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General health

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Original poster

Baby with diarrhoea - should I give him milk?

18 replies

Distracted · 13/03/2005 18:20

My 5 month old has had diarrhoea this afternoon and I can't decide whether or not to give him his evening bottle of milk - should I leave it, or give it to him diluted? What do wise mumsnetters think? (I do mean real diarrhoea, not just normal range of baby runny nappies - last nappy was very watery and he has seemed to have a bit of stomach ache too, but not too bad)

He is weaning, by the way, but has got a bad cold and has not drunk v. much milk in the last few days and not really been interested in solids either, so will certainly give solids a miss for a few days now.

OP posts:

NotQuiteCockney · 13/03/2005 18:22

I don't think they're meant to have formula when they have diarrhoea. You might be able to give dioralyte? Or boiled water?

Bearess · 13/03/2005 18:24

I remember ds had this when he 4 mths and doc said to give him formula diluted with twice normal amount of water. Good Luck.

bobbybob · 13/03/2005 18:49

No, no milk you will feed the bug - water only.

MunchedTooManyMarsLady · 13/03/2005 19:06

water only I'm afraid. What he needs is lots of fluid but as has been said milk will feed the bug. wish him better.

Original poster

Distracted · 13/03/2005 19:19

Thanks all - I had to decide before his evening milk. I did try giving him water earlier and couldn't even get him to drink half an ounce (he's not yet used to water)and he was starving after his bath (having only had 1 oz of milk since this morning), so I took Bearess's advice and gave him 4oz of milk made up with 8oz of water, which he guzzled. Fingers crossed - didn't get any immediate diarrhoea (which we did with the 1 oz of milk this afternoon). Goodness knows what kind of night we're going to have though.

OP posts:

sasa15 · 13/03/2005 22:19

new school say yes for the milk...
I've given...to ds...no as much as he usually take...

5oz in the morning...2 in the afternoon....one day...

today he wants bedtime bottle so he had extra 3 oz...

plus I gave him dioralyte..and water....

he has been sick since Thursday...and I think he's getting back his appetite...not solid...even if I try every day...with few spoons of baby rice...just check if he's ready for it...

he's 7months..and I don't know if he's hungry and what does he fancy....

jampots · 13/03/2005 22:20

personally i wouldnt give milk to a baby with upset tummy - just water. However I also know that there is nothing like a hungry baby

I once gave milk to ds when he had a bit of a temp and I swear it came back up in a lump

Original poster

Distracted · 14/03/2005 11:10

I am going to try a bottle of diarolyte for the next feed to see if he'll drink that. Did give him half strength feeds last night and although he still had diarrhoea, it was v. watery. However, he was starving this morning and gave him 5oz feed in 8oz water and he had diarrhoea afterwards which had much more solids in it, so probably not a good idea.

Perhaps if he won't drink the diarolyte I will dilute his milk even more than half strength, 2-3 oz milk to 8oz water or something, as I do think I am prolonging the diarrhoea with the milk, but can't give him nothing if he won't drink water/diarolyte

OP posts:

Bearess · 14/03/2005 11:49

why don't you phone HV and ask advice, it'll put your mind at rest, I remember with ds I was beside myself he was so little and had diarrhoea for ten days - but they are incredibly resilient, you just have to keep them hydrated.

handlemecarefully · 14/03/2005 12:49

My 11 month old has just had another tummy bug. After vomiting Wednesday night I starved him of milk for 36 hours (had first milk at 07.00 on Friday) and I am sure this is why he recovered so quickly this time (as opposed to last time when he was admitted to hospital with dehydration).

If baby won't take water or diarolyte its worth putting it in a bottle and via a teat rather than using a beaker. Seems to work with my ds (he refuses any quantity bar a few sips from a beaker, but takes a few oz of water from a formula bottle)

bathmummy · 14/03/2005 12:59

My GP told me to avoid all dairy products incl. milk when they have diarrhoea as tiny ones can become lactose intolerant when they have an upset system and piling on more milk could make the whole problem worse. As awful as it is, I would stay well away from the milk for 24 hours and take it from there - obviously giving as much water/very dilute juice as you can. If not well after this or clearly deteriorating then phone your GP assap. TBH though, they will check for signs of dehydration and as long as they aren?t too dehydrated and no other symptoms are unlikely to offer any treatment other than dioralyte from my experience.

Original poster

Distracted · 16/03/2005 11:54

I did phone a HV yesterday and she suggested continuing with half strength feeds (he wouldn't touch diarolyte - it was in a bottle with a teat as we haven't yet moved on to beakers). I can't see just giving water when he won't drink it, he would soon dehydrate with no fluids going in at all.

It is taking depressingly long to clear though, and I suppose that is because he is still getting some food. Spoke to GP surgery today and they said it was probably a dietary intolerance rather than a bug, as he isn't generally unwell and agreed that I should continue milk and delay his weaning for a while now. Think I tried to wean too quickly as he is starting nursery next week and after 1 week of solids I tried 2 meals a day plus think each time I gave him sweet potato he was getting stomach cramps.

He's starting full days at nursery on Monday and now he's missed all his settling in visits that were booked this week

OP posts:

handlemecarefully · 16/03/2005 12:08

Ummm you've got a problem if he won't take it (water / diarolyte)from a bottle either....

Have you tried flavouring it with ribena? It might work (but equally, I accept that it might not). It does the trick for my 11 month old.

Bathmummy's post about short term secondary lactose intolerance following a tummy bug is spot on. You could try acidophillus powder from a health shop - helps restore the natural gut 'flora and fauna' (don't think that is the proper term, but you know what I mean)

handlemecarefully · 16/03/2005 12:52

here is a link on lactose intolerance. If you scroll down right to the bottom it explains about temporary lactose intolerance secondary to gastrointestinal infection

lactose intolerance

Original poster

Distracted · 17/03/2005 09:37

Thanks v. much for the tips. Have to say I do know about secondary temporary lactose intolerance as my dd had it after gastroenteritis at 6 months old. She really did have a bug - vomitting and diarrhoea and was v. unwell, but she had been weaned for 2 months and was very used to drinking water (it was a hot summer too and she had drunk water in addition to milk even before weaning). With her I could starve her for 24 hours and just give her diarolyte, which she did drink. She did develop lactose intolerance though, but there seemed to be a threshold with her and she could still drink formula, but if she also ate any dairy products then she had diarrhoea, so we didn't have any problems with the formula thank goodness!

I am wondering what on earth I'm going to do with ds though as he's still on half strength milk and has been now for 4 days and I just wonder how long I can do that. He feels like he's already lost weight, although I'm probably just imagining it (partly I expect because I've switched back to disposable nappies from cloth until his diarrhoea goes).

Feels like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place really as I think he probably needs more food (he's always desperate for his bottle and had to go back to 3 hourly feeding yesterday when he is used to 4 hourly), but also think that even the half strength milk is probably giving him stomach cramps

Anyway will also go and look at your link you kindly gave me for lactose intolerance now.

(The ribena tip - I have got blackcurrant flavoured diarolyte and he doesn't hate it, will have a few sips, but then just cries for milk)

OP posts:

sleepymami · 30/01/2008 23:26

hi there, was wondering if anyone had any advice as my 10 month old son was sick last night then had 7 really horrible and very watery nappies all today, he has bearly eaten anything but has had his milk throughout the day and water, What should i do as im really worried

Koolkatt · 13/04/2010 23:36

Can i give a 20 month old dioralyte, she has sickness and diarrhoea now for 2 days now. Been to doctors and all they said was a tummy bug could last for 7-10 days.She wont eat anything and i have to force her to take a drop of squash.Im also getting worried cos all shes doing is sleeping no life in her at all. Whats the best solution please.

Seona1973 · 14/04/2010 08:20

anyone can have dioralyte so it will be fine for a 20 month old

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