such as antibiotics and some cancer treatments can also cause diarrhea.

This article speaks of diarrhea in children over 1 year of age.

It is easy for a child with diarrhea to lose too much fluid and become dehydrated. Lost fluids need to be replaced. For most children, drinking the kinds of fluids they normally have should be enough.

Some water is OK. But too much water alone, at any age, can be harmful.

Other products, such as Pedialyte and Infalyte, may help keep a child well-hydrated. These products can be bought at the supermarket or pharmacy.

Popsicles and Jell-O can be good sources of fluids, especially if your child is vomiting. You can slowly get large amounts of fluids into children with these products.

You may also give your child watered-down fruit juice or broth.

Do not use medicines to slow down your child's diarrhea without talking to a doctor first. Ask your child's health care provider if using sports drinks is OK.

In many cases, you can continue feeding your child as usual. The diarrhea will normally go away in time, without any changes or treatment. But while children have diarrhea, they should:

  • Eat small meals throughout the day instead of 3 big meals.
  • Eat some salty foods, such as pretzels and soup.

When necessary, changes in the diet may help. No specific diet is recommended. But children often do better with bland foods. Give your child foods such as:

  • Baked or broiled beef, pork, chicken, fish, or turkey
  • Cooked eggs
  • Bananas and other fresh fruits
  • Applesauce
  • Bread products made from refined, white flour
  • Pasta or white rice
  • Cereals such as cream of wheat, farina, oatmeal, and cornflakes
  • Pancakes and waffles made with white flour
  • Cornbread, prepared or served with very little honey or syrup
  • Cooked vegetables, such as carrots, green beans, mushrooms, beets, asparagus tips, acorn squash, and peeled zucchini
  • Some desserts and snacks, such as Jell-O, popsicles, cakes, cookies, or sherbet
  • Baked potatoes

In general, removing seeds and skins from these foods is best.

Use low-fat milk, cheese, or yogurt. If dairy products are making the diarrhea worse or causing gas and bloating, your child may need to stop eating or drinking dairy products for a few days.

Children should be allowed to take their time returning to their normal eating habits. For some children, a return to their regular diet can also bring a return of diarrhea. This is often due to mild problems the gut has while absorbing regular foods.

Children should avoid certain kinds of foods when they have diarrhea, including fried foods, greasy foods, processed or fast foods, pastries, donuts, and sausage.

Avoid giving children apple juice and full-strength fruit juices, as they can loosen stool.

Have your child limit or cut out milk and other dairy products if they are making diarrhea worse or causing gas and bloating.

Your child should avoid fruits and vegetables that can cause gas, such as broccoli, peppers, beans, peas, berries, prunes, chickpeas, green leafy vegetables, and corn.

Your child should also avoid caffeine and carbonated drinks at this time.

When children are ready for regular foods again, try giving them:

  • Bananas
  • Crackers
  • Chicken
  • Pasta
  • Rice cereal

Call your child's provider if your child has any of these symptoms:

  • Much less activity than normal (not sitting up at all or not looking around)
  • Sunken eyes
  • Dry and sticky mouth
  • No tears when crying
  • Not urinated for 6 hours
  • Blood or mucus in the stool
  • Fever that does not go away
  • Stomach pain

Easter JS. Pediatric gastrointestinal disorders and dehydration. In: Bakes KM, Buchanan JA, Moreira ME, Byyny R, Pons PT, eds. Emergency Medicine Secrets. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 65.

Kotloff KL. Acute gastroenteritis in children. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 366.

Schiller LR, Sellin JH. Diarrhea. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 16.

Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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Diet for Vomiting and Diarrhea (Infant/Toddler)

Vomiting and diarrhea are common in babies and young children. They can quickly lose too much fluid and become dehydrated. This is the loss of too much water and minerals from the body. This can be serious and even life threatening. When this occurs, body fluids must be replaced. This is done by giving small amounts of liquids often.

For babies, breastmilk or formula is the best fluid. Breastmilk can help reduce how serious the diarrhea is. But if your child shows signs of dehydration, their healthcare provider may tell you to use an oral rehydration solution. This can replace lost minerals called electrolytes. It can be used in addition to breast or bottle feedings. Oral rehydration solution may also reduce vomiting and diarrhea. You can buy it at grocery stores and pharmacies without a prescription. 

In cases of severe dehydration or vomiting, a child may need to go to a hospital to have IV (intravenous) fluids.

Giving liquids and feeding

For breast or formula feedings:

  • Continue the breast or formula feedings. Do this unless your healthcare provider says otherwise.

  • If you use formula, the healthcare provider may tell you to try a different kind of formula. A common cause of vomiting in newborns is a problem with formula.

  • Give your baby short, frequent feedings. Feed every 30 minutes for 5 to 10 minutes at a time over a period of 2 to 3 hours. This will help give your baby more fluids.

  • If vomiting or diarrhea doesn't stop, the provider may tell you to give a formula with no lactose, or low lactose. Lactose is a milk sugar that can be hard to digest. Follow the provider's advice about what type of formula to give your baby.

If using oral rehydration solution:

  • Follow the healthcare provider's instructions when giving the solution to your baby. Oral rehydration solution may be alternated with breast or formula feedings.

  • Use only prepared, purchased oral rehydration solution. Don't make your own solution.

  • Give your baby short, frequent feedings. Feed every 30 minutes for 2 to 3 hours. This will help replace lost electrolytes.

  • If vomiting or diarrhea gets better after 2 to 3 hours, you can stop the oral rehydration solution. Resume breastmilk or full-strength formula for all feedings.

For children on solid foods:

  • Follow the diet your child's healthcare provider advises.

  • If desired and tolerated, your child may eat regular food.

  • If unable to eat regular food, your child can drink clear liquids such as water, or suck on ice chips. Don't give high-sugar fluids such as juice or soda. Give small amounts of food and drink often.

  • If clear liquids are tolerated, slowly increase the amount. Alternate these fluids with oral rehydration solution as your healthcare provider advises.

  • Your child can start a regular diet 12 to 24 hours after diarrhea or vomiting has stopped. Continue to give plenty of clear liquids.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your child’s healthcare provider, or as advised. If a stool sample was taken or cultures were done, call the healthcare provider for the results as instructed.

Call 911

Call 911 if your child has any of these symptoms:

When to get medical advice

Call your child’s healthcare provider right away if any of these occur:

  • Fever (see "Fever and children" below)

  • Belly (abdominal) pain that gets worse

  • Constant lower right abdominal pain

  • Repeated vomiting after the first 2 hours on liquids

  • Occasional vomiting for more than 24 hours

  • Continued severe diarrhea for more than 24 hours

  • Blood in vomit or stool (black or red color)

  • Refusal to drink or feed

  • Dark urine or no urine for 8 hours, no tears when crying, sunken eyes, or dry mouth

  • Fussiness or crying that can't be soothed

  • Abnormal drowsiness

  • New rash

  • More than 8 diarrhea stools in 8 hours

  • Diarrhea lasts more than 1 week on antibiotics

Fever and children

Use a digital thermometer to check your child’s temperature. Don’t use a mercury thermometer. There are different kinds and uses of digital thermometers. They include:

  • Rectal. For children younger than 3 years, a rectal temperature is the most accurate.

  • Forehead (temporal). This works for children age 3 months and older. If a child under 3 months old has signs of illness, this can be used for a first pass. The provider may want to confirm with a rectal temperature.

  • Ear (tympanic). Ear temperatures are accurate after 6 months of age, but not before.

  • Armpit (axillary). This is the least reliable but may be used for a first pass to check a child of any age with signs of illness. The provider may want to confirm with a rectal temperature.

  • Mouth (oral). Don’t use a thermometer in your child’s mouth until they are at least 4 years old.

Use the rectal thermometer with care. Follow the product maker’s directions for correct use. Insert it gently. Label it and make sure it’s not used in the mouth. It may pass on germs from the stool. If you don’t feel OK using a rectal thermometer, ask the healthcare provider what type to use instead. When you talk with any healthcare provider about your child’s fever, tell them which type you used.

Below are guidelines to know if your young child has a fever. Your child’s healthcare provider may give you different numbers for your child. Follow your provider’s specific instructions.

Fever readings for a baby under 3 months old:

Fever readings for a child age 3 months to 36 months (3 years):

  • Rectal, forehead, or ear: 102°F (38. 9°C) or higher

  • Armpit: 101°F (38.3°C) or higher

Call the healthcare provider in these cases:

  • Repeated temperature of 104°F (40°C) or higher in a child of any age

  • Fever of 100.4° F (38° C) or higher in baby younger than 3 months

  • Fever that lasts more than 24 hours in a child under age 2

  • Fever that lasts for 3 days in a child age 2 or older

© 2000-2022 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.

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Diet for diarrhea in a 1-year-old child

When a child is sick, it is always a serious test for a family. Moreover, if the baby has vomiting, frequent loose stools, fever, he refuses to eat. In such cases, parents naturally face the question: what to do?

The first thing to do is to see a doctor. In most cases, this condition is associated with an acute intestinal infection and can lead to serious consequences for the baby. And timely treatment allows you to quickly deal with the problem. nine0003

The second significant issue facing the parents of a sick child is the issue of proper nutrition. Unfortunately, you can still find recommendations to stop feeding a child during diarrhea, but this should not be done categorically.

Important!

It has been proven that "water-tea" breaks and starvation diets significantly weaken the protective functions of the child's body and lead to a delay in recovery processes in the intestines. Therefore, at present, most pediatricians insist on the mandatory continuation of the child's nutrition in case of acute intestinal infections, but with the obligatory consideration of the latest achievements in nutrition. nine0003

The main principles for managing the nutrition of a child with diarrhea should be:

Phased The development of the disease has a staging, each stage must correspond to certain approaches to diet therapy
Accounting for the age of the child Each age should have its own products and its own schemes for their purpose
Accounting for the severity of the disease

There are three main stages of diet therapy. The first stage corresponds to the acute period of the disease, when the maximum manifestations of the disease are noted (vomiting, loose stools, fever), and the child may refuse his usual diet. During this period, proper nutrition is an integral part of treatment. And the success of treatment largely depends on the correct organization of diet therapy in a child.

The second stage is the recovery period. There are no longer those manifestations of the disease that were noted in the baby in the acute period, the child has an appetite, he becomes more active, but it must be remembered that any acute intestinal infection leads to significant changes in the child's body. This is a violation of the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract, and dysfunction of enzyme systems, bile secretion and other digestive processes. It takes time to restore the correct functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, which requires a sparing diet at this stage. Violation of the diet during this period can lead to the formation of a chronic pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. nine0003

The third stage of diet therapy is aimed at a gradual transition to the usual diet for this baby. Breastfed babies should continue to breastfeed. If the baby is bottle-fed, the doctor will prescribe a formula that matches the baby's condition. In children older than one year, it is necessary to exclude whole milk from the diet, they are also shown the appointment of fermented milk products as a diet therapy, the favorable properties of which are due to a number of positive qualities: the presence of lactic acid gives the product pronounced bactericidal properties and inhibits the growth of pathogenic microflora, the positive effect of these products on intestinal microbiocenosis, the secretory function of the digestive glands and intestinal motility, and they also have immunomodulatory properties. nine0003

One of the important components of diet therapy is the use of dairy-free cereals with pro- and synbiotics. Clinical studies have shown that the appointment of this diet therapy contributes to a more rapid relief of the main symptoms of intestinal dysfunction, as well as the restoration of intestinal microflora.

Choose foods for the diet

It is most correct to start with rice porridge, as it has pronounced sorption properties and helps to stop diarrhea. As the child recovers, oatmeal and buckwheat porridge can be included in the diet. nine0003

Vegetables and fruits are an important component in the first stage of diet therapy. Preference should be given to products that contain pectin (baked apple, boiled carrots), as they contribute to the sorption of pathogens and their toxins. At the first stage of diet therapy, the use of fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as juices, is not shown.

The second stage - the patient's condition improves, the child becomes active, appetite improves, and in some children it even becomes elevated, which is often perceived by parents as a signal for increased nutrition. It is absolutely impossible to do this, since the child's body has not yet recovered from the disease. During this period, it is necessary to continue eating sour-milk, lactose-free and low-lactose products. An obligatory component of diet therapy is the use of nutrition with probiotics. nine0003

The third stage is the gradual expansion of the diet according to the age of the child. At this stage, the most justified is the widespread use of probiotic foods in order to restore and maintain the function of the gastrointestinal tract and its microbiocenosis.

What to feed a child with diarrhea at first?

  • freshly cooked rice;
  • bananas;
  • natural apple juice;
  • boiled potatoes;
  • boiled chicken meat; nine0066
  • crackers and stale bread;
  • lean fish;
  • weak tea.

how to treat and what to feed? How to treat dehydration in a child

You carefully followed the preventive measures - washed your hands and fruits, watched the shelf life of food, but the child still caught diarrhea and vomiting. How to treat an intestinal infection or poisoning? How to compensate for dehydration in a child? What diet to follow during illness? Says blogger Dr. Daria. nine0086

The main treatment for intestinal infections is to correct the dehydration that may result from vomiting or diarrhea.

Signs of dehydration (when the situation is close to critical):

  • the child pees less than once every 4-6 hours;
  • cries without tears;
  • the fontanel sinks in the baby;
  • dry tongue and mouth;
  • severe drowsiness;
  • decrease in skin elasticity when the collected fold does not straighten out for a long time. nine0066

Antivirals are generally ineffective in these situations, interferons are not proven effective, and antibiotics should only be prescribed by a doctor if infection is confirmed. You need to understand that the independent and uncontrolled prescription of antibiotics can increase diarrhea, and in the future, immunity to certain types of antibiotics will form, and there will be nothing to treat.

Antimicrobials stand apart, they are also called intestinal antiseptics. Usually they are not absorbed from the intestines, they are quite safe and can be used on their own in acute situations when you are on a trip and do not know the cause of the disease: poisoning or a viral infection. Such drugs will work well for food poisoning, but personally I prefer to start and most often be limited to sorbent therapy. In viral infections, intestinal antiseptics are ineffective. nine0003

How to treat a child with diarrhea and vomiting

  1. Correction of dehydration - replenishment of fluid, glucose, sodium salts, chlorine, which are primarily needed for the work of the most important systems: cardiovascular and nervous. Drinking with water, strongly diluted compote. If any intake of liquid causes vomiting, you have to drink from a spoon or from a syringe, little by little, but often.

It is not necessary to deny breastfeeding to babies, but try to combine it with drinking clean water, since breast milk is still food and can provoke vomiting more. nine0003

"He doesn't drink water", "I can't do it" - what to say to these parents' excuses? You need to understand that the state of severe dehydration is life-threatening, especially for babies, in whom a critical condition can occur very quickly. Therefore, if you cannot cope on your own, call an ambulance, and instead of drinking, you will be offered an intravenous drip of liquid.

There are ready-made preparations for replenishing the water-salt balance. For adults, Regidron is traditionally used, but for children under 3 years old this is not the best option, since for babies it contains too much sodium, and this is a risk of developing vascular disorders and increasing diarrhea. nine0003

So-called low-osmolar solutions have been developed for children: Biogaya, Regidron Bio, Hydrovit (there are other preparations, but they have disadvantages - they contain chemical flavorings or potential allergens (carrots), which are toxic with excessive use of herbs, such as fennel).

  1. Sorbents intake. These are substances that absorb and collect toxic metabolic products during poisoning. In evidence-based medicine, it is believed that taking such drugs shortens the time of diarrhea by about a day, but it seems to me that this is not bad, especially since, according to my observations, very often you can get by with only sorbents and no more drugs will be needed. nine0066

Sorbents also have a fixative property, which is valuable in intestinal disorders.

Be sure to follow the rules of taking: the sorbent is taken at least one hour before meals and 1.5–2 hours after. The more pronounced the problem of diarrhea, the more often the sorbent can be taken, observing the dosages by age or weight.

  1. Taking medications to restore intestinal microflora . Unfortunately, it is very difficult to predict which drug is suitable for whom and whether it will work, since the intestinal microflora is different for everyone, it is also difficult to prove the effect, but it is not forbidden to try to use them. But not in one go with sorbents. nine0066
  2. Antipyretics are used as needed. Please note that if the intestinal problems are associated with a virus, then by bringing down the temperature below 38.5 °, you lengthen the recovery time.
  3. Antispasmodics. Drugs that reduce cramps and pain in the abdomen are best taken after a doctor's examination, since when used independently, you can mask the signs of dangerous diseases similar to infectious diseases, such as appendicitis.

How to eat in case of poisoning or intestinal infection

The main purpose of the diet for acute intestinal problems:

  • maximum mechanical, chemical and thermal respect for the gastrointestinal tract, reduction of fermentation processes;
  • food must have enveloping, absorbent, astringent properties;
  • food should be mashed, without coarse fibers that stimulate motor skills;
  • food is warm, but neither cold nor hot; nine0066
  • food intake should not require large enzyme costs (in case of poisoning, the pancreas produces fewer enzymes), give a load on the liver (fatty, fried, spicy). Strict exclusion of all variants of dairy and sour-milk products.

My tips for eating on poison days:

  1. Listen to yourself or observe your child's needs. If you do not feel like eating, then in the first days of the acute period - only sorbents and drinking with electrolyte mixtures. nine0066
  2. If you are still hungry and eating does not cause frequent stools and vomiting, follow the food requirements above.
  3. Enter products in a specific order.
  4. Slowly, within 2 weeks, return to your usual diet. Why smoothly, if you want cucumbers and cutlets? In order not to undermine the digestive organs that are working at the limit, otherwise the inflammatory process may become chronic or last longer.

Accordingly, you will no longer absorb and synthesize vitamins, the incoming food will be digested worse, forming allergization, skin problems. nine0003

  1. An ideal product for digestion is cereals, in our case polished white rice, buckwheat, oatmeal. Grated, boiled for a long time in water. Cereals better contribute to the restoration of microflora.

If you feel sick and vomit or cereals stagnate in the stomach for a long time, causing heaviness (and there is hunger), you can eat fast-carbohydrate, starchy foods: wheat crackers, dryers, instant baby cereals (buckwheat, rice), mashed potatoes (sweet potato, parsnip) , starchy non-acidic jelly. They are better for assimilation, worse for microflora. nine0003

  1. Drink tea, cocoa without sugar and additives, eat blueberries. These foods are rich in tannin, which has astringent properties. However, do not overdo it: tannin also dehydrates. From herbs, St. John's wort or chamomile is quite suitable.
  2. Refined sugar is undesirable, as it stimulates the growth of "bad" microflora, but in small quantities, for example, it is present in electrolyte mixtures.

How to feed a child after poisoning

The general scheme of nutrition is something like this:

Days 1-3 — fasting with desoldering, or rice-cereals (ideal) or fast-carb options — drying, starchy jelly.
4-5th day - cereals, you can try some boiled vegetables.
6-7th day - cereals and thermally processed vegetables.
8-9th day - you can add a baked apple, egg white.
10-11th day - fish, some seasonal fruits.
12-14th day - optional legumes, meat, seeds, nuts.

I consciously do not include milk, but if you really like dairy products, then include them also after the 14th day. nine0003

And now I'll give you a couple of recipes so you don't get bored when you're sick.

Blueberry jelly

Pour 30 g of blueberries with water, boil for 10–15 minutes, insist on low heat, strain, add sugar, boil. 10 g of potato starch, diluted with cold water, without letting it boil, remove from heat and add a couple of drops of lemon.

Kissel can be poured over pudding made from semolina frozen in a mold.

Boiled rice meatballs

Egg white option (if quick recovery) for days 4-6. nine0003

Rinse the rice, boil as much as possible, mix with whipped protein, put in a mold and cook in a steam or oven.

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