My just turned 2 year old son has been having a lot of loose stool for the last almost 2 weeks. It isn't usually watery but it is 3+ times a day where his norm is 1-2 times a day. He hasn't had much other symptoms. He threw up twice one day but that was 2 weeks ago or more and he seemed fine otherwise. He also hasn't been eating very much the last couple days. I know about the brat diet and have been giving him banana's, applesauce, toast, crackers. He is a everything dairy nut so I still let him have some of that if he will eat it. What could be causing this? Maybe just a virus that needs to work itself out. Also should I try to limit his dairy for a few days and see if it helps? Thanks!
He was better yesterday, just went 1 time that was loose but not watery. Hopefully it is going away! Thanks for confirming what I was thinking. Not sure about the teething thing, he has been having his hands in his mouth a bit more so its possible. I'm too chicken to put my hand in there and check! :)
My daughter would get that way every once and a while. I read something in the What to Expect Toddler Years book called Toddler Tummy. That seemed to fit the bill for what was going on.
Bellin Ask-a-Nurse is also a good resource if you are unsure whether or not this is an issue that needs to be discussed with your ped. It's a free telephone consult. I like taking advantage of this service if I'm not sure of the severity of the situation. ###-###-#### if you're interested. Hope it helps!
My 18 month old had loose stools for 2 weeks and we weren't sure what was going on...he was fine otherwise. Good appetite, drank, sort of crabby, but otherwise normal. My other son nor the kids at daycare got sick, so it had to be something with him. Turns out he had a double ear infection, so that might be something to check out. Good luck.
Give him some digestive enzymes. His tummy just needs a little help and this good bacteria usually does the trick.
The product that works best for my kids (and adults as well) is Bio-Culture 2000 L. Salivarius.
Have you checked in his mouth? He could be cutting teeth!
I asked this same question last month and got some great responses. You might wat to look it up and read some of the responses I got.
Anyway, I ended up giving up his dairy for 2 weeks, tried probiotics, tried yogurt. Then one day it just went away. This was after going back on dairy and having a normal diet again, since it wasn't working.
I had taken him to the doctor and got a stool sample and everything was just fine. The doc said he probably just had a virus and if that was the case their was no meds to make it better, he just had to ride it out. He said it is very common this time of year.
Hi A K
As an RN you've covered most of the bases. Any chance you're around pets where he could have picked up a bug- then you'll want to bring him in for check on that.
Do you have access to acidophilus - good stuff-or can you get active cultures in him.
He might have gotten overgrown with bad bacteria and not replenishing with good so his GI is still a mess.
Good luck and keep him hydrated.
About me- 48 yo wellness coach, med. prof., and mom to 7 yo twin girls
B. j
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Dairy actually makes a child more constipated or have "harder/solid" stools. So that is more then likely not the cause for watery stools.
If he is still wet his diaper or peeing in the potty enough ever day he is morethenlikely fine. It may just be the change of diet and getting over the virus.
If you are still concerned about it give your nurse/doc hotline a call and ask them... they can help you sort through if this is "normal" or not in your son's case.
Sounds exactly like what my 20 month son just got over! The doctor said it's a virus (she's seen a lot of it in the last month). It took about a week and a half - to two weeks. Make sure he's hydrated -- if it's the same thing, then you're almost done.
M
