25 Home Remedies for Loose Motion in Babies

Loose Motion / Diarrhea is the way our body to flush out the Bacteria, Toxins and viruses from our digestive system. In this article, Home Remedies for Loose Motion in Babies we explain in detail the effective and home made treatments for addressing your little one’s Diarrhea.

Children’s immune system is still in a developmental stage during their early years, which makes them more prone to loose motions. Being raised in a village environment and having hands on experience in effectiveness of such remedies, I am a strong believer of Home Remedies for Loose Motion in Babies as opposed to English medicine as the first choice. More over almost all the pediatricians do agree that its not safe give Anti-diarrhea medicines until they reach the age of 8.

Nevertheless, do keep in mind that if your baby not showing any improvements in the first 3 days, it’s time to get checked with a doctor.

What is a Loose Motion / Diarrhea ?

Any sudden increase in number of stools with cramps,  less formed / watery stools with foul smell is Loose Motion / Diarrhea. Sometimes children with diarrhea show other symptoms like fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, cramps, blood or mucus in the bowel movement etc.

• If the stool is in Yellow Color, it indicates stomach infection
• If the stool in Green Color, it also signals that the body is dehydrated. 

Diarrhea can be dangerous if not tended properly as it will drain water and salts from your child’s body. If not replaced effectively and quickly, child will get dehydrated and may need to be hospitalized.

What are the Causes for Loose Motions in Babies?

Home Remedies for Loose Motion in Babies works effectively if you understand underlying cause for the motions in your child. Let’s explore in detail the major contributors for a Loose Motions in Babies,

Causes of Acute Diarrhea

1. Virus (Such as Rota Virus) is the most common cause for diarrhea in children under 2 years of age.
2. Bacterial infections (Salmonella) – less common, but can occur if child touches dirty surfaces and puts the hand in mouth. Loose motion often contains streaks of blood.
3. Food Poisoning : Symptoms include rapid vomiting and loose motions withing hours after the intake of bad food. Mainly caused by germs that are growing in the food that may have been left out for longer period of time. Mostly symptoms goes away within 24 hours.
4. Giardia is an intestinal infection caused by a giardia parasite due to drinking of contaminated water.
5. Traveler’s Diarrhea : Suspect this if followed by a recent foreign travel – mostly caused by germs in the food or drink.
6. C. difficile : Inflammation of the colon caused by the bacteria Clostridium difficile. This is a severe large bowel infection due to the disruption of healthy bacteria in stomach by strong antibiotics.

Recurrent Diarrhea Causes

1. Allergic to Cow Milk : Symptoms include loose slimy stools in babies, might also have streaks of blood. Starts at 2 months – Need to avoid cow milk based formula’s.
2. Toddler’s Diarrhea : Some toddlers pass 3 – 6 sloppy stools per day, which might even come out of diaper. This generally starts at the age of 1, and stops by itself by 3 or 4 years. Fruit juice makes it worse. Cause is the rapid transit time from stomach to anus.
3. Lactose Intolerance : Lactose is the sugar in milk – large amount of population cannot absorb lactose and therefore the Gut bacteria turns it to gas. Main symptoms of this is large amounts of gas, loose stools and stomach bloating. Starts generally at the age of 4 to 5 ; mostly runs in the family.

When to see a doctor?

Self Care at Home

• Mild Diarrhea – Most probably due to virus

Call Doctor During Office Hours

• Diarrhea lasts for more than 2 weeks
• Loose stools are frequent concern

Call Doctor Within 24 Hours

• Moderate diarrhea, with 6 or more watery bowel movements in past 24 hours
• Stomach pains that are persistent after each bowel movement
• Lost of bowel control in a toilet trained child for 3 or more times
• Persistent Fever for more than 3 days
• Close contact with a person or animal with bacterial diarrhea with in the last 14 days
• Contact with a reptile (snake, lizard, turtle) in the past month
• Foreign travel to a country with diarrhea risk in the past month

Call Doctor or Get Help NOW

• Suspected Dehydration ; No urine for 8 hours / dark urine, very dry mouth and no tears.
• Blood in Stools
• Consistent stomach pain for over 2 hours
• 3 or more times of vomiting clear fluids
• Age under 1 month with 3 or more watery bowel movements
• Severe diarrhea with 10 or more stools in 24 hours
• High Fever – Over 40 Degree Celsius or 104 F
• Under 12 week old with fever
• Child looks or acts very sick

Call Emergency Care  (911) NOW

• Child is unconscious or not moving
• Too weak or dizzy to stand

Home Remedies for Loose Motion in Babies

Best way to to start home remedies for loose motion in babies is by encouraging them to increase the fluid intake. There are a number of methods which can be included in the daily routine to improve digestion and cure the loose motion in babies naturally. Having said that, if the condition persists and there is no improvement visible after 48 to 72 hours, you should consult a doctor to avoid any complications.

Note : If your baby is below 6 months then avoid any kind of home remedy, Consult baby’s pediatrician for  seeking help

Breast Milk helps in fast recovery from Loose Motion

If your baby is still breast fed, continue doing so and increase the frequency of feedings in a day during the Loose Motion period. Breast Milk is one of the best home remedies for loose in babies, especially under the age of 6 months.

As a mother you may need to cut down the in take of spicy foods, oily foods, dairy products etc. if your baby is exclusively on breast feeding as it may trigger diarrhea in your little one.

ORS as a Home Remedy

Dehydration is one of the serious complications that you may face due to Loose Motion. Encourage your baby to take plenty of fluids through out the period of loose motion. Intake of ORS or Oral Re-hydration Salts is one of the ways to ensure that your baby is not affected by dehydration. This is an age old remedy for loose motions as it will replenish the lost electrolytes in your little one’s body.

You can get a packet of ORS Powder from a nearby pharmacy or you can make it on your own at home.

Home Made ORS Recipe

Most effective way to manage dehydration at home is to prepare ORS Solution.

Ingredients

• 1 Liter Filtered Water
• 6 Teaspoon Sugar
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Directions

• Boil 1 Liter water and allow it to cool
• Add 6 teaspoons of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the water and mix until it dissolves completely

Give this solution to your baby at regular intervals to keep the dehydration at bay and to replenish your baby’s lost salt and fluids.

Banana

During diarrhea we loose a significant amount of Potassium from our body and Banana’s are packed with a large amount of electrolyte Potassium. Banana is also rich in zinc, iron, magnesium, calcium, Vitamin C, B6 and A. Banana is a great source of strength and energy. Mashed banana is one of the traditional remedies for loose motion and it does wonders.

Recommended Age : 6+ Months

Puffed Rice Water

Puffed Rice Water is very effective Home remedy for loose motion in babies. It is a common and easily available item across India as most of the households have it readily available.

Soak a bowl of Puffed rice in water for 15 mins in a glass of water and strain it. The water can be provided to your child twice a day.

Recommended Age : 6+ Months

Coconut Water

Tender coconut water is a wonderful liquid to be taken during the loose motion as it helps in regaining the lost water content of the body. Not only the great taste, but also its massive health benefits aids in faster recovery from diarrhea. Recommended to give this at-least 2-3 times a day.

Tender Coconut water intake is effective for infants and grownups alike.

Recommended Age: 7+ months

Probiotic like Curd / Yogurt

Fresh homemade Curd / Yogurt will cure diarrhea as it is packed with large amount of healthy bacteria. Intake of it restores the balance in good bacteria in the stomach. It is considered the most gut friendly food during the time of loose motion.

You can serve it with roasted cumin seeds / jeera powder. You can also give it with a teaspoon of sugar for added taste.

Recommended Age: 6+ months

Buttermilk 

Homemade Butter Milk is very effective in fighting against the diarrhea causing germs. It helps by soothing your digestive system and is tasty as well. Serve it with a pinch of salt and black pepper powder or jeera powder for better results.

Recommended Age: 8+ months

Pomegranate Juice

Though its advisable to keep baby away from fruit juices, Pomegranate juice is an exception. It helps in maintaining the pH balance in body and restores the fluid content. Serve it in regular intervals to your baby. If you feel its too thick or heavy for your baby, dilute it with filtered water before feeding to your baby.

A glass of pomegranate juice can do wonders for your baby while suffering from diarrhea.

Recommended Age: 7+ months

Sabudana (Sago) Water

Sago / Sabudana Water is extremely effective during loose motion in your baby.

Directions for making Sago Water

• Soak Sabudana for 1 hour
• Add sufficient amount of water and boil
• Continue the boiling till it is completely immersed in water
• Strain and offer the water to your baby

Recommended Age: 6+ months

Rice Soup / Rice Gruel / Rice Water

This is one of the easily available home remedy for loose motion in your babies. A staple in most Indian homes, Rice soup is a great source of vitamins, proteins, calcium and starch. It’s an excellent re-hydration fluid that can be used as replacement for the fluid loss due to diarrhea. Rice water also helps in reducing the stool output.

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoon rice
• 2.5 Cup water

Directions

• Wash rice thoroughly in running water
• Boil the rice in filtered water after washing and rinsing it
• Continue boiling until the rice is soft and mashable
• Mash the rice and strain it
• Give rice water soup with little salt to your baby

Recommended Age: 6+ months

Red Lentil Soup

Babies will not be ready to eat anything during the time of diarrhea; however we need to ensure that they are receiving some form of food intake to help them retain energy. Red Lentil Soup is an excellent source of Proteins and energy. Red lentil soup is easily digestible and is very healthy; making it an good choice during loose motion in your babies.

Directions

• Boil a cup of lentil in water until it is soft and cooked well
• Let it sit for a while and after a few minutes the water will rise above lentil
• Separate / strain the water and give it to your baby to reduce loose motion
• Avoid adding any spices to it; you may add a pinch of salt to enhance the taste.

Recommended Age: 6+ months

Apple Sauce

Apple is filled with Pectin (Naturally occurring polysaccharide)  that helps in firming child’s bowel movement and thereby curing loose motion in babies. Best way to serve it is by making it as an apple sauce.

Directions

• Wash, Peel and slice apple into smaller pieces
• Add the sliced apple pieces and 1 cup of filtered water into a saucepan and let it get cooked for 10 minutes in low flame.
• When apple becomes soft in texture, turn of the flame and allow it to cool down
• Once cooled down, Mash the contents with a spoon or fork and feed it to baby

Nutmeg for Loose motion in Babies

Nutmeg is an age old home remedy for loose motion in babies. It can be given to babies in 2 different ways.

• Make a paste of Nutmeg by grinding it with water and give it to baby.
• You can also serve it with a apple and sugar.
  • Cut one apple and boil in water until its tender
  • Add a teaspoon of sugar and 2 pinches of nutmeg to it
  • Mix it well and you can feed it to your baby

Recommended Age: 10+ months

Arrowroot Powder for diarrhea

Arrowroot is another form of powdered starch which is a good supplement to tackle loose motions in children. It is a an old fashioned home remedy that is believed to reduce diarrhea. It’s an allergen free solution that helps in soothing your baby’s upset stomach.

Serve the arrowroot powder as porridge with water / curd along with a pinch of salt.

Recommended Age: 1+ year old

Carrot Juice / Puree

Carrots are an excellent source of energy during the time of loose motions. You can serve it as a Juice or puree to your baby. Prepare puree by steaming / boiling it in water. Give it to your baby once or twice a day.

If your baby is above one year old, you can provide it as juice itself and doesn’t need it to be made as puree.

Recommended Age: 6+ months

Honey for Loose motions

You can give your baby hone with cold water if your Baby is 1 year old. It’s an age old remedy that 1 teaspoon of honey with cold water will help in curing diarrhea.

Note : Children under the age of twelve months are at risk of infant botulism if they are fed honey or anything with honey in it.

Recommended Age: 1+ year old

Starch rich products – Potatoes

Potatoes are a starchy root vegetable that remains a staple food in several countries and it contributes to major potassium supply in many people’s diets. Potato are the best dietary source of potassium as a single potato (136g) can provide 515 mg of potassium – It packs more Potassium than a banana.

Directions

• Boil a potato with little salt
• Once done, mash the potato.
• You can add a pinch of roasted cumin seeds as well to curb the gas

You can serve it as mashed once a day for your child.

Recommended Age: 8+ Months

Lemon Juice

Lemon Juice is a known for its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which makes it highly reliable and an easily available option among the home remedies for loose motion in babies. It helps in soothing upset stomach and restores the pH balance in body.

A spoonful of lemon juice 4 to 5 times a day can relieve your baby of diarrhea and other stomach related issues.

Recommended Age: 2+ Years

Walnut for curing Diarrhea 

This is just one of the home remedies loose motion in babies by a lot of parents. You need to grind the Walnut Kernels along with water to make it a paste. Once it is in paste form, apply it to the navel of your little one to cure diarrhea.

Recommended Age: 3+ months

Pomegranate Leaves for loose motion in babies

Pomegranate leaves are a great option to re-hydrate the body and to alleviate the effects of loose motion.

Directions

• Boil the pomegranate leaves in filtered water
• Once its boiled, add sugar and strain the water

You can serve it to your child 2-3 times a day for curing loose motion.

Recommended Age: 1+ Years

Ginger as a home remedy for loose motion

Ginger is an effective home remedy for loose motion as it has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It is known to be very good for digestive system, hence it is good in treating diarrhea at home.

Directions

• Make a mixture of one teaspoon dry ginger powder, Pinch of cinnamon powder, cumin powder and a teaspoon of honey.

Give this 3 times a day to your baby and it will help in reducing diarrhea in child. Sweet taste of cinnamon and honey is liked by children in general.

Recommended Age : 2+ years

Mint Honey Lemon

Mint Leaves has a lot of anti-bacterial properties and they help in regulating digestion; hence are highly recommended for curing loose motions in kids as well as adults.

Mix 1 teaspoonful of fresh juice from mint leaves along with 1 teaspoon of honey and few drops of lemon juice. Stir it well and give it to your baby 2-3 times a day for curing her upset stomach.

Recommended Age : 2+ Years

Apple Cider Vinegar

This is used as a remedy in many health issues, ACV has great anti-bacterial properties and fights infectious bacteria in the stomach. Add 2 Teaspoon of ACV with a glass of water and serve 2 times a day.

Recommended Age : 2+ Years

Rest 

Loose motion in babies is bodies way of removing the toxins / germs that’s infecting body; so immediate application of antibiotics might not be the best course of action. Our body needs to be able to self-heal these type of diseases. Take care of baby’s food and allow them to take complete rest during the period of loose motion.

However if the diarrhea continues for more than 48 – 72 hours, its best to seek medical help.

Avoid Milk Products

Milk & Milk based products must completely be avoided during loose motion. Intestines will not be able to digest them during loose motion and it might even lead to an increase in loose motion.

Cow / Buffalo milk should strictly be avoided during this time. You must avoid milk products like cheese, milk, butter, margarine, milk powder or anything which is prepared with milk

If incase your baby is refusing to food during loose motion, do not try and force feed them. Focus of increasing the fluid intake to avoid any chance of dehydration.

Homely Ways To Prevent Loose Motions In Babies

Our babies just full of energy and they are literally unstoppable. We may not be able to run after them all day to make sure that they are not eating from floor or putting hands in mouth after touching different surfaces. This makes it hard to completely prevent infections and loose motions in a child. We surely can take some measures to avoid it.

• Encourage hand washing habit before food and after using the toilet
• Make sure to keep your hand clean if you are feeding the baby
• Wash fruits thoroughly before serving it to your baby
• Keep your bathrooms clean as germs thrive in toilets
• Avoid fruit juices, always prefer whole fruit over a juice as it is high in sugar and are unhealthy for your gut.
• Increase fiber intake – Mix of veggies and fruits in the diet

In conclusion, not all diarrhea are bad, its just your body’s way of cleansing itself from toxins. Try some of our Home Remedies for Loose Motion in Babies for instant relief.

We would Love to hear from you!

What home remedies for loose motions in babies have worked for you? What do you do to avoid loose motions in your child? Share your thoughts with us in the below comments!