To think the GP is wrong and this isn’t normal for a one year old?!

[Ujalo]

When ds started solids at 6 months we had some watery nappies. Obviously expected this as he adapted to food. By month 7, he had more solid poos, darker in colour and regular.

By month 8 he began having awful nappies. Runny, smelly, light in colour. Went to Gp, they checked for bacteria and nothing showed up. He has always been absolutely fine in himself and eaten and drank well etc. Said it was viral. It continued. He’s now nearly one and I went back again this week and I’ve been told this is just what happens with babies and could continue but not to worry as he’s eating and is happy. Surely this isn’t right? I’m a first time mum but I don’t know any mums who have to throw away clothes or rub stains out of clothes after every single nappy. Bedding has been thrown away often as it just completely soaks it. Is this normal?? It goes all down his leg and the only time it doesn’t is if I catch it there and then and if it’s a smaller poo. Obviously when in the car this isn’t possible. It is really draining me now. Whenever we go anywhere I have to take loads of clothes and wipes and have to put first set of clothes in a plastic bag. I can’t remember the last time he did a solid poo!! Also we have done a food diary and no correlation there with anything. Please help, I am so miserable.

What is your health visitor saying? Mine was great with my little ones allergies.

As per pp’s your child sounds like he has an intolerance or allergy.

DO NOT start taking foods out of his diet yourself. Nutrition is too important.

Find a dietitian, preferably one with experience in young children, and very preferably one who has heard of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Allergy Unit Elimination Diet. It’s the gold standard of the things. (You can look it up). GP’s aren’t always good at this sort of stuff.

Elimination of various food groups and subsequent reintroduction can be undertaken with due regard for nutrition needs of a toddler child with appropriate monitoring and measurement.

My daughter had this and it was (probably) toddler diarrhoea, but we saw a nutritionist who said to reduce fibre and increase fat. So lots of butter, cheese, cream in cooking etc. Reduce fruits and vegetables that are on their own, so e.g. you can (and should) give fruit/veg snacks alongside something else, like apple slices with cheese and crackers for a snack, and use vegetables in meals of course, but try not to give e.g. just an orange for a snack. She said get rid of e.g. Weetabix, porridge, shredded wheat etc for breakfast, give toast, eggs, toasted muffins etc instead. She also said to use white bread instead of brown.

Obviously this is just what worked for us so please speak to your doctor first! But this helped my DD.

It doesn't sound like an allergy - those symptoms wouldn't be typical, especially not in isolation, without anything like hives, vomitting, swelling, etc.

It could be an intolerance or celiacs, or could be just some kind of "toddler diarrhoea" for no clear reason.

I'd push for celiac testing (and do not eliminate wheat until he's had the testing). Unfortunately there's no test for intolerances.

Also get a healthcare plan put in place for when he starts nursery otherwise they'll keep sending him home for having diarrhoea! If they understand it's normal for him you shouldn't have a problem.

As for the stained clothes/ sheets, you really shouldn't need to throw anything out. Use a good biological washing powder and if anything comes out the wash still stained, hang it to dry outside, preferably on a sunny day. That should deal with most stains.

Sympathies though, and I hope either you get some answers or the problem goes away by itself!

How do they test for dairy or gluten allergy? Is it a blood test? Why wouldn’t they just do it?

Celiacs is a blood test that your GP can arrange I believe. Allergy testing is usually done by a combination of blood test and skin prick testing but you'd need to be referred by your GP first.

Ds2 was like this. We cut out all bread/gluten and the problem went away. Gave him a few months in rice cakes and then slowly reintroduced bread and all was ok.

The smell was awful! But you really don't need to throw away bedding. Get some Milton's and soak the bedding overnight in Milton's solution before washing. Sheets will be fine - specially if you can dry them naturally on a washing line.

Best of luck.

If your baby has a gluten intolerance or coeliac disease, gluten is damaging his small intestines. This will result in him having difficulty digesting foods such as dairy.

I can't answer your actual question but pull ups leak a lot compared to nappies you fasten. Nearly all the leaky nappies at nursery are from pull ups, especially in babies rather than older toddlers. It may be worth changing to see if that reduces the leaking while you are looking to see what might help.

My child has always been like this from birth and she's almost 9 now! No allergies, just always runny & explosive. I know it doesn't seem normal but sometimes there is no reason or cause

Try gluten free for a week, it's easier than dairy free at this age (think potatoes, veggies, meat, rice rather than processed gf foods ideally) and see if there is any change, ideally keep going for 2 weeks and try a fortified non dairy gf milk substitute for the second week. Intolerances are common and won't always show up on an allergy test either. Fruit is another possibility, again not a true allergy but too much for their system currently. If there's no improvement then it's time to go back to the gp

Trust your gut, keep insisting they look into this. Have they tested for celiac disease? It's a simple blood test.
I have CMPA (Cows protein milk allergy), lactose intolerance, and food milder other allergies. A food diary didn't help at all as there was multiple allergies setting me off and also milk is in so many foods. Cutting out dairy for 2 weeks is what diagnosed my allergy and intolerance. By day 10 I felt healthier than I had ever been. From there I was able to work out my milder allergies with a food diary.
If you're going to try eliminating potential allergens from DCs food, I would speak to a nutritional expert first though 😊

Sounds like both of mine who had dairy allergies. Is he on dairy free formula?

Go back to your GP.
Ask for a referral to a paediatric dietician or a dietitian for support with his diet.
Ask for him to be tested for coeliac disease and assessed for lactose intolerance.

Do not buy any testing yourself. The 'tests' you can buy over the counter or online or that are offered on the High St in health food shops are all fraudulent/misleading. Be aware that intolerances can not be tested for, so anyone selling you an intolerance testing is scamming you. There are some tests for lactose intolerance that may be done under the NHS, but they only indicate that it might be the problem.

With an intolerance the diagnosis can only be confirmed by elimination/reintroduction diets. Allergies and autoimmune reactions (e.g. coeliac) can be tested for, but again there are some dodgy folk selling dodgy tests. Anything involving a hair sample, pinprick of blood, being wired up to a box, or holding a vial and measuring muscle response is a scam.

If you cut anything out of his diet now, you may make it harder to diagnose. For example, coeliac disease can only be diagnosed whilst someone is still eating gluten containing cereals.

I just called the gp again and have been told it’s normal and nothing needs to be tested and he will grow out of it. Why is everything such a battle all the time. I am a single parent and really struggling with all this now

@Tumbleweed101 i really thought pull ups were better!! Which ones would you get that are not pull ups? I will get some today. Desperate to do anything that will help

I can't be much help but just came on to say I'm going through the same thing with my 2.5 year old and I'm also at the end of my tether with washing bedding daily/trying to save clothes from being ruined etc! Her nappies have always been on the runny side since she turned 2, but in the last month or so it's really ramped up, not sure if because she's been eating more.

She's otherwise completely well and growing normally, so I'm thinking it probably is this toddler's diarrhoea thing- however I contacted GP this week and their first move is to send her for a blood test(I think to rule out coeliac but it was an econsult so I wasn't told that explicitly) and I have to take in a stool sample presumably to rule out any bugs.

I think if none of this gives us any answers, I'll be asking GP for advice on eliminating certain foods to check for intolerances. We've tried eliminating fruit juice , which she only had a couple of times a week anyway, but it's made no difference so far. My next move will be to eliminate dairy but I don't want to do this without advice because I know how important it is for them to get it 😩

Really hope you get some answers soon, I know how stressful and all consuming it can become!

@Tiiredofthiss thank you, I’m reluctant to cut out dairy as he’s still having formula 3 times a day. I don’t feel confident doing that when he’s so little. I have had no help from the gp and I’m at my wits end now. I’ve asked for a test this morning and they just reiterated that it’s normal and I should expect it to continue for the next few months!

I would keep a photo diary of his nappies as well as a food diary whilst you try cutting out some foods.
That way if none of it works you can show the gp exactly what you’re dealing with. Your baby shouldn’t be having diarrhoea running down their leg every day imo.

Request a peadatrician referral

I can understand how challenging and frustrating this situation must be for you as a first-time mom. While I'm not a medical professional, I can offer some general insights and suggestions based on common experiences.
It's important to remember that every baby is different, and their digestive systems can vary. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Consult Multiple Healthcare Professionals: If you are not satisfied with the advice from one doctor, it's a good idea to seek a second opinion from another healthcare professional or a pediatric specialist. They may provide a fresh perspective and alternative solutions.
2. Food Allergies or Sensitivities: Sometimes, persistent digestive issues can be related to food allergies or sensitivities. It might be worth discussing this possibility with a healthcare provider and considering a referral to a pediatric allergist or gastroenterologist.
3. Diet Adjustments: You mentioned that you've kept a food diary, which is a great approach. Continue documenting the types of food your baby is eating and the reactions observed. Sometimes, specific foods can trigger digestive problems, and identifying any patterns could be helpful.
4. Probiotics: Probiotic supplements or foods with natural probiotics (like yogurt) may be beneficial for your baby's digestive health.
5. Hydration: Ensure your baby is adequately hydrated, as dehydration can sometimes contribute to runny stools. Continue offering water or breastmilk/formula as appropriate.
6. Discuss Alternative Feeding Options: If your baby's symptoms persist, it may be worth discussing alternative feeding options or formulas with your healthcare provider.
7. Keep an Eye on Growth: Monitor your baby's growth and weight gain to ensure that they are thriving despite the digestive issues. If there are concerns about growth, discuss them with your healthcare provider.

Remember, as a parent, you have a strong intuition about your child's well-being. If you continue to feel uneasy about the situation, it's important to advocate for your child's health and well-being. Seeking multiple medical opinions and being persistent in finding a solution is entirely reasonable when it comes to your child's health. Don't hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider for further evaluation and guidance.

@cinnamonbiscuit sorry you are going through this too. It’s awful isn’t it.

Mine had that and it was temporary dairy intolerance.
We cut out all dairy for a few weeks and then gradually reintroduced.

I believe it is quite common.

DD had a couple of allergies as a baby that she later outgrew, one of them was her bowel was mildly allergic to dairy, I remember cow&gate formula made her much worse than aptimil even though they are supposed to have the same ingredients. We ended up seeing a paediatric allergy specialist consultant privately through our local private hospital as it was nigh on impossible to see him on the NHS, and he suggested switching to oat milk as often babies with dairy allergy have soya intolerances as well.

How has his weight been - is he tracking his percentile or falling off the line? If the latter that should strengthen your case. It sounds very much like my gluten intolerant one but obv that doesn't mean it's that.