Toddler diarrhoea - how long does it last?

[PippinStar]

I’m wondering if anyone here experienced toddler’s diarrhoea (as in the diagnosis, not just a toddler with a bug or something). It’s looking like my 2.5 year old has it (doctor doesn’t think it’s anything else) - loose, smelly stools 3 times a day, maybe 2-3 days a week. It’s been going on for a month now - just started one day out of the blue.

I think grapes and raisins are a trigger, but otherwise I’m not sure. Diet seems good in terms of fiber and fat, no fruit juice etc.

For those of you whose toddlers had it, how long did it last? It’s just so hard to deal with - it can happen anywhere, it often soaks through his clothes, and I often have to change too after nappy changes.

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Have you been told to give less fibre and more fat?
That's what I've seen given in advice in the past although haven't had to deal with it before

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.wsh.nhs.uk/CMS-Documents/Patient-leaflets/PaediatricDepartment/6293-1-Dietary-management-of-toddler-diarrhoea.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiezZzwk_7xAhWITxUIHU6aCOQQFjAKegQIHBAC&usg=AOvVaw1oUNXC-KVwEJeJYmjDlB_N" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.wsh.nhs.uk/CMS-Documents/Patient-leaflets/PaediatricDepartment/6293-1-Dietary-management-of-toddler-diarrhoea.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiezZzwk_7xAhWITxUIHU6aCOQQFjAKegQIHBAC&usg=AOvVaw1oUNXC-KVwEJeJYmjDlB_N

This is a link to a leaflet about managing it

Thanks @dementedpixie - yes, that’s what I’ve been reading too. I think we’re doing okay on that front. He definitely gets enough good fats, but I might have to try reducing the fiber a little more to see if that helps.

I don’t really understand how it just started out of the blue when his diet etc hadn’t changed!

Totally different outcome here, but DD was allergic to milk.

I was told by G.Ps for months,

The rash was heat/viral.

The constant upset tummy was toddler diarrhoea.

The wheezing was asthma.

The green snot runny nose was a cold.

Luckily she has a delayed reaction, so not until 5-6 hrs after milk. I think it is called Non IgE, so no instant anaphalxis thank goodness.

She tolerates it in yoghurt, & food, just drinking it sets eveeything off.

I thought I would mention it, in case you have increased milk intake recently?

I took DD off milk & within 2 weeks, she was a changed child!

That leaflet is helpful - thanks! So the only cereals he will eat are weetabix and porridge. And his favourite vegetable is sweetcorn, plus he loves baked beans. Basically the entire “foods to limit” list - we’re doomed 🙈

Ooohhh Weetabix.

My erm 'friend' has awful awful diarrhoea every morning after Weetabix.

She has Cornflakes now

Thanks @Flak - he has CMPA so dairy free since 12 weeks old. I did consider soy being an issue but I didn’t give him any for the past two days and today is one of the bad days whereas the previous 5 days were good.

I’m glad you figured out things for your DD

I sympathise as my DS had this.

Now at 5.5 he has mostly grown out of it, although since he was reliably toilet trained (just after 3) it has been a lot easier to manage as he's great at getting to the toilet. When they're in nappies it's really yuck though.

We cut down fruit/smoothies etc a lot, stopped with brown bread and fibre-rich cereals, and he basically ate a lot of white bread and white pasta at mealtimes from ages of about 2 to 4. We gave him chewy vitamins to help keeps his nutrients up. It didn't affect his eating habits longer term, he eats everything now including plenty fruit and veg.

Thanks @OpenTheBloodyWindow … I’m laughing at your username as that’s how I feel today after a couple of bad nappies!

Glad your DS is nearly through with it. It must have been stressful dealing with it for so long. I was hoping it would only last a few months! I can’t wait for mine to be toilet trained but he’s not ready at all yet.

I think I’ll have to do similarly with the diet - I thought we had reduced his fibre intake but looks like it needs to be much lower.

Just an update for anyone who finds this thread… I cut out grapes, raisins, and weetabix from his diet and that’s all it took. No toddler diarrhea in almost 3 weeks! Thanks everyone for your advice too - it’s much appreciated.