If you have children you likely know how frustrating and inconvenient it is to deal with a toddlers diarrhea. Not only can this cause a great mess to clean up even if your child is still wearing a diaper, but can often come at an inopportune time, such as in the beginning stages of potty training. If you are trying to toilet train your child and they have diarrhea you’ll likely face the decision of whether or not to continue potty training, or to forgo it because it will be near impossible for them to hold it long enough to get to the bathroom in time. We’ll go over what causes it, and what remedies for toddler diarrhea you can try.
Toddler Diarrhea
The first thing we need to explore is what causes diarrhea in toddlers. Most parents immediately jump to the conclusion that it is something in their diet, but in fact diarrhea has many causes, the most common of which in children that age is a stomach virus. Another cause that you may want to consider stress level. If you are in the beginning stages of potty training, it is possible that the stress from trying to keep from going potty before they get to the toilet could cause diarrhea. If your toddler is past the diaper stage, then the most common cause is some type of stomach virus.
A stomach virus will often go away on its own in most cases. However, make sure that you visit your pediatrician if you have done any recent traveling, especially out of the country, in case your child has picked up something out of the ordinary.
The most common infection that causes diarrhea in children is rotavirus, responsible for approximately ten percent of toddler diarrhea cases in the U.S.. It is important to get your child checked out if showing symptoms of this virus, because it can be serious – resulting in approximately 65,000 hospitalizations each year. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea for up to a week. Children are most susceptible to this virus, and almost all children will suffer from it at some point. Natural resistance is built up as your child gets older.
Other causes of diarrhea in toddlers include food intolerance, in which your child is allergic to a particular food, such as children who are lactose intolerant and cannot use milk or other dairy products. Once cause of diarrhea in children and adults alike, that is often overlooked, is a gluten intolerance – or celiac disease. Celiacs are allergic to gluten, which is a protein found in most common grain based products – for example bread and pasta. If your toddlers diarrhea is ongoing and accompanied by bloating and stomach pain, try withholding any food containing gluten from the diet. Make sure to read the labels on all food products, as wheat based products can be found where you wouldn’t expect them. If the symptoms cease after 1-2 weeks, and then reappear when gluten is reintroduced to the diet, talk to your doctor about the possibility that your child might be gluten-intolerant.
Other possible causes, although less frequently, include parasites or other medical conditions. It is important to note that the infections from Rotavirus and parasites are only found in a small number of severe diarrhea cases so if it is an smaller case, then it is unlikely that your baby is infected with the virus. Of course, never substitute your the information contained here for the opinion of your medical provider.
There are a few remedies for toddler diarrhea that you can use to help your child get over the diarrhea but unfortunately, there isn’t a magic pill that will stop the diarrhea completely. The first and most important thing is to keep your child hydrated, to assist in the removal of whatever is causing the diarrhea by the body’s own natural method. You can use regular beverages or specialty drinks like Pedialyte, which prevents dehydration. You can also withhold food from your child for a few hours, to allow the gastrointestinal tract to settle.
