Child with diahrea. and confused by docs advice

[lucychoobs]

I have been at the doctors with my dd this morning. she has had terrible diarrhea for about 4 days now.
she's off her food and won't drink much and the doctor couldn't have got me out the room quick enough. told me to just keep trying to give her water and just carry on feeding her the same.
am i wrong for thinking there are certain things you should stay away from with this? i did ask her and she said no Not really. carry on with her milk as normal etc etc.
i came out feeling really confused.
should i just let it pass its course and carry on ar normal? or is the advice she gave me, sorry but slightly shite?
i havnt been giving her anything dairy and have been keeping her off her milk.
what i really want to know is what is the best diet for a child with diarrhea? she's 19 months. im worried about her becoming dehydrated.

starchy foods are good e.g pasta, rice, bread, etc. If your lo was a baby and still on formula then the advice would be to feed as normal but as she is older then you could avoid dairy which may help. As long as she is taking fluids then it doesnt matter if she doesnt want to eat much. Water, rehydration fluids (e.g. dioralyte which you can get from the chemist/supermarket), ice lollies, etc

sorry, should have said that if she was being breastfed then you would carry on feeding too

Thanks seona. i will try that x

Advice when DD first had diarrhea was to avoid milk and fruit juice, citrus, spicy foods etc.

Doctor told us about the BRAT diet for after stomach upsets:

Bananas
Rice
Apples
Toast

as they are all gentle on the stomach.

With liquids I normally break my 'water/milk only' rule and let them have very dilute fruit juice and watered down smoothies. Anything to get the liquid in them and then gradually dilute them back to water again once they are back on their feet. I also make my own icelollies out of dilute juice etc and give things like those very bland grapes etc.

Hope she feels better soon.

First line should read normal fruit juice i.e. not watered down.

when dd had a stomach bug, the gp told me not to restrict the diet if she is interested in food at all.

so much conflicting advice around

Thanks everyone. i had heard of the BRAT Diet i just couldn't remember what it was.
the only thing we can put it down to is we had taken her swimming in a Very busy pool and im pretty sure with her dad taking her down the slides she had swallowed quite a bit of pool water. few hours later the runs started.
she's been so tired tonight. won't eat and dosnt seen to want to drink either.
got a little water in her and diluted her milk just to get something in her.
so worried because i've stupidly been reading Up on the net and storeys about children dying in their sleep from dyhydration after sickness and diarea. its making me freak out.
so. dry toast? rice pasta potatoes? apples. i didn't know what juice to give her so i got cranberry juice. is that alright for her? really appreciate all your advice. x

lucy whatever she will drink, really. if it is juice it is juice. grapes are also good, full of sugar and water.
hope your dd is better soon!

still no better. im starting to worry its something more serious. so worried about her. she wouldn't eat anything this morning. drank a little but just wanted to go back to sleep. Not like her at all. shouldn't it be starting to pass by now? i don't want to go back to that doctor. wondering if i should just take her up hospital.

if you are worried, better take her. poor dd.

It is unlikely to be pool water but gastro enteritis picked up at the pool. People are advised not to go swimming for 2 weeks post bug - but i bet they still do.
Is DD still passing urine, a reasonable wet nappy every 3-4 hours? Difficult to assess when having diarrhoea but the easiest way to monitor dehydration in a baby. If she is and is alert some of the time (she will be tired and lethargic as she's ill) she should be OK.
Let her drink whatever she wants except pure fruit juice, and encourage bland foods. If she wants milk give it, there should be no restrictions on fluid at all, the more the better. It is the dehydration that causes problems and not the diarrhoea and this will go on 5-7 days no matter what you feed.

dioralyte relief is better than dioralyte as it has rice in it to settle the stomach. Stay away from dairy and too much sugar as sugar is a laxative. Mash potato and pasta are good.

What research says you shouldnt give milk? NICE guidelines says to continue and OPs GP says to continue. Bit of an old wives tale this, diarrhoea lasts up to a week no matter what you feed, and food and fluids are essential to maintain strength and hydration.