Diarrhea and loose motion can be extremely uncomfortable for a child, and can sometimes lead to dehydration.
If your child is suffering from either of these conditions, you may be looking for ways to help them get better.
Here are 16 home remedies that have been shown to be effective in helping children recover from diarrhea or loose motion.
However, if your child is really struggling, you could take them to see a doctor to get some medication to help them feel better.
What is Diarrhea & Its Symptoms
Diarrhea is a condition that causes loose, watery stools. It can be caused by a number of things, including viral or bacterial infections, food poisoning, and stress. Some common symptoms of diarrhea include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and dehydration.
If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention right away. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which can be dangerous, especially for young children.
Home Remedies for Diarrhea or Loose Motion in Kids
There are a number of home remedies that have been shown to be effective in helping children recover from diarrhea/loose motion. None of these home remedy have any side effects as these are simple and easily found ingredients. The following list has about 16 home remedies that are effective in curing loose motion:
1. Give your child plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Clear liquids like drinking water, clear broth, and fruit juices are good options. Avoid sugary drinks like juice and soda, as they can make diarrhea worse. Out of these, drinking water is the best solution to avoid dehydration.
2. Adding electrolytes to your child’s fluids. This can be done by using oral rehydration solutions (ORS) or by adding a teaspoon of salt and six teaspoons of sugar to a liter of water.
3. Feeding your child small, frequent meals. Avoid fatty, greasy, or spicy foods. This is important so that your child does not feel weak due to the frequent stools.
4. Give your child probiotics. Probiotics are live bacteria that can help restore the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. Yogurt and buttermilk are good sources of probiotics. You can make buttermilk by adding a little cumin powder, a pinch of salt, sugar to the yogurt/curd as it will soothe your child’s digestive system and cure loose motions. To keep your child hydrated, give them 60 to 180 ml of buttermilk.
5. Adding fiber to your child’s diet. This can help to solidify loose stools. Foods that are high in fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans. One such fruit that helps cure loose motion is Apple. Apples contain pectin, a soluble fiber that helps to bind water and solidify stools. Give your child 1 or 2 apples per day, depending on their age and weight. You can also prepare apple puree by mashing apples and adding water if required. Give this to your baby to recover from loose motions.
6. Avoid dairy products. Dairy products can make diarrhea worse by increasing intestinal motility. Although Yogurt is an exception as mentioned above.
7. Ginger – Ginger has been shown to be effective in treating nausea and vomiting. It can also help to soothe an upset stomach. Combine dried ginger with some cumin and add a spoonful of honey. Give this to your child 2-3 times a day and it will relieve your child from loose motion. (remember, honey, should not be given to babies younger than 1-year-old). This home remedy can work wonders.
8. Peppermint – Peppermint has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help to treat diarrhea. Since peppermint is not easily available at home we can make use of mint leaves. Mint leaves can be given in the form of juice by adding little honey and giving it to your child 2-3 times a day. This helps cure stomach infection and loose motions too.
9. Pomegranate – The seeds of a pomegranate can help to solidify loose stools. Give it in juice form by diluting the juice in water. This is useful in relieving stomach pain and reduces the frequency of visiting the washroom.
10. Lemon – Lemon is in most homes, and it’s a fantastic cure for children’s loose motions. It’s a fantastic anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial solution that is both natural and easy to obtain. A spoonful of lemon juice 4 to 5 times a day can relieve your baby of diarrhea and other stomach-related problems. You can also add a pinch of salt/sugar to lemon juice to help cure loose motions.
11. Cumin Seeds – Cumin seeds contain an essential oil that can help to relieve stomach cramps. They also have antispasmodic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Easily available in our homes, prepare cumin water and give it to your child. To prepare cumin water, take 1 cup water, add a few cumin seeds (around 1/2 spoon) and bring the water to boil. As soon as the water starts boiling, turn the gas off. Let the water cool down and then strain the water to remove the cumin seeds and give the water to your child. Cumin seeds are truly a magical spice that has healing properties that many of us do not know.
12. Banana – Banana is a good source of dietary fiber, which can help to solidify loose stools. It also contains potassium and pectin, which can help to ease stomach pain. Most kids eat bananas easily and can be easily found in our home. It is effective in curing loose motions in kids.
13. Starch-rich products – Potato and rice are great sources of starch that helps in recovering from loose motions. If you have started giving solids to your baby then you can give them mashed potatoes or rice water. It is easy to digest and keeps the baby hydrated.
14. Arrowroot powder – I have used this for my baby to cure his loose motions. Arrowroot is basically another form of powdered starch and is a good supplement to tackle loose motions in kids. You can make a runny porridge with arrowroot powder to water and feed it to your baby.
15. Breastmilk – Yes, this is the most effective and natural remedy to treat diarrhea in babies. If your baby is less than 6 months old then only breastmilk should be given. If you are formula-feeding your baby, continue with it but also give plenty of water or ORS between feeds.
16. Keep your child hydrated – This is the most important thing to do when your child has loose motions. Give plenty of fluids in the form of water, coconut water, ORS, soups, and juices. Diarrhea can cause dehydration very fast so it is essential to keep your child hydrated at all times.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: How often should I give ORS to my child?
A: It is important to give ORS after every bout of diarrhea. Diarrhea can cause dehydration very fast, and ORS helps to replenish the lost fluids and electrolytes. - Q: My baby has loose motions, and she is also vomiting. What should I do?
A: If your baby is also vomiting along with loose motions, then it is essential to see a doctor immediately as it can lead to dehydration very fast. In such a case, home remedies might not work, and hospitalization might be required. - Q: What is the difference between diarrhea and dysentery?
A: Diarrhea is basically watery stools, and dysentery is stools with blood or pus. Dysentery is usually caused by infections, and it requires immediate medical attention. - Q: My baby has loose motions, but he is also passing gas and burping a lot. Is it normal?
A: Yes, it is quite normal for babies to pass gas and burp a lot when they have loose motions. It is nothing to worry about as long as the baby is feeding well and gaining weight. - Q: What should I do if my baby has a fever along with loose motions?
A: If your baby has a fever along with loose motions, then it might be due to an infection, and you should see a doctor immediately. Antibiotics might be required in such cases. - Q: My baby has loose motions, but he is also constipated. Is it normal?
A: Yes, it is quite normal for babies to be constipated when they have loose motions. The constipation is usually due to a change in diet and can resolve on its own. However, if constipation persists, then you should consult a doctor.
Conclusion
Loose motions can be quite common in children, and there are a number of home remedies that can help to cure them.
In this article, we have listed some of the most effective remedies for curing loose motions in children that help in stomach pains and reduce the need to visit the washroom frequently. These include giving ORS, breastmilk, arrowroot powder, and starch-rich foods like potatoes and rice.
It is important to keep your child hydrated at all times by giving plenty of fluids so that he does not become dehydrated.
If your child has a fever along with loose motions, then it might be due to an infection and you should see a doctor immediately.
