Nutrition for diarrhea in a child. Correct diet for diarrhea in children Basic principles of diet for diarrhea

Diet problems and ways to solve them

The diet for diarrhea in children is designed to solve only three, but very important tasks:

  • replenish fluid and salt losses in the body;
  • minimize the load on the gastrointestinal tract;
  • prevent complications.

A child with diarrhea loses a lot of fluid and microelements. The body is already weak, with reduced immunity. Nutrient deficiency immediately affects your overall condition. That is why, with vomiting and diarrhea, the child becomes weak, dizzy, the temperature drops or rises, and he becomes more irritable and tearful.

In this case, the diet for diarrhea is aimed not only at restoring the loss of fluids and salts, but also at preventing further leaching of nutrients. For this purpose, children are given solutions Regidron, Gastrolit, Oralit, Humana, Electrolyte. You need to take them like this: dissolve one sachet of the product in 1 liter of warm boiled water. The child is given small portions of the product - 5-15-30 ml every 10-20 minutes, depending on age and symptoms.

Important! To determine the single dose of the solution and the duration of the pause between drinks, you should consult a doctor

Treatment is not limited to taking solutions. To speed up the process of restoring the water-salt balance, the baby can be given to drink infusions of raisins, chamomile, blueberries or rosehips, carrots, and rice infusions; decoction of dried fruits; green unsweetened tea, alkaline still mineral water. Read on to learn how to prepare them.

Saline solutions are effective for restoring water-salt balance. To prepare them, add half a teaspoon of salt and baking soda and one tablespoon of sugar to 1 liter of boiled warm water. Second option: add 0.5 teaspoon of salt to 1 liter of warm boiled water, a banana softened to the consistency of pulp, and 2 tablespoons of sugar. If your child is not allergic to citrus fruits, you can add juice from 2 grapefruits or oranges instead of a banana.

Take solutions of 10-30 ml twice a day.

Features of nutrition for diarrhea in infants


For diarrhea in infants, the number of feedings is increased, while reducing the single dose of breast milk. The baby is placed on the breast for 5-10 minutes. In this case, breast milk is more effective than medications. All this is due to the composition of mother's milk. It includes nutrients such as lactoferrin, lysozyme, immunoglobulin A, interferon. They not only provide the growing body with the necessary micro- and macroelements, but also strengthen the immune system.

For bottle-fed babies, the number of feedings is increased and the portions of formula are halved. Doctors can prescribe therapeutic adapted fermented milk mixtures (“Nan fermented milk”, “Gallia Lactofidus”), and for intestinal infections - hydrolyzed mixtures (“Frisopep”, “Nutrilon Pepsi TSC”, etc.).

Important! If a child receives complementary foods, they should not give them if they have diarrhea. Babies are fed only breast milk or medicinal fermented milk mixture. After consulting a doctor, complementary feeding is gradually resumed after a few days.

Diet for children from 1 year

During the first two days of illness, the number of feedings is increased by 1-2 meals, while portions are reduced. If the child is not hungry, there is no need to force him to eat. The diet for vomiting is based on the same principle. If the disease progresses, 1-2 meals are skipped and portions are halved. When the situation stabilizes, portion sizes gradually increase.

During the first two days after the diarrhea stops, the child is fed slimy vegetable soups with the addition of rice, buckwheat or oatmeal, and boiled porridge in water without oil.

For children under 2 years of age, soups should be ground until smooth before use.

To restore the intestinal microflora, children are given fermented milk products: biokefir, lactonia, acidophilus, narine. The main requirements for fermented milk products are a fat content of no more than 2.5% and the absence of any additives (sugar, fruit filler).

On the second day, white bread croutons and biscuits are introduced into the menu.

On the third day, you can feed your baby banana puree, low-fat cottage cheese, and baked apples.

On the fourth day, the diet includes dishes made from minced meat, chicken, veal or turkey: cutlets, meatballs, meatballs, steam omelet. For at least a week after diarrhea, the following are excluded from the menu:

  • fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, cream;
  • fermented baked milk, milk, juices, legumes, mushrooms;
  • rye bread and confectionery, baked goods;
  • carbonated drinks, pickled, smoked, fried foods, soups in strong broths.

Permitted and prohibited products

  • homemade crackers and white bread (preferably yesterday's bread);
  • soups with a weak broth (the grains in them should be well boiled);
  • boiled porridge in water with a slimy consistency;
  • low-fat poultry, meat and fish (steamed cutlets, soufflé, pieces);
  • chicken eggs (boiled or steamed omelet);
  • fresh mashed cottage cheese, fresh (mashed) and baked apples;
  • unsweetened compotes and jelly, unsweetened and weak black tea, dry cookies or sushi.

Prohibited products include:

  • fresh fruits, berries and juices;
  • pasta, rich bakery products;
  • poultry, fish and fatty meats;
  • canned and smoked foods, carbonated drinks;
  • millet, legumes, strong broths;
  • dairy products and whole milk, sweets.

Folk remedies for diarrhea


Options for preparing decoctions for childhood diarrhea:

  • Rice. Add two teaspoons of rice pre-soaked in cold boiled water to half a liter of water. While stirring, keep the mixture on the fire for 50 minutes. The finished broth is cooled to room temperature and filtered through cheesecloth or a sieve. Adults take 150 ml of rice water every three hours, children - from 50 to 100 ml three to four times a day.
  • Pomegranate. Grind the dry peels in a mortar or coffee grinder. Pour a teaspoon of powder into a glass of boiling water and cook in a water bath for 15 minutes. Leave the finished broth for about 40 minutes and take a teaspoon four times a day until the stool returns to normal. Take the decoction for at least two days.

Doctor's advice. Children should be given pomegranate decoction only after consultation with the pediatrician, since pomegranate is a potential allergen. The serving of the decoction should not exceed half a teaspoon three times a day

  • Bilberry. To prepare jelly, add 300 ml of water, a teaspoon of starch and sugar to taste to a tablespoon of blueberries. It is prepared like regular jelly, there are no restrictions on its use.

To prepare the decoction, add 40 g of dry blueberries to a glass of water and cook for 20 minutes over low heat. The decoction is filtered and taken half a glass three times a day.

To prepare blueberry tea, add 5 teaspoons of dried blueberries to half a liter of cold water, bring to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes. The broth is filtered and given a cup three times a day.

  • From oak bark. For children it is used only as an enema. To prepare, mix one tablespoon of chamomile and oak bark, pour half a liter of boiling water over the mixture and leave in a thermos for 30 minutes. The warm solution prepared in this way is filtered, ten drops of valerian are added to it and an enema is given.

Every mother at least once in her life has encountered such a problem as diarrhea in a child. This condition is very unfavorable for the baby’s body. Due to severe loss of fluid, the child is deprived of many salts and microelements necessary for life. For babies who have diarrhea, a special diet is required.

Why does diarrhea occur in children?

The most common cause of diarrhea in children is viral diarrhea. Frequent bowel movements are not a disease. This is just one manifestation of many diseases. Often it can be a symptom of an imbalance of beneficial intestinal microflora - dysbiosis. This problem can also arise as a result of exacerbation of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (for example, colitis or enteritis).

Acute intestinal infections, when developing, can also cause diarrhea in a child. Often children aged 2-3 years get sick this way. They can become infected in a kindergarten or nursery. These infections are otherwise called “diseases of dirty hands.” If a child has poor hygiene, he can easily get an infection after playing outside. Many young children forget to wash their hands. Sitting down at the table, they introduce infection into the body and quickly get sick.

The cause of infection may be food poisoning. It can be caused by various bacteria and viruses. Chemical poisoning occurs when a child eats or drinks the wrong thing. Often, out of curiosity, kids can taste grandma's pills or mother's cream. This is very dangerous, in such cases, mandatory medical assistance is required!

Very often, for all the various reasons that led to diseases, babies may develop diarrhea. This is a protective response of the body. It tries to get rid of dangerous toxins that can cause harm.

Why is it dangerous?

Any loose stool carries a lot of fluid with it. After some time, the body does not have enough of it. This is how symptoms of dehydration appear. These include:

  • extreme thirst
  • dry lips;
  • sagging skin;
  • pronounced weakness.

A dehydrated child appears pale. He has practically no strength. He tries to rest more, wants to sleep. If the signs of dehydration are accompanied by symptoms of intoxication, the child begins to be capricious. He has a severe headache and his body temperature rises.

With diarrhea, children are lethargic and do not play with toys. Usually they just lie in the crib. Sometimes they may draw their legs in or lie on one side. More often, the child lies on the “healthy” side, since turning over to the “sick” side causes him severe pain.

In case of mild disorders, defecation is carried out up to 3-4 times a day, in severe cases - more than 10-12 times. Such loss of fluid, along with electrolytes and vitamins, is a heavy blow for a small organism. If timely treatment is not started, the baby may lose consciousness or fall into a coma.

What to feed your baby?

If diarrhea worsens, the mother should call the local pediatrician. The doctor will examine the child and determine what is causing the deterioration in his condition.

Diarrhea in infants is a very dangerous sign. A sick baby must be carefully examined.

The ideal food for a baby is mother's milk. Under no circumstances should you give up breastfeeding. It forms the child’s passive immunity. Insufficient supply of nutrients has a bad effect on the growth and development of the baby. If you have diarrhea, your mother should also analyze her diet. It is quite possible that the day before she ate some food that provoked such a reaction in the baby.

If diarrhea occurs in a breastfed baby, it is worth reducing the volume of milk at a time. There is a second method. In this case, the number of feedings per day is reduced by 20%. You can give your child clean boiled water. Cow's milk is not worth replenishing the fluid deficiency in the baby's body.

Food for children over 1 year old

A therapeutic diet for children aged 1 year or more should be compiled according to the following principles:

  • Daily menu divided into several meals (with the exception of harmful foods). You need to feed your baby at the same time, excluding skips.
  • Mandatory inclusion of various cereals in the diet. Porridges have excellent antidiarrheal properties. They are very nutritious, quickly fill you up, and leave you feeling full for a long time. Give preference not to whole grains, but to milled flakes. They are much easier to digest, providing the child’s body with energy. You can safely choose buckwheat, oatmeal and rice flakes. They should be cooked in water, without milk.
  • After 3-4 days you can expand the diet. Add pureed vegetable purees or heavily boiled and chopped vegetables. An excellent side dish would be mashed potatoes or grated carrots. It is better to avoid beets for a while. It can activate intestinal motility, increasing diarrhea.
  • The menu must include protein products. For kids, you can cook meatballs or meatballs. They are best made steamed or in a slow cooker. Creamy or tomato sauces are prohibited. They can provoke increased diarrhea, as well as heartburn in the child. Choose meat products that are quickly digested by the child's body. It could be a turkey or a rabbit. Regular chicken is perfect.
  • Drinking regime is probably the most important point that must always be observed. Losing a huge amount of fluid, the baby’s body quickly becomes depleted. You need to constantly replenish your water balance. Give your baby a drink every hour. This will significantly reduce the symptoms of dehydration.
  • Avoid all foods that may worsen diarrhea. Watch what your child eats carefully. Usually during this period children refuse to eat. They can be capricious and beg for “goodies.” You should not give in to provocations! Any error in the therapeutic diet can significantly worsen the baby’s condition and hinder his recovery.

Products that are taboo on the menu

In the first hours after the onset of diarrhea, there is no need to give the child foods that activate intestinal function. This can increase loose stools and worsen the baby's condition. . Foods to avoid for diarrhea in children include:

  • Cabbage in any form (boiled, stewed). Sauerkraut is also strictly prohibited.
  • Legumes. Being a source of vegetable protein, they strongly provoke gas formation in the intestines. The inflamed wall stretches, which greatly increases the pain syndrome. The child begins to cry. The abdomen is inflated, any touch to it causes pain.
  • Carbonated sweet drinks. The carbon dioxide they contain has a negative effect on the walls of the gastrointestinal tract. In contact with the delicate wall of the stomach, it greatly stretches and damages it.
  • Mushrooms. Usually mothers add them to soup. Children with diarrhea should absolutely not eat mushrooms! They have too much chitin. This substance is not absorbed and passes through the intestines. Mushrooms increase perilstatics, which significantly worsens the situation.
  • Crackers, chips, snacks. They contain a huge amount of artificial additives and spices.
  • Milk. Drinking undiluted milk provokes increased movement of food through the intestines. This product significantly enhances all fermentation reactions.
  • Fatty, smoked and fried foods. They are poorly absorbed by the body and cause a feeling of heaviness. After consuming such products, the processes of decay in the intestines intensify.
  • Tomatoes. They contain a large amount of acid. They can have a detrimental effect on the stomach and cause exacerbation of gastritis. This also increases diarrhea.

What drinks can be given to children to stop diarrhea?

During diarrhea, it is very important to ensure adequate fluid replacement. Infants should be fed with boiled water cooled to room temperature.

For older children, different drinks can be used. Fluid deficiency is well compensated by:

  • Weak black tea. The tannins contained in the drink have an inhibitory effect, stopping diarrhea. This tea has a strengthening effect.
  • Rosehip decoction. It contains a significant amount of vitamin C. This drink compensates for some of the microelements removed from the body. It helps to quickly restore and strengthen the child’s immunity.
  • Chamomile tea. This is an excellent antiseptic for any diarrhea. This tea helps destroy pathogenic bacteria that cause diarrhea.
  • Dried fruit compote. They contain a large number of various microelements and vitamins: potassium, magnesium, ascorbic acid, silicon. These substances help stimulate the body's defenses, fight disease and replenish useful minerals.
  • Morse made from different berries. You can choose any options. Blueberry juice contains a huge amount of vitamin A, which helps cope with diarrhea. Blueberries have a fixing effect. This is a tasty and healthy drink.
  • Mineral healing water. If you are going to give it to your child, first release the gas from it. Drinking mineral water is a therapeutic procedure. Drinking it in bottles is strictly prohibited. Small children under 5 years of age are prescribed up to ¼ glass 3 times a day (before meals). Before choosing bottled mineral water, you should consult your doctor.

It is important to note that all ready-made packaged juices are not the best choice for diarrhea. They contain additional chemical additives that can worsen diarrhea, as well as large amounts of sugar. The introduction of juices should begin 2-3 days after the increase in loose stools. Choose drinks that have astringent properties. It is better to give preference to pear or apple juice made from green apples. They are hypoallergenic and do not have a strong activating effect on intestinal motility.

It is better to avoid coffee and cocoa during an exacerbation. These are too aggressive drinks for an irritated stomach. They are often prepared with milk. Such drinks can provoke the secretion of bile and only increase inflammation.

It is impossible to overestimate the importance of diet and drinking regime during the treatment of diarrhea. You can restore your baby’s strength and normalize stool only with the help of proper nutrition. After the condition has stabilized, you should still undergo a full examination (especially if you have had diarrhea before). Sometimes dangerous chronic intestinal diseases can be hidden behind the mask of diarrhea.

You can learn tips on diet for diarrhea from the video below.

Diarrhea is a stool disorder manifested by a change in its consistency and frequency.

Table of contents:

Causes of diarrhea

The gastrointestinal tract in infants is weak, and its defense mechanisms are not fully developed, so it is very susceptible to low-quality products and other factors.

The most common cause is dysbiosis, that is, an imbalance of microorganisms in the intestines. During the first months, a newborn’s digestion adapts to new conditions and forms a microbiological environment. Any changes in nutrition disrupt the balance of flora and digestive conditions.

Excessive feeding and large amounts of liquid can cause diarrhea and disrupt intestinal function, since it does not have time to process a lot of food.

Babies are very susceptible to viral and bacterial infections, which are combined with diarrhea. In this case, diarrhea is usually combined with other symptoms and a deterioration in the baby’s well-being.

Often, complementary feeding leads to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract. This especially happens with low-quality, high nitrate content or incompletely cooked products.

The congenital absence of enzymes that break down lactose contributes to its accumulation in the lumen and deterioration of water absorption.

In older children, worms living in the intestines irritate the mucous membrane, which increases fluid secretion and wall contraction, contributing to the development of intestinal disorders.

Diarrhea often occurs when drinking large amounts of sweet water, soda and unbalanced foods containing a lot of carbohydrates, but not enough proteins and fats. For example, when a child eats cakes, chocolate, and candies in excess, diarrhea develops due to the retention of sugars in the intestines, while the general condition remains unchanged.

Stress is especially strong and negatively affects intestinal motility. In this case, stool disorder is combined with mild abdominal pain.

Normal stool standards for a child

The amount and nature of feces depends on age:

  • in the first year of life, with artificial nutrition, it has a not too liquid consistency, similar to gruel, brown in color, up to 4 times a day;
  • in a child who is fed milk, the stool is yellowish and bowel movements occur more often - 6 times a day;
  • after 2 years, feces begin to take shape; the number of trips to the potty is no more than 2 times;
  • By the 3rd year, feces become like those of adults.

In any case, there should be no pathological contents - pus, blood or its streaks, particles of undigested food.

Symptoms of lack of fluid

When diarrhea and vomiting continue for a long time, dehydration can develop - loss of a large volume of water.

The main symptom is rare urination, the amount of urine decreases, it becomes rich and dark. The skin becomes dry, its elasticity decreases, and in severe cases, tears may disappear. The child becomes lethargic and inactive.

If such symptoms occur, especially with vomiting, then the diet should include plenty of liquid.

Principles of creating a diet for diarrhea

Food must meet the following conditions:

  • replenishment of lost fluid;
  • you need to start feeding gradually;
  • food should be light and not increase intestinal motility;
  • food must be salted;
  • exclude foods with choleretic properties;
  • eat vegetables and fruits after heat treatment;
  • food and drink should not be too cold or hot.

What to feed if you have an intestinal disorder?

Food should have astringent and enveloping properties and not irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa. At first, you need to feed him porridge - rice or oatmeal cooked in water without additives, you can just add a little sugar. Millet and buckwheat should not be cooked, as they are difficult to digest and absorb.

As your condition improves, you can include grated vegetables in your diet; this will facilitate their absorption and reduce irritation of the mucous membrane. On the third day, you are allowed to make dishes from fish or lean meat, best cooked in a steam bath. Fruits should be limited, except for bananas and apples, the latter should be baked or given peeled. On the fourth day, the menu expands - cottage cheese dishes are allowed.

After the stool has returned to normal and the child begins to feel better, it is allowed to drink fermented milk products. First, a little kefir, and after a week milk.

What should you exclude from your diet if you have diarrhea?

Do not give foods with a pronounced laxative effect. Thus, juices and beets increase gastrointestinal motility and promote water retention in the intestines, so they should be removed from the diet.

It is necessary to exclude raw vegetables and nuts. Do not feed foods that promote fermentation. Also, do not give strong rich soups, hot, spicy or sour dishes.

During diarrhea, especially at the beginning, you should exclude kefir and other dairy drinks, as well as any juices.

Features of infant nutrition

Formula-fed children continue to be fed formula, but after consultation with a doctor, they select another one; as a rule, fermented milk is recommended. For milk-fed infants, everything remains the same.

In both cases, you need to change the infant's feeding regimen. Formulas or milk are given often, but the single portion is reduced, and the number of daily doses will be 4-6 times a day. The main thing is to remember that the child does not need to be overfed, since a large amount of food does not have time to be processed by enzymes and increases intestinal contractions.

If diarrhea occurs during complementary feeding, then you should wait a while. After feeling better, it should be started in the first half of the day, so that violations can be identified in the evening and do not disturb the baby’s sleep.

Even short-term diarrhea in infants can lead to severe fluid loss. To prevent this condition, they are given plenty to drink - for babies under one and a half years old, only boiled water is better, for older ones, tea or compote is allowed.

You need to drink in small sips using a pipette or syringe without a needle. Water should be given after defecation; more precisely, the volume and frequency are determined by the doctor.

Diet for children 2-3 years old

On the first day of illness, you need to limit or eliminate fermented milk products and drink only jelly or weak tea. The next day you can feed him white bread crumbs and water-based porridge. After the second day, you are allowed to eat processed fruits. Apples have a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract. They can be served baked, or peeled, grated and pureed. During the same period, it is useful to feed with cottage cheese, to which it is good to add banana puree. By the fourth day, it is allowed to add meat dishes from lean chicken, for example, meatballs or cutlets, to the diet. Of the cereals, you can give rice and oatmeal for any diarrhea.

We must not forget about water losses, especially in the first day. The child needs to drink more liquid - compotes, tea, herbal decoctions.

Nutrition for older children

The diet should not only replenish lost substances and water, but also act on the cause that caused the malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.

For example, for diarrhea caused by eating sweets and carbonated drinks, the diet should be low in carbohydrates and high in protein and fat. It is necessary to exclude potatoes, reduce the amount of white bread and flour.

The first day is best not to feed anything; this will provide functional rest to the gastrointestinal tract. During this period, you can only drink solutions to restore fluid.

Then you can cook light food - oatmeal. Finely chopped fruits and vegetables in puree form are recommended. For 2-3 days you can prepare dishes from fruits, vegetables and lean meat.

Dairy products with a low fat content are allowed, but it is better to exclude them completely and give them after the condition improves.

After recovery, you can drink whey for 4-6 days; it helps restore the balance of microorganisms. Drink 3 glasses a day, you can add salt for taste. Decoctions of berries - rose hips and blueberries - are also recommended.

To restore lost fluid, it is better to use special solutions rather than water. For example, add a teaspoon of soda, salt and 4 tablespoons of sugar per liter of water. This mixture will replenish lost water and help retain it.

Any diarrhea requires the exclusion of fatty foods, because it stimulates the secretion of bile, which affects the motility of the gastrointestinal tract.

Increased accumulation of gases causes excessive contractions of the intestinal wall and unpleasant pain, so eating legumes is not recommended.

Even with diarrhea with unexpressed general changes, it would be a good idea to consult with your doctor and coordinate your nutrition before using any diet.

Diarrhea in children is not an independent disease; perhaps it is a sign of various pathologies, for example, intestinal infections, poisoning, dysbacteriosis and other diseases.

Based on the severity and additional symptoms, treatment is prescribed, but, regardless of the causes and symptoms, you need to take care of nutrition, and what to feed a child with diarrhea is presented in the article.

The essence of diets for diarrhea

The main task during diarrhea is to reduce stress on the gastrointestinal tract, as well as create a favorable environment in the body for rapid recovery.

When children have diarrhea, a lot of fluid is washed out of the body, and nutrients do not have time to be absorbed by the intestines.

In addition, you need to follow the standard rules that must be used for a therapeutic diet for diarrhea in children:

  1. Restore water-salt balance.
  2. Adjust the diet, which should be fractional and at the same time.
  3. All products used must be easily digestible.
  4. The child’s diet should be created based on the baby’s age.

Now it is necessary to understand each point in more detail in order to help the child during diarrhea.

Normalization of water-salt balance

If you have diarrhea in children, before adjusting your diet, you need to take care not to lead the body to dehydration.

If the child does not have such a symptom as vomiting, then recovery consists of increased consumption of water and other means.

Special solutions are excellent for this:

  1. "Regidron".
  2. "Gastrolit".
  3. "Humana."

They are sold in pharmacies and are available without a prescription, and to prepare it is enough to dissolve 1 packet of the product in a liter of water.

The solution should be given to drink in small portions of 5-30 ml, with an interval of a quarter of an hour between doses.

The dosage depends on how old the child is and the severity of the diarrhea. To determine such parameters, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

In addition to medicinal solutions, other means that can be done at home restore balance. This includes various decoctions from:

  1. Raisins.
  2. Carrots.
  3. Rice.
  4. Rosehip.
  5. Daisies.
  6. Blueberries.

Mineral water, which releases gas before use, helps children recover well; green tea can be prepared without the use of sweeteners.

You can make the solution yourself by adding ¼ tsp to 500 ml of water. salt and soda, as well as ½ tsp. Sahara.

Infant nutrition

For diarrhea in infants, a starvation diet was previously used, but doctors abandoned such therapy, since starvation leads to a lack of nutrients, especially proteins, due to which the child may lose weight, and recovery from diarrhea takes much longer.

Infants who do not vomit with diarrhea will need to continue breastfeeding.

If the baby is fed breast milk, then it can be given, but the frequency of feedings will need to be increased, and the dosage of milk given per feeding will be reduced. Children should be put to the breast for 5-10 minutes.

The advantages of breastfeeding are as follows:

  1. The composition of the milk is ideally balanced for the baby and contains all the beneficial and nutritious substances.
  2. Milk contains many biologically active substances that help get rid of diarrhea.

For children under one year of age who are fed artificial formula, a similar feeding technique can be used. You need to feed often, but the dosage of the finished mixture is halved.

In some situations, when children have an intestinal infection, doctors recommend using hydrolysis mixtures, for example, Frisopep or similar mixtures.

For a one-year-old child or a toddler who has already received complementary foods, if diarrhea occurs, you just need to change the menu. In this case, complementary feeding is excluded, and feeding is carried out with breast milk or formula.

After the doctor's permission, after a couple of days, complementary foods can be reintroduced, but in small doses and the condition can be monitored. It is recommended to feed the child with foods to which there was a normal reaction before diarrhea.

Meals from 1 year

For diarrhea in children over 1 year old, you can give low-fat fermented milk products from the first day, and on the third day you can use a low-fat type of cottage cheese.

At first, namely the first couple of days with diarrhea, you will need to increase the frequency of feedings. Thus, you can feed your child 1-2 times more often per day, so in total you should eat 5-6 times a day.

Like infants, food portions should be reduced and reduced amounts of food should be given. If the baby refuses to eat, then there is no need to force him.

In severe cases of diarrhea, there is no need to give food at all; about 2 feedings are skipped, after which meals can be given in fractional portions, with portions halved.

Over the course of a week, the portion of food should be gradually increased until everything returns to normal.

At the beginning of the diet, the child should eat more mucous soups in vegetable broth, to which rice, buckwheat or oatmeal are added.

Additionally, you are allowed to eat porridge, which must be made in water and given without adding oil; for porridge, the same cereals are used as for soup.

A child under 2 years old needs to prepare soups and porridges, but before eating, the dishes are pureed using a sieve to obtain a puree consistency.

It is allowed to give jelly made from fresh fruits, especially blueberries, as well as various compotes during diarrhea.

If you are talking about fermented milk products, then you can use them from the first days of diarrhea:

  1. Biokefirs.
  2. Lactonia.
  3. Acidophilus.

All products can only be given fresh, without additives, and the fat content does not exceed 2.5%.

On the second day of the diet, the menu can be supplemented with white bread crumbs and diet bread. On the third day, you can feed your baby banana puree and cottage cheese.

During diarrhea, it is useful to cook and feed the child baked apples, since they contain substances that quickly restore the intestinal flora and mucosa.

If apples are used, then they can be eaten fresh only from the third day of the diet, only in grated form.

From day 4, meat products should be added to the child’s menu, namely minced chicken or veal, turkey.

If a child over one year old develops diarrhea, then the following should be completely removed from the diet:

  1. Fresh plant products.
  2. Nuts.
  3. Milk and fermented baked milk.
  4. Fresh juices.
  5. Bean products.
  6. Mushrooms.
  7. Black bread.
  8. Sweets.
  9. Bakery.
  10. Sodas.

Diarrhea should be accompanied by sugar restrictions. Be sure to exclude junk food, which has a bad effect on the functioning of not only the gastrointestinal tract, but also the liver and kidneys.

These products include pickled, salted, smoked and fatty foods.

It is better not to prepare strong meat broths for children, since this does not relieve diarrhea. All dishes and food products must be heated before serving, but they must be warm, not hot.

When the diarrhea stops, you must continue to adhere to the diet for another 1-2 weeks.

The timing of the diet can be discussed with the doctor, and it directly depends on the reasons why the diarrhea appeared and its severity.

Nutrition according to the Komarovsky method for children 1-5 years old

After diarrhea appears, Dr. Komarovsky does not recommend feeding children on the first day. After this, you can give boiled rice, a very small portion, as well as the water in which the rice was cooked.

If you have diarrhea after the first day, you can give bananas and apple juice, and it is also useful to feed your babies boiled potatoes, which helps stop the diarrhea.

Fresh bread is not used; white bread can be used after several days from the moment of its preparation, or crackers must be made from it.

You can only use lean meat and fish and cook foods only by steaming them. You can use jelly or strong tea immediately after the onset of diarrhea.

For diarrhea, you need to give more mucous soups and porridges that strengthen the stomach and intestines. You should also establish a daily routine after the onset of diarrhea and feed the baby at the same time.

Regardless of the treatment, for diarrhea you can use the described rules and nutritional recommendations, which will increase the effectiveness and speed of treatment.

Useful video

24.02.2017

Digestive system upset or diarrhea is a rather unpleasant manifestation and anyone can encounter it. If for adults this condition is tolerable to a certain extent, then children suffer greatly from indigestion. The task of their parents is to understand the reason for this phenomenon and take all possible measures to eliminate stomach upset. It is worth understanding what the diet for diarrhea in a 2-year-old child consists of and how to compose it correctly.

Causes of the disorder

The body of a 2-year-old child is not as developed as that of an adult, so diarrhea can be caused by any product that is poorly accepted by the body. In addition to food, there are a number of other reasons that become provoking factors for the disease. The treatment of the cause of the manifestation should be dealt with by a doctor, but it should be kept in mind when creating a diet, which cannot be avoided in any case.

The nature of feces changes in a child with age, as does its quantity. At two years old, the baby should not go to the potty more than twice a day. At this age, feces begin to take shape and become less liquid than at one year of age.

When defecating, the child should not release feces:

  • liquid consistency;
  • with inclusions of pus and blood;
  • there should be no veins in it;
  • the color should be brown, not yellow or with yellowish inclusions.

All of these signs are considered a deviation from the norm at the age of two years in children. If any are detected, the causes should be identified and the necessary measures taken.

Important: if the feces are too hard, this also indicates abnormalities in digestion. It may be necessary to reconsider your diet.

Diet for diarrhea

When a child has loose stools, the first thing to do is determine the diet. The preparation of such a diet has several basic principles:

  • replenish fluid that leaves the body during diarrhea;
  • Feeding should be done gradually, in small portions;
  • products are selected in such a way that intestinal motility does not increase during digestion;
  • food should be salty;
  • eliminate foods from the diet that have a choleretic effect;
  • vegetables and fruits should be subjected to heat treatment before consumption;
  • The temperature of food and drink should be neither cold nor hot.

Important: if a child refuses to eat at first, you should not force him. In this case, hunger will only be beneficial. But fluid must enter the body.

Drinking for diarrhea

Even if you refuse to drink, the child must be persuaded to drink by any means. It is best for the baby to drink on his own, so he can quickly replenish the lack of fluid. But if the baby does not agree to drink on his own, then you should pour small amounts of liquid into him using a syringe, removing the needle. This event must be carried out every 10-15 minutes.

The following drinks are suitable for this situation:

  • ordinary water;
  • mineral water, but without gases;
  • compotes based on dried fruits (it is prohibited to add prunes to compotes, this dried fruit promotes the formation of loose stools);
  • herbal poisons (rose hips, chamomile, etc. are suitable);
  • raisin compote;
  • rice broth;
  • carrot decoction;
  • weak green tea, slightly sweetened;
  • blueberry compote.

You should not give your child the following drinks during stomach upset, which increase diarrhea:

  • freshly squeezed natural juices;
  • plum and apricot compotes;
  • kefir;
  • coffee drink;
  • dairy products.

If diarrhea does not stop within several hours, then it is better to use pharmaceutical products that are intended for oral rehydration. This will help restore the normal level of water-salt balance in a short period of time. Powder preparations from which it is best to prepare a solution:

  • Regidron;
  • Elktrolyte Humana;
  • Oralit;
  • Gatrolite.

If it is not possible to get to the pharmacy and purchase such products and they are not in the medicine cabinet either, then there are homemade recipes for solutions that should be prepared in such a situation:

  1. Add sugar (2 tbsp), salt and soda (1 tsp each) to a volume of 1 liter of water.
  2. For a volume of water of 1 liter, add half a teaspoon of salt, sugar (2 tablespoons) and a banana, which is first kneaded into porridge.

Important: these solutions are consumed every 10 minutes, one teaspoon at a time.

Diet food

In addition to the fact that the baby must be provided with water, you should know what to feed the child with diarrhea. The diet needs to be balanced, remove as much fat as possible and reduce the amount of food. A child's stomach should not be overloaded in this condition. The nutritional system for diarrhea is as follows:

  1. Dehydration occurs in the first half of the day and at this time the child’s body does not need food. During this period, it is necessary to provide as much fluid as possible to the child.
  2. After a 6-8 hour period, a feeling of hunger usually occurs. It is allowed at this time for the baby to drink rice water and give him a small amount of liquid rice porridge to eat. The food needs to be salted a little.
  3. If the condition improves after a day, then it is allowed to start a diet. The portion size should be half the usual size, and the frequency of meals should be up to 6 times a day.
  4. After 2-3 days, the process of stool normalization should begin. During this period, it is necessary to continue to adhere to dietary nutrition. The duration of the diet can be up to three weeks, but not less than 6 days. This depends on the severity of the disease in the child.

A general list of products that a diet for diarrhea in a two-year-old child contains:

  • light soups cooked in vegetable broth (onions, carrots, potatoes);
  • low-fat soups, with the addition of a small amount of chicken breast;
  • oatmeal (liquid);
  • buckwheat and rice porridge;
  • semolina cooked in water;
  • boiled poultry meat;
  • boiled fish;
  • bran bread;
  • biscuits.

In addition to foods prepared by frying, with the addition of hot and spicy seasonings, smoked foods, fatty and sweet foods, there are those that are also not recommended to be consumed:

  • meat (beef, pork), especially fatty meat;
  • curd products;
  • legumes;
  • dairy products;
  • containing large amounts of animal fat (butter and lard);
  • jam, jam;
  • any chocolate.

Nutrition after diarrhea

When the baby is recovering, it is very important to understand that even the complete elimination of the symptoms of indigestion and the restoration of normal feces does not mean that the child’s body has returned to a normal state and is ready to cope with the previous volumes of food. You need to come to your usual diet very smoothly and gradually.

Dietary nutrition should be continued for at least 3-4 days after all symptoms stop. If you start feeding your baby heavy food, there is a risk of either renewing the disease or developing other problems in the form of heartburn, flatulence and stomach pain. The amount of food that the stomach is not yet able to cope with will accumulate in the intestines, which promises the occurrence of various types of infections.

When switching to a regular diet, it is better to use the following recommendations:

  1. You need to feed the child only if he wants it himself. You should never force someone to eat. In such a situation, the lack of food will be much more beneficial than forcibly overloading the stomach.
  2. After the symptoms of indigestion disappear and appetite appears, it is best to feed the child mashed potatoes, boiled fish or chicken; baked apples are good for dessert. The last dish helps restore the intestinal microflora well.
  3. The diet for a week after diarrhea should consist of liquid porridges cooked in water. It is still not recommended to eat juices, fruits, and dairy products.
  4. For two weeks, it is forbidden to give salty and spicy foods, as well as smoked and fried foods.
  5. You need to include new foods in your diet gradually, one per day. You should not supplement your diet with several products, because it is very important to observe the body’s reaction. And this is easiest to do by including something new separately.
  6. During this period, we must not forget about drinking, which should be consumed in large quantities.

Important: if, after eliminating the symptoms, the child does not have an appetite for a long time, and the body rejects the new diet, then it is necessary to contact a pediatrician. Perhaps there is an infection in the body that could not be overcome.

Doctor's help

Do not confuse diet with treating a disease. Dietary nutrition is always present when a child has an upset stomach. However, it is impossible to do without examination by a specialist and establishing the cause that caused such a manifestation. Only a doctor can prescribe the necessary medications that will eliminate the source of the problem.

If diarrhea is not accompanied by any additional symptoms, then you should go to the pediatrician. If, in addition to an upset stomach, lethargy, nausea, dizziness, or fever are observed, then you urgently need to call an ambulance. Such manifestations indicate serious diseases of the body that cannot be dealt with on your own.

Video: Intestinal infections