18 Month Old Baby Has diarrhea...suggestions Please!

Hello my daughter has had the same issue before. She was around that same age (22months now). I called her dr. and they suggested just a little stomach bug, and to try the following tips. Give plenty of fluids to keep hydrated such as, pedialyte (sp?), sprite, small amounts of gatorade for the first 24 hrs. Then after that slowly introduce foods like soup and mashed potatoes to build back up the starch. Tylenol was given to reduce the fever, but I would also give her warm baths to break it as well. She too was fine overall, but had the "runs" like you wouldn't believe. Hope this helps!

She may have an ear infection. My daughters only symptoms where diarrhea she didn't even have a fever. And don't let them give you Amoxicillian. It doesn't work! You just end up going back and getting something stronger anyway

I'm glad she is already better!! Don't forget next time that you could always call your pediatrician, even the after hours number to get whoever is on call, to ask what you should do. We almost took my daughter to the emergency room because we thought her fever was too high. Then I remembered there was a pediatrician on call after hours, so I gave them a call. They told me that it wasn't too high and what to watch for & how to keep her fever down. That saved us an ER visit!

Now that I think about it... I think my family went through the same bug yours did! haha

S. (wife of an Army National Guard guy :P)

I haven't had this problem yet, but my 19 month old daughter is currently sick with runny, congested nose & a deep cough; and she hasn't been wanting to eat much either. I've been giving her some chocolate Pediasure (I call it "chocolate milk" when I give it to her) so that she can get some vitamins/minerals in her system to help fight off her cold.

My 15 month old has this problem sometimes. She has a very sensitive stomach. You could put a pill called Culturelle into food or milk. You can buy it at the grocery or drug store. It's a 10 day cycle. It helps builds the good flora in the gut and stops diarrhea. Bananas, applesauce and bread help stop them up too.

sounds like you are doing everything right. make sure you look out for dehydration though. as for th diaper rash, use Boudreaux's Butt Paste. it is the best, use a thick layer and it really helps. i'm a nurse and that's what we recommend to our patients

Both of my little ones have experienced this in the past few weeks, one with vomiting. We were told by the doctor that there is a stomach virus going around. They told us to give electrolyte drinks, the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) and to cut out dairy (especially milk) until their stomach calms (grumbling can be heard). I know after a week mine are doing much better. I wish the best of luck with yours. FYI- If your daughter does have the stomach virus that is going around, it is very contagious. Our whole house got it!!

Liane,
My mom use to give use powdered jello out of the box. NowI am a mother of four and they come down with diarrhea, I pull out the box of strawberry jello that I keep in the fridge, and give them a tablespoon, it'sjust like a pixstick you get in the store, but it conjels the poop, after the next poop, if it is still runny, give them another tablespoon.
Good luck and God Bless
Rhonda
mother of four
Remember, if the poop stinks really bad, it's a stomach virus

I've been an LPN 14 years & raised a couple girlies of my own. Sounds like she's got a viral tummy bug maybe. When I worked in family practice, we recommended what we called the BRAT Diet bananas, rice, applesauce, toast. Also, if you can get her to drink gatorade, it will help replenish any electrolytes she's losing w/the diarrhea. As hard as it is to do, avoiding dairy products for about 24 hours helps the GI tract "settle" so-to-speak. If she'll drink Pedialyte, that's terriffic, but if you've ever tasted it....blech! It tastes like lightly-sweetened salt water!
As far as the rash on her booty. We use something called "Calmoseptine"--you have to ask for it at the pharmacy. You put a very thin film of it on her booty, & it creates a protective barrier against the skin to keep the diarrhea stool from irritating the skin further.
I'd say if she's not showing improvement after trying these things, contact your pediatrician to see if they offer any other home treatment advice.
Best wishes to you & your's!
R.-a 44 y.o. occupational therapy student, nurse, mom, and wife of a respiratory therapist/paramedic/law enforcement officer(all the same guy... :0) )
email me if you have any other questions, or if you want to let me know how the little tot's doing. Hope she feels better soon, momma!

Sounds like her little body is trying to fight off a virus, with the low grade fever. The fever will also cause her to drink alot because her body is probably feeling a little dehydrated so that is good.... you want her to drink. All the fluid is probably not helping with the diarreah either.

I just got over a bout with a REALLY BAD diareah rash. I put an add on here and got 57 responses. Of course i couldn't try everything but i did find some triple paste that i put on her and then sprinkled Caldesene protecting powder on her everytime I changed her. I didn't use the wipes. I just stuck her in the tub and sprayed her off, instead of wipes. She is so much better.

If her fever and diareah go longer than 3 or 4 days, I would call the dr and ask if something is going around or if they thought that you need to bring her in.

Good luck

I had the same type problem with my second child. Everytime she started cutting a tooth she would have diarrhea and run a low grade fever. Check her gums for signs of a tooth.

Try the BRAT diet...bananas, rice, applesauce, toast (plain) as these foods bind in the intestines and have (unless alergies apply) no harmful side effects.

take her to the doctor she will need fluids ,because of her diarrhea

UGH! We JUST got over this with my 18 month old, 7 year old, and husband! Olivia, (18 mos) has had the diarreah for about a week and has acted just as yours has. THe best thing is plenty of fluids and if you can get her to eat try things to bulk her stool up like bannanas, rice, oatmeal, crackers. Things that will thicken it. Try to avoid apple juice and dairy though as I find those make it worse. If it is a virus it will have to run it's course. I didn't go to the Dr either because I also find they come down with something else when I go. It could possibly also be teething. My oldest would have bad diapers when she was cutting her back teeth. But I treated it the same way with bulking up the stool. Good luck!

Slight possibility it could be her 2 year molars cutting...or it could just be a slight little bug. Probably not much to worry about. Just make sure the clear fluid intake stays up and watch her!!! I am a mom to 4 daughters and have been through that with 3 of them already.

Hi Liane, You might want to check and see if she is getting her 2 year old molars. My little girl started getting hers at 18 months and had diarrhea pretty bad with a low grade fever and acted like she wasn't sick. I was wondering what was going on until a friend mentioned the teeth. I've heard from other moms the teeth can cause diarrhea. Pedialyte was also a big help to keep her hydrated. No diary products especially milk. Milk may worsen the diarrhea. Motrin helped with the pain from the teeth coming thru. I hope this helps!

Sounds like you are doing the right things, giving her lots of fluids and keeping a close watch. It may just be a virus that needs to move through her system, but if it continues much longer I'd say go ahead and take her in. You may try giving her pro-biotics or yogurt to help put back the healthy bacteria that the diarrhea is taking away. When I give my daughter yogurt, I buy the big container of Stoneyfield farms whole milk plain yogurt and add a teaspoon of honey. She will always eat it, even if she refuses everything else. Hope this helps.
-K.

Hey there!! Does the diarrhea smell like the worst that you have ever smelled? If it does you need to take her to the doctor, If not I would wait and see. AS LONG AS SHE IS DRINKING ALOT AND IS PLAYING!!
For the rash!! This helps my little ones, but her in the bath tub or sink with water add some baking soda to the water!! Then let her play in this as long as she is willing to. Then but some diaper cream on her. WE LIKE BUTT PASTE IT WORKS THE BEST!! Anyway, just make her drink and drink. Try popicles, you can make some with yogurt and juice. The yogurt will help her bottom. If need anything else please ask!!
I hope this was helpful!!