Health Tips

Q1: How often should my child have a poo poo?

A: In first week of life, it is common for most babies to have >4 bowel movements each day.
In the first 3 months, some babies have >2 bowel movements each day.
By age 2, most children have at least 1 bowel movement each day.
Every child is different, the above information is just for reference. Please refer to your healthcare professionals if you have any doubts.

Q2: How to know if my child is having diarrhoea?

A: Babies can have more than 2 soft or liquid stools per day. Diarrhoea happens when your baby is having more runny and watery stool and more frequent than normal days.
For children with diarrhoea usually will have more than 3 watery bowel movements.

Q3: What are the common causes of diarrhoea in children?

A: Virus, bacteria, food poisoning, side effect of antibiotics and milk intolerance.

Q4: What should my child eat and drink during diarrhoea?

A: If you suspect you baby is having milk intolerance, seek advice from healthcare professionals and consider changing to alternative. Babies under 6 months should only drink milk.
For children, encourage to drink lots of water, best with oral rehydration salts. Avoid fruit juices, soft drinks or any drinks with high sugar, they make diarrhoea worse. Eat a normal meal, but avoid spicy and oily foods.
Depending on age group. yogurts and probiotics are encouraged.

Q5: How should I treat my child with diarrhoea?

A: In most cases, diarrhoea in children is self-limiting. They will recover with just rest and with enough hydration. Speak to your doctors or pharmacists for recommendation of a suitable anti diarrhoea medication.

HOWEVER, do seek immediate medical attention if your child:

1. is less than 12 months and do not drink for more than a few hours.
2. has bloody stool
3. inactive or unresponsive
4. has diarrhoea for more than 7 days or vomiting for more than 2 days
5. has bad stomachache
6. associated with fever or rashes on body
7. signs of dehydration: dry mouth, no wet diapers for 4 to 6 hours in babies and young children, or 6 to 8 hours in older children, Eyes and or soft spot on head appear sunken, crying with no tears.

Reference:

Uptodate.com. (2018). Patient education: Diarrhea in children (The Basics). [online] Available at: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/diarrhea-in-children-the-basics.

Image credit:

1. https://www.vietnammedicalpractice.com/uploads/news/_GIANG/NEWS/maxresdefault.jpg
2. https://cdn.firstcrycdn.com/2017/12/243863806-H.jpg

In collaboration with Dosing Health.

Written by

Lim Kean Ping