What to do for 7 MO has Diarrhea?

[Jewels06]

My DS hadn't pooped for a week until Sunday evening and now he has pooped Monday morning and evening and now this morning and the last 3 were runny, not his typical more solid poop. I took his underarm temperature this morning and it was 98.1 - I'm not sure what's good and what's bad for underarm. Within the last week he has also been sweating a lot - at first I just thought it was his teething but now with the diarrhea I'm thinking he's actually been sick and I didn't know it. Any advice Mommas? I'm trying not to do the panicked first time Momma first time baby's sick thing but I'm kind of lost as to what I should do. TIA!

[MommyMad]

It could be teething.

I'd let your pediatrician know the consistency & color of the poop. In the meantime, apples/applesauce is good to help solidify things.

[Hannah'sMommy]

I think diahrrea in babies refers more to the frequency of movements in addition to consistency. But I agree, check with your ped. to double check and put your mind at ease. Our DD had diahrrea when she was on abx for a double ear infection. And that was truly frequent and almost like water. We just did the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast... except without the toast since she hadn't had that yet) and nursed as often as possible to make sure she had plenty of fluids. When our DD started solids, her poops changed frequently depending on what she ate and how much fluids she had.

[Llyra]

98.1 is a normal underarm temp.

But the absence of fever doesn't mean he hasn't picked up some kind of tummy bug. It might also be related to teething, or nasal drainage if he's got a runny nose. It could also be one of those unexplainable things. I don't think I'd worry about it too much.

Most diarrhea illnesses are self-limiting, meaning they work themselves out with no intervention from you. All you need to do is watch his hydration-- offer the breast very often, and if he eats other foods, offer sips of water maybe, too.

If the very-frequent stools last more than a two weeks or so, I think I might check in with a health-care provider. Or if he develops any other worrying symptoms, of course.