My baby is 19 months old. It is now halfway through April and he’s been having diarrhea since the end of January. I’ve taken him to the pediatrician, who initially thought it was a leftover from a bad cold/sinus infection for which my baby was given antibiotics. He told me to keep him off milk and fruit juice as it could continue to irritate the already irritated colon. Ok. Did that. The diarrhea didn’t go away so I went back. They didn’t know what to do, so they put him on Florastor, which is a probiotic designed to make good bacteria grow back in the colon. It helped a little, in the since that my baby’s stools quit being complete liquid and had a tad bit of substance to it. Yet the stools remained very soft. They referred him to a pediatric gastroenterologist.The pedi gastro is far too concerned with asking his pre-set list of questions to listen to anything I say. He maintains that the day school my baby attends in the morning is lying to me about not feeding him fruit juice that they don’t care, it’s cheap and the kids like it. I trust my baby’s teacher — she has kids my baby’s age and I talk to her frequently about my baby’s problem. She also has to closely watch two kids in my baby’s class for very bad allergies to milk and peanuts. The pedi gastro will not entertain the idea that my baby’s diarrhea is coming from another problem. He says it’s toddler diarrhea which some toddlers get because they cannot digest fructose. If my baby has been having fruit juice since he was about 8 months old and eating table food since 13 months old, why would he suddenly develop a problem with fructose at 16 months old? I don’t know what to do to help my baby. This weekend his stool has been watery again. For some reababy it turned a bluish green and I can easily identify solid food that has not been digested in it. Most people think this will be something he will outgrow (if it truly is toddler’s diarrhea) by age 3. My baby mostly drinks water and some whole milk. He does get sweets on occasion, but as far as I can tell it’s stuff with regular sugar and not fructose. Any ideas what his problem might be or what action I should take?
I would seek a second opinion and I would not rule out what the gastroenterologist said. Ask the teacher to make a journal of what your baby eats and drinks, what time and how much. Do the same at home and the next time you go to see the pediatrician or specialist you take all the information with you. I would also ask about the possibility of contaminated water somewhere. My sisters kids all had diarrhea for the longest time until she took them to the dr. It turns out where she lives at the water was contaminated. The utility company was notified more tests confirmed it and they treated the system. Ask if any other kids are having diarrhea problems at the daycare as well. Something can be going on and be passed around.Milk and peanut allergies can be considered dangerous and most daycare centers are required to adhere by certain rules especially with peanut allergies. With your baby’s situation it may not be taken as seriously, unfortunately.Like with my oldest baby (7) I have specifically asked at his school that he not be given any snacks or drinks with red dye in them yet I have had him tell me he has received certain things. It is though in the sense that diarrhea has the tendency to cause dehydration. Have any drinks been recommended for your baby and specific diet? Foods with fiber is the best to get his stools solid again like the cereal bar, cereal with fiber as a snack instead of little debbies, peanut butter crackers. Right now I would cut out as much sweets as possible.There is a lot to think about and I wouldn’t hesitate to do some investigating and get a second opinion.
You mentioned what he drinks but what is his diet like? Make sure he is getting plenty of foods that are high in fiber to help with the diarrhea. You can also try plain yogurt. Good luck!
