Diarrhea, Vomiting, and Dehydration in Newborns

Parenting Resources and Community Outreach

Diarrhea

An occasional loose stool is nothing to worry about. In fact, stools of breast-fed babies are normally very soft and frequent. If your baby has a vomiting spell followed (a day or two later) by frequent, watery stools that are different from his usual pattern, he may have diarrhea caused by a virus. Ask your pediatrician about the best way to manage diarrhea. If you’re breastfeeding, or providing expressed breast milk by bottle, your pediatrician will probably suggest that you continue nursing as usual. If you’re formula-feeding, the doctor may advise that you limit the baby’s intake to a special solution containing electrolytes (such as Pedialyte). When formula is restarted, you may be advised to use soy formula for a few days. This is because diarrhea washes out the enzymes needed to digest the sugar in cow’s milk.
It is important to monitor your baby for signs of dehydration (see page 24) if he has diarrhea. Also, be sure to notify the doctor if the diarrhea has blood in it or lasts more than two days.

Vomiting

Many childhood illnesses include vomiting, which is different from just spitting up. Vomiting means forcefully throwing up. Call your doctor right away if you notice any of the following:

• Frequent, repeated vomiting
• Crying (with legs pulled up toward the chest) that cannot be soothed
• Fever (any fever in a baby less than 3 months old; rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher if older)
• Blood or bile (green color) in his vomit
• Swollen belly
• Inability to keep fluids down
• Repeated refusal of feedings
• Any signs of dehydration
• Discolored or green-tinged vomit

Dehydration

Dehydration is a serious condition usually caused by diarrhea and vomiting. Signs of this condition include lack of tears, dry mouth, decrease in the number of wet diapers and listlessness (lack of energy). Call your doctor immediately if you see any of these signs.