A.D. asks from Raleigh, NC on March 05, 2010
Toddler Struggling to Get over Loose Stool from Stomach Flu
Hi, Moms. I have a wonderful 21-month old son who got the stomach flu when it went through our household 3 weeks ago. He got over the vomiting quickly but 3 weeks later is still having very loose stools. I took him to the doctor and they just said that it can take a while for him to get back on track. We gave him Flourastor and I give him yogurt daily...just wondering if other parents dealt with the same after a stomach flu and have any advice as to when he might become more regular. I feel bad for the little guy - he's constantly fighting diaper rash and I'm having to change his diapers and his clothing all the time! He's not dehydrated but is ravenously hungry all the time since his bowels are moving so quickly. Thanks for any advice you might have.
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H.S. answers from Detroit on March 05, 2010
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K.M. answers from Boston on March 05, 2010
It does take a long time to repopulate the gut!
Make sure the Florastor or whatever is mixed with cold foods, not warm, that can make it less effective...make sure it's not expired/has been stored properly, Culturelle is another brand, get another pack and alternate?
Make sure you don't have more than one thing going on in that rash (like yeast)....dry off well before putting on creams, zinc stuff is important...
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J.S. answers from Chicago on March 05, 2010
In addition to the yogurt, try feeding him Bananas, Rice, Apples & Toast aka The BRAT diet. More fiber will firm up his stools.
I hope your little guy gets well soon!
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H.S. answers from Detroit on March 05, 2010
Ask his doctor if he's old enough for pediatric Imodium; my daughter gets like that from time to time, she's almost 3. As for the rash, try A&D Ointment, they make one specifically for diaper rash and it works better than Desitin. Good luck.
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D.G. answers from Raleigh on March 06, 2010
We have a 21/2 year old that had the EXACT same problem. It lasted for almost 2 months. Like you, I tried all kinds of probiotics, homemade yoghurt, etc. In the end, our pediatrician said to completely eliminate fruit juice for at least 4 days. We didn't give him a lot of fruit juice, and we always diluted it, but that did the trick. Within a couple days the loose stool was gone.
Good luck!
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R.M. answers from Nashville on March 05, 2010
I use fruits to help regulate my son. Whenever he has loose stools, I feed him fruits that will constipate him (not to the point where he gets constipated though) and when they are too hard, I give him the ones that will loosen it. I go back and forth all the time. Even when he is regular, i try to make sure I balance them out. I used this website to get my info about which fruits to feed and which to avoid, it has been very informative. The way I remember the fruits to avoid for diarrhea is that the fruits that start with P are the ones that make you poop. P for Poop Fruits. Gross and silly, but easy to remember. I also avoid raisins and give more apples and bananas. You can give him oatmeal and rice too. The BRATT diet is a good rule of thumb, even if he isn't having active diarrhea- bananas, rice, apples/applesauce, toast, and tea. Anyway, hope the website helps and he feels better soon.
http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/feeding-a-baby-...
A.B. answers from Chicago on March 05, 2010
Try Cheerios the helped my son at 17months.
-A. B.
Proud Member of Internet Ceo Moms working from home
J.M. answers from Boston on March 05, 2010
I won't repeat the advice on the food, but a tip my pedi just gave me for the diaper rash is to put a little maloxx right on his tush! Use a cotton ball and dab it on. Diahrrea is really acidic, and the maloxx will help counter it. Good luck.
L.S. answers from Jacksonville on March 06, 2010
it came through our house also about 1 month ago. My daughter and son continued to have diahhrea two weeks later. Sometimes, my 6 yr old would wake up in the middle of the night pooping. Both ended up on antibiotics - zpack. After the first dose, poops were back to normal. It must be bacterial. I would go back to the drs.
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