Try these 7 foods to soothe your baby’s diarrhea before heading to the doctor

Babies are born with a sensitive stomach and anything from teething, to a change of food, to an illness can give them diarrhea. While it is common in infants, diarrhea can be an alarming issue, particularly if the baby gets dehydrated due to the loss of fluids from their bodies. There can be a number of causes for diarrhea in infants.

When do you know if your baby has diarrhea?
Infants, especially breastfed ones, normally pass stools 4-5 times a day and it is considered quite normal. However, there a few signs that would point towards diarrhea such as

• An increase in the frequency of stools, especially if the baby if passing stools more than once after every feeding session.
• The stools could be laden with mucus and would be larger in quantity
• The stools would omit a foul odour

However, if your baby has mild diarrhea and he feels to be quite comfortable and playful, you can perhaps give try a few natural ways to soothe his diarrhea, rather than rushing to the doctor. Here’s what you can try.

1. Fluids: Make sure that your baby is hydrated so that he does not suffer from the consequences of fluid loss. The best way to do that would be to continue breastfeeding him as breast milk would not only hydrate him but also help replenish the lost nutrients from his body.

• If your baby is above six months, make him sip water throughout the day or you can offer him white grape juice, which doctors feel is similar in composition to many of the electrolytes available in the market.
• Better still you can make an oral rehydration solution (ORS) at home or buy sachets from the market. Here’s how you can make it at home. Mix 8 teaspoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt to one liter water and mix well. Give it to your baby throughout the day to ease diarrhea.
• If your baby is above six months, you can also give him coconut water and fresh lime juice to replenish the lost nutrients.

2.Curd/buttermilk: Curd or dahi contains naturally occurring good bacteria that are imperative for a smooth digestion and help fight any infection that could be the reason for your baby’s diarrhea.

• The key is to give small amounts of curd at a time so that the baby’s weak stomach gets used to it.
• You can also give your baby buttermilk if he is not too fond of curd. Buttermilk is loaded with calcium and good bacteria that would help kill bad bacteria in your baby’s gut and help fight the infection.

3.Rice: Rice can be the best food for your baby during a bout of diarrhea and it is also loaded with carbs that would keep your infant energetic throughout the day. Rice is also a part of the BRAT (Bananas, Rice, apple sauce, toast) diet, which many paediatrician's recommend when an infant has diarrhea.

• Rice acts as a binding food and helps in solidifying your baby’s stool by absorbing water.
• You can either give your baby plain rice or better still mix is with curd and add a pinch of salt to make a healthy and nutritious meal for him. It would also control his bowel movements and soothe his stomach.

4. Soupy Moong Dal: As babies normally don’t eat a lot of solid foods after six months, it is best to offer them soups and dals, which have salt and even a little sugar to replace the nutrients that they might have lost during diarrhea.

• The most effective is yellow moong dal, but a little more soupy than normal. Mix a little rice with it and feed your child for lunch and dinner.
• You can also drain the dal after boiling and add a little salt to the soup that remains. Fill your baby’s bottle with it and give it your child every now and then.

5. Banana: Bananas contain potassium an important mineral that is one of the electrolyte that is lost during diarrhea. They are also a part of the BRAT diet and help solidify the baby’s stools, easing diarrhea and reducing their frequency.

6. Pomegranate: Pomegranate’s are one of the best foods that are known for their diarrhea-relieving powers due to their inflammation soothing properties. You can give spoonfuls of pomegranate juice to your baby throughout the day to relieve him of diarrhea.

7. Toast: Babies normally are very fond of toasts and other foods that are little cruchy as it helps soothe their itchy gums as well. Besides, toast is packed with good carbs that would keep your baby up and running during a bout of diarrhea.

Health advisory: Please consult a doctor before giving anything to your baby, especially under the age of 1, for the first time.

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