A child’s immune system is not as strong as an adult which makes them more susceptible to loose motions. Home remedies for loose motions are very effective and I prefer to use them over medicine.
Being a strong believer in the power of home remedies I did a lot of research and have formulated a list of home remedies for loose motions and diarrhea in children. But don’t forget it doesn’t begin to get better in three days, it’s time to get it checked by the doctor.
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What are loose motions?
Any unusual bowel movement with cramps and foul smell is diarrhea. If the child is suffering from diarrhea he can experience loss of appetite, fever, stomach cramps, vomiting or blood and mucus. If the child is passing yellow or pale yellow stool, it indicates stomach infection. If it’s green, it also signals that your child is dehydrated.
The best home remedy for diarrhea is to keep your child hydrated. Give plenty of water or grape juice. Avoid sugary drinks as the bacteria loves to feed on sugar, it may make it worse. If the child is breastfed, feed more as it helps to keep the baby hydrated.
What causes loose motions in babies?
Before you start on any kind of medicines or especial diet for your child, it is important to find out the cause of diarrhea. There are several things that trigger diarrhea in a child’s body.
- Rotavirus is a common cause of diarrhea in children under 2 years of age.
- Some allergies can also trigger loose bowel like allergy to milk, eggs or peanuts. It’s important to find out if your child is allergic to something it had.
- Other factors can be over consumption of juices, bacterial infections if the child puts their hand in mouth often after touching dirty surfaces etc.
- Sometimes medications like antibiotics can kill the healthy bacteria in the stomach causing diarrhea.
Although it is normal for babies to pass soft stool which may be of different color due to the diet they might be eating but if it persists for more than 2 days with abdominal pains and signs of dehydration (dry eyes when crying, sunken eyes, blood in stool or fewer wet diapers) then it may be a cause of concern.
Home Remedies for loose motions in babies
The best way to start home treatment for loose motions is to increase the intake of liquid. Giving them foods like yogurt or drops with probiotics helps in restoring the healthy bacteria in your baby’s tummy. Baby’s tend to develop diaper rash by continues change of diaper and wiping, therefore, it is advisable to use warm water for washing and let it air dry. You can apply some moisturizer or petroleum jelly to avoid dryness of the area.
Here is the list of home remedies that help during Loose Motions
#1. Banana
One looses a great deal of potassium during diarrhea and Bananas are packed with necessary electrolyte potassium. It is also rich in zinc, iron, magnesium, calcium, vitamin C, B6 and vitamin A. Children love banana and it’s a good source of energy for your child. Banana makes number one on our list as the best home remedy to cure loose motions
#2. Ginger
Ginger is known to be very good for the digestive system, therefore, it is great in treating diarrhea. Make a mixture of one tsp dry ginger powder, a pinch of cinnamon powder, cumin powder and a tsp of honey. Give this mixture to your baby three times a day and it will help your child. The sweet taste of honey and cinnamon in welcomed by children.
#3. Potatoes
Potatoes are a great way to fight diarrhea as it helps in restoring lost nutrients. It’s best to boil them and serve the child. You can try adding some salt and cumin powder to enhance the taste.
#4. Soaked puff rice water (Laiyya)
Puffed rice is easily available in India and most of the households have them. They are very good during diarrhea. Soak 1 bowl of puffed rice for 15 min in a glass of water. Strain it and give the water to the child. You can give it twice a day.
You can also try plain unpolished white rice because of its binding effects. Due to high levels of starch, it’s easy for the stomach to digest. Boil it in extra water, strain it and give the water to your baby. It helps in diarrhea and relaxes the stomach.
#5. Apple Cider Vinegar
It’s a new remedy that is used in many health issues. ACV has great antibacterial properties and fights the bacteria in the gut. Add 2 tsp of ACV with a glass of water and give two times a day. It helps, trust me.
#6. Coconut water
Coconut is known for millions of health benefits and it does wonders during diarrhea. It helps to restore the lost fluid in the body and it tastes good. Coconuts are easily available especially during the summers, which is when diarrhea bothers the most due to many infections and bacteria. Serve coconut water 2 to 4 time a day to the child to keep it dehydrated.
#7. Pomegranate Juice
Although it is advisable to keep the juices away during diarrhea but pomegranate juice is good to go. It helps to maintain the PH balance in the body and restores water in the body. A glass full of pomegranate juice does wonders when baby is having loose motions.
#8. Buttermilk
Add some salt and cumin powder in buttermilk to sooth the baby’s stomach during diarrhea. Give a glass full of buttermilk with ½ tsp of dry ginger powder to the child in two three servings.
#9. Red lentil soup (Lal masoor)
When the child is suffering from diarrhea it is hard to make them eat anything but it is important for them to eat to retain their energy. Red lentil soup is very rich in proteins and energy. Boil a cup of lentil in water and let it sit. After a few minutes you will notice the water rising above the lentil, separate the water and give it to the child. It’s easily digested and very healthy. Avoid adding any spices to it although you can add a pinch of salt in it for some taste.
#10. Yogurt
Homemade yogurt is an excellent way of treating diarrhea as the good bacteria fights with the infectious diarrhea in the gut. Add one tsp of sugar to a bowl of yogurt and watch your child finish it in a jiffy.
#11. Amla (Indian gooseberry)
Amla works as a cooling agent and it’s a great antioxidant. Mix amla juice with some lime juice and sugar and feed the child. It helps kill the bacteria causing loose motions in babies.
#12. Apple
As we all know, apples are packed with pectin which firms the bowel movement. Boil and apple and puree it for your baby. It fills the baby with loads of energy and helps the upset stomach.
When to consult doctor for loose motions in babies?
If you notice mucus, blood or greasy stool in your baby’s poo, it’s probably due to a parasitic attack. If the baby is vomiting continuously, is not eating or drinking at all, is complaining of stomach pain, it’s time for a doctor’s visit. We don’t recommend to rely completely on home remedies for loose motions.
Homely Ways to prevent loose motions in babies
Babies are so full of energy that they are unstoppable. You can’t run after them all day to make sure they are not eating off the floor or putting their hands in their mouth so infections and loose motions cannot be prevented. Some measures can be taken to avoid it. Make sure your kid is washing hands properly after using the toilet and before eating.
If you are feeding the baby, wash your hands thoroughly before doing so. Keep your toilet clean as the germs thrive in the bathrooms. Before giving fruits to your child wash them thoroughly under fresh running water. By taking these steps you can at least try and save your child from suffering from diarrhea often.
Other important thing that you should keep in mind is to avoid fruit juices. We feel that fruit juices are the best way to keep your child healthy but we forget that juices are concentrated in sugar which are not healthy for the gut. Eating the whole fruit is always better. It’s better to give water instead of juice and if you wish to give juices, dilute it with water to increase the amount of water intake than juice.
Increase in fiber rich diet helps the digestive system in the child. Include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and beans in your baby’s diet to strengthen the digestive tract of the baby.
In conclusion, not all loose motions are bad, it’s a sign that the body is sick with toxins and is trying to heal itself by getting rid of it. Try these home remedies for loose motions for instant relief. Don’t immediately rush running to the doctor and try the nature let it do its work.
What home remedies for loose motions in babies have worked for you? What do you do to avoid loose motions in your child? Share below!
