Teething and diarrhoea, linked???

[Newbiemum76]

My DS is 6 months old, last night he’s had 4 very smelly watery poos in the space of 3 hours and another one this morning. They’ve all been an orange colour (tmi I know!) but yesterday he wolfed his carrot purée on toast and the rest of the carrot purée from the bowl so I think that explains the colour!
He’s really dribbling and is chewing everything he can get his mouth round today - I phoned the doctors this morning as was worried about dehydration as he doesn’t seem to want his bottle just wants to bite the teat! Just waiting for a call back from them today.
Seems fine in himself this morning, wiggling around, laughing etc. Was unsettled in the night though waking up crying and then started the poos.

Could this be teething?? He usually poos every other day so 5 watery poos since 2am is very unlike him as is pooing in the night, he’s never done that until last night. I’m a first time mum so really not sure, I’ve heard the link between teething and diarrhoea is a myth so I don’t know!

Anyone else experienced this? I appreciate its so close to Christmas so am not expecting replies but any advice would be nice!

thanks!!

Should add, he’s been teething since 4 months but no teeth have come through, his ‘fangs’ (never know the proper name for teeth!) are starting to show every so slightly under the gum but they’ve been like that for a few weeks now so no new teeth/showing

It's the excess saliva in the mouth from
The teething that they swallow and causes the diarrhoea.

Yes...I still remember those nappies 20 years later!!

NHS says there’s no evidence that teething causes diarrhoea.

also why would swallowing saliva cause it - you don’t get diarrhoea from drinking liquids.

Yes! Teething means terrible nappies. They have a very distinctive smell too.

The official line from the NHS is that it doesn't cause diarrhoea yet every parent I know has experienced this.

Apparently scientifically there is no basis for this but my personal experience is that nappies get horrendous when teething

Yes , my kids are adults and like a pp you never forget those teething nappies. Stock up up on sudocreme to prevent nappy rash.

usually the first teeth to break through are lower incisors.

NHS can say what it wants. 2 kids in I'm 100% certain there's a direct correlation.

Runny nappies and nappy rash always happens when they're teething. Red cheeks and hands in mouth, dribbling etc all at the same time.

Thank you everyone! He seems fine himself, he’s extra dribbley today and very red cheeks so think it must be his teeth! Doctors have just said to keep up with fluids.

@fortifiedwithtea yes I thought it’s usually the bottom but it’s definitely his top fangs that are starting to show, his gums are hard on the bottom though but no teeth yet!

Saliva is acidic (hence the drool rash) so the poops get bad, and can really hurt the skin. Barrier cream at every change in anticipation of the next poop!

@cupofdecaf NHS can say what it wants. 2 kids in I'm 100% certain there's a direct correlation

hands down my favourite ever mumsnet comment. Stuff experts and medical science you’ve had two kids and have an anecdotal story. And you don’t even get the difference between correlation and causation. Which makes it even funnier!

hasn’t happened to either of my children and the PH of saliva is fairly neutral not acidic or alkaline.

im not denying loads of you have had children that have teethed and had diarrhoea but this is simply correlation and not causation .

No need to be mean. I fully understand correlation and causation. I have 2 masters degrees in social sciences.

It's my experience.

I've also had it confirmed by a consultant paediatrician.

As a retired doctor, I can think of a perfectly reasonable explanation for why teething children might develop diarrhoea - they bite and chew on anything they can reach, including potentially infected grubby objects.
My own two DC (now in their thirties) used to produce vile nappies whenever they were teething. And it certainly wasn’t regarded as unusual at the time, among my colleagues and friends.

If you have masters in social sciences I’d hope you were a little more analytical when it comes to evidence, correlation, causation and anecdotes.

the Op shouldn’t just ignore her child having diarrhoea as it’s ‘due to teething’. It’s most likely absolutely nothing but to paint false truths as facts is irresponsible

It’s good to know most of you had babies that had similar style nappies when teething! They’ve calmed down a lot over the day, hoping he doesn’t have any more overnight and gets a decent nights sleep (for both our sakes!)

Officially there has never been a link found but I’ve always noticed it both in my own kids plus kids I’ve looked after. However, I wonder if the link is caused by things like calpol being given for the pain plus the child might be eating differently/having more milk rather than food because their mouth hurts?

@Kanaloa yeah maybe! for his teething pain in the day he tends to manage with teething toys, dummies, chewing his own hands etc and we tend to give him calpol before bed as he always seems to be in more pain at night, (I put it down to less distractions) but he’s only just started weaning so has the same amount of bottles as he did before weaning.

But as @Babdoc points out, he will literally put anything in his mouth now, even the tv remote which is probably covered in germs! So it could be something he’s picked up that way.

@Shadope no I’m not ignoring his diarrhoea at all, I had been told by friends that it could be linked to his teething so just wanted some other opinions if others had been in the same predicament. The doctor wasn’t concerned as long as he’s keeping up his fluids and he’s been fine in himself most of the day aside from a few grumbles, so I don’t think he’s poorly with it, but it’s good to get others views when they’ve been in similar situations 🙂

😂this thread is very funny.

I just came to add that I misread your title as ‘teaching’ instead of teething and thought ‘that’s a new one on me!’ Funnier than the standard teacher bashing anyway.

@AppleKatie I am a teacher funnily enough! Can’t confirm whether the profession is linked to the runny poos though 😂

@Newbiemum76 sorry I wasn’t accusing g you of ignoring it. Just reminding others there’s never been an established link so they should t state it as fact.

also I found that EVERYTHING was put down to teething. Mine didn’t cut a tooth until 11 months old but the amount of times I got told her illness/ grizzliness was teething drove me mad. Babies put things in their mouths it doesn’t mean they’re teething. It’s how they navigate the world.

I don’t remember an increase in frequency so perhaps not technically diarrhoea but definitely a strong vinegar smell when teething plus a change in consistency.