Baby Diarrhoea: Causes, Care & When to See a GP | Parenting Hub
Loose, frequent and watery poos in babies are most often a tummy bug. How to prevent dehydration, what not to give, and red flags that need urgent care.
Diarrhoea looks alarming but most babies recover in a few days. The job is keeping them hydrated and watching for warning signs.
What counts as diarrhoea
Breastfed baby poo is naturally soft, yellow and seedy and can be very frequent — that isn't diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is a sudden change to watery, more frequent or much more explosive poos than usual, often soaking through nappies.
Common causes
Most cases are viral and self-limiting.
- Viral gastroenteritis (often with vomiting)
- Antibiotics or other medications
- Food intolerance or new food once on solids
- Teething is often blamed but isn't a confirmed cause
What helps
Hydration is everything.
- Keep breastfeeding or formula feeding — don't stop or dilute
- Offer feeds more often, in smaller amounts
- From 6 months, offer oral rehydration solution in small sips between feeds
- Avoid fruit juice, soft drinks and sports drinks
- Change nappies promptly and use a thick barrier cream to prevent nappy rash
- Wash hands well — gastro spreads easily
When to see a doctor
See your GP if diarrhoea lasts more than 5–7 days, your baby is under 6 months, there's blood or mucus, or you're worried about dehydration.
When to seek urgent care
Dehydration in babies can move fast — act early.
When to seek help
- Signs of dehydration: dry lips, no tears when crying, sunken eyes or fontanelle, very few wet nappies
- Drowsy, floppy or hard to rouse
- Blood in poo
- Diarrhoea plus repeated vomiting in a baby under 6 months
- High fever with diarrhoea in a baby under 3 months
Common questions
Should I stop solids during a tummy bug?
No — once vomiting settles, continue to offer normal foods. Bland options like rice, banana, toast and yoghurt are usually well tolerated.
Can I give Imodium or anti-diarrhoea medicine?
No — these are not safe for babies. The treatment is fluids and time, with medical review if it isn't settling.