My baby has the runs :(?

Question

My 8 month old has diarreah and a bad diaper rash. I have been putting on diaper rash cream but it only helps until she has the runs again. I know for older children, you can avoid dairy to get rid of diarreah, but I can't not feed her milk. She won't take juice either. Any advice on how to rid the runs? It has been 2 days now.

Answer 1

the fact that it has been two days is cause for concern-you should get her in to see her dr asap-she can get very dehydrated from losing too much fluid b/c of the diarrhea.

dehydration can occur quickly in babies. and the fact that she is only 8 months-she needs her milk. you can try giving her pedialyte outside of her normal feedings-it comes in several flavors and is designed to help restore electrolytes lost during diarrhea and vomiting.

for the rash-allow your baby to air out as much as possible-when she takes her naps-line the bottom of the crib with 3 or 4 towels so absorb wetness and let her go diaperless-this will help clear up the rash. if you are uncomfortable letting her go without the diaper while she sleeps-then during playtime, lie her on the floor on a few towels and take the diaper off for a little while ( 15-30min per day at least)

you can try a mixture of milk of magnesium ( mylanta) and corn starch-mix them into paste form and apply just like you would the store bought cream. the milk of magnesium will help to reduce the acid in the diarrhea that is actually causing the rash to appear and the cornstarch acts as a barrier-absorbing wetness and keeping your baby's bottom dry.

things to watch for that would indicate dehydration has set in and she should be taken to the emergency room are:

-no tears when she cries, inside of mouth is dry
-no wet diapers for more than 4 hours
-lethargic or she is hard to wake up when sleeping
-not wanting to drink at all
-she has more than 5 excessive diarrhea diapers (large amount) in one hour

if she has any of these signs-get her into the er to be seen-she might need i.v fluids.

make sure to make an appt within 24 hours to see the dr

good luck to you and i hope she feels better

Answer 2

I know that in older people if they eat bananas it helps solid stools up. She may be dehydated and you need to try giving her some Pedialite. You really should call you doctor and see what they think.

As far as the diaper rash cream, many people say this stuff works. From what I heard sometimes doesn't. Try changing the brand of diaper that she is using. Then put some Vasiline on it and let her bottom dry out everyday which I know will be hard. When I let my son's area dry I try to do it right before I feed him, so maybe he will not go everywhere. Remember not to use the baby wipes. I usually use the Kleenix Unsented tissue and water.

Answer 3

Do you layer on the diaper rash cream very very thick?
That can really help. Every time you chagne the diaper put it on!
And yes, letting the rashy little buns breath will help too, just lay the baby on something safe. I would use the pee pads that go udner the sheets for a twin bed. Regarding a previous comment from the yahoo member saying not to wipe.......my two year old got a horrible horrible rash from diahhrea, and I felt so bad his bum hurt so bad, I woudlnt wipe him either, but i got a squirt bottle with just a very tiny bit of mild soap like a drop.....and filled it with warm water and squirted the "mess" off his bum and surrounding area while he sat on the toilet. Frequent bathing will alos help, also, it is soothing for the child. My son's rash cleared up very soon after this treatment!
What kind of milk are you giving this baby? formula? breast?
If it is cows milk, the child is not allowed to have it for at least 4 more months per standard Doctors instruction.
I highly suspect that the baby is teething. If she is drooling and teething, the extra saliva does cause diahhrea. Advice would be to ask the doctor about diet. and please clairify what type of milk you are feeding her? thanks and good luck to yoo

Answer 4

you should always take a sick baby to the doctor.

the diarhea causing the rash probably hurts her pretty bad, so when you change her you should use wipes that have been rinsed in warm water to get out the cleansers in the wipes that sting too much. triple antibiptic ointment with benzocaine in it will fight the rash and relieve the pain.

when you say "milk" i assume you mean formula since she's only 8 months.
soy is not dairy and still provides all the nurishment that formula does, so you might try switching her to soy formula to avoid the dairy.
but this is probably just part of the stomach bug thats going around right now. (I just got over one)
give her some non-colored pedialyte to replenish her fluids. (juice can also give her the runs)
also give her plenty of baths because that can also help with dehydration, and relieve some of the rash pain.

Answer 5

When I was in the hospital I over heard a doc tell a mother who's baby has diarrhea and he told her not to wipe(Gross but it has something to do with it) the child when ointment is one and also use a wash cloth and not wipes not even the extra sensitive ones. Try using cloth diapers to help air out the tooshie. If she won't drink juice try the Pedialight(how ever you spell it) freezer pops or otter pops. Always wash your hands before and after changing, even others who hold or carry wash hands before and after. Keep loose clothing on and let baby run free for awhile you might need to clean some messes but the airing out helps. But call a nurses hot line or phone your doc to get the really good advice on what to do.

Answer 6

Take her to the doctor, to see what is could be causing her diarrhea, until then keep pushing the fluids, the last thing you need is for her to get dehydrated. If you give her juice make sure you dilute it before giving it to her, the acid will provoke her problem and make the rash worse.

Answer 7

Its called the B.R.A.T diet - Bananas, Rice, Apples, & Toast. I would also give her Pedialyte so she doesnt get dehidrated. As for the rash, I would use Nystatin cream (perscription), it will take care of that in about a day or so. Good luck.

Answer 8

Do not give her juice or anything containing sugar...it will make it worse and will contribute to dehydration.. What is she eating? Does she have a consistent diet? Anything new introduced? Try Pedialyte, to replaced lost electrolytes and hydration lost from diarrhea. Please see the pediatrician. If your baby does not have one, or you can't afford insurance, go to a walk-in clinic or your local emergency room. Do not let this go on for any longer. Your baby can become severely dehydrated from diarrhea.

Answer 9

bananas!! and a nappy rash cream called sudocrem

Answer 10

call your doc or a pharmacist to see what you can give her. two days is a long time for a baby to have this, she could dehydrate