7 month old with terrible diarrhoea for last 3 days, help......!

[Jen1978]

My 7 month old DS has had terrible diarrhoea for the last 3 days and had had strange soft poos for about a week beforehand, no vomiting. The HV said to dilute his formula milk down by 75% as milk makes it worse (he won't drink plain water) which we have done for last 48 hours. There has been no improvement, he seems interested in his food but we have stuck to simple things like baby rice, sweet potato etc but as soon as solids go in his mouth he starts pooing and it goes everywhere! He is downing his diluted milk fine, probably because he is starving. He is obviously hungry because of his diluted milk and consequently he is waking at night a lot. He is generally fine in himself but a bit grumpy and clingy, no fever.
I need some advice, reassurance that we are doing the right thing. How long is this likely to last? should I make his milk full strength again or leave it a bit longer? I am concerned that he will lose lots of weight and he hasn't exactly got lots of spare weight to start with (only on 9th percentile).
I'd really appreciate any advice.

Is he still having wet nappies? If so this will pass. You would be better to withdraw solid food entirely for 24 hours to give his gut a chance to recover. All solid food will be starting things off again I'm afraid. If he really can't keep anything in him and he does start having dry nappies you need to take him to the doctors and get some rehydration salts (not a bad idea anyway TBH - you can get them at the chemist or on perscription).

I don't know about formula sorry.

Thanks. We did take him to out of hours gP on saturday and she said to just carry on giving him what he wants, he I see your point about his tummy not getting a proper "rest", so maybe we should try that.
Yes still getting plenty of wet nappies.

As long as you are getting wet nappies, he is okay. I know he is probably pretty miserable, I'm up with DD1 who also has a bit of a dicky tummy, teething AND a sodding cold (ce la vie). So I know how worrying it can be.

Best thing is to withdraw food and just go onto liquids and if you can get some hydrating salts rather than formula that'd be grand (they come in fruit flavours and taste crap but when you feel sick everything tastes crap right?)

Another thing to bear in mind is that after gastroenteritis, a lot of people (babies included) become temporarily lactose intolerant. If this is the case, formula may be inflaming his gut, so if you can switch to just water or hydrating salts (I know this seems cruel but) and do this for 24 hours, it will give his system time to recover. Otherwise you'll have five days of constant pooping while his system limps back to life with constant knockbacks from the food/drink you are giving him.

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