Can a 7 Week Old Infant Have Diarrhea?

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Can a 7 Week Old Infant Have Diarrhea?

by Julienne
(Fullerton, CA USA)

My 7 week old son had toothpaste like stool once a day or once every other day for a couple of weeks.

For the last two days, he has loose stools and is having frequent movement (approx. 5 in a 12 hour period.) He is on both breast milk and formula.

Did I eat something bad? Or does he have some sort of bacteria in his stomach that is causing this? Is a fluctuation of stool consistency normal?

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Can a 7 Week Old Infant Have Diarrhea?

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Sep 15, 2011

Symptoms of infant diarrhea
by: Paula (Baby Help Line)

Hi Juliette,

It sure can be tricky to know if a breastfed baby has diarrhea or not, since the stools really can vary between days. They can be anything between runny to toothpaste like and bright yellow to green and still be normal!

But there are a few symptoms of diarrhea to look for:

Has pooping frequency increased significantly?

Is the consistency at the same time a lot looser than usually?

Does the baby show other signs of illness, such as not wanting to eat, tired, fussy, runny nose or running a fever?

Is the baby on medication that might cause diarrhea?

Has breastfeeding mom changed her diet in a way that can upset the baby's tummy. (Find advice on what to eat while breastfeeding here.)

Has the baby's diet been changed at all, such as a new formula or solid foods?

Mild diarrhea may also be a sign of teething, although that is not likely for a 7 week old baby.

Answering these questions should give you a clue to whether your baby has diarrhea or simply a normal variation in his pooping.

If you have changed your own or his diet in any major way, try reverting that and see if it helps. If he appears to have a stomach bug, make sure he doesn't get dehydrated and since he is so young, call his doctor for advice.

Hope this helps,

Paula

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