Key points about toddler’s diarrhoea
- toddler’s diarrhoea is common in young tamariki aged 1 to 5 years
- it causes tamariki to have 3 or more episodes of loose, watery poo a day
- this can be normal and no medical treatment is needed
- tamariki with toddler’s diarrhoea continue to grow and develop normally
- making changes to what your child eats may help improve their symptoms
What is toddler’s diarrhoea?
Toddler’s diarrhoea is frequent, loose, watery poo. It is a common condition in young tamariki aged between 1 and 5 years.
Toddler’s diarrhoea is not caused by an infection or medical condition. Tamariki with toddler’s diarrhoea continue to grow and develop normally.
Symptoms of toddler’s diarrhoea
Tamariki with toddler's diarrhoea may have 3 or more episodes of loose, watery poo per day. The poo often contains undigested food like peas and bits of corn.
Even with diarrhoea, they remain active, have a good appetite, and have no weight loss or pain.
Causes of toddler’s diarrhoea
The exact cause of toddler's diarrhoea is not known. But, several things may make it worse.
Too much fruit juice
Fruit juice is high in sugars such as sorbitol and fructose, which can cause loose, watery poo.
A low-fat and high-fibre diet
Some tamariki prefer fruits and vegetables over meat or fatty foods. Fat slows digestion, giving the body more time to absorb nutrients. A diet high in fibre and low in fat can cause food to pass through the digestive tract too quickly, causing loose, watery poo.
Immature digestive tract
Toddlers' digestive tracts are still developing. This might cause food to move too quickly through the digestive tract, which can lead to diarrhoea.
Other causes of diarrhoea in children
Toddler’s diarrhoea is not caused by an infection.
Infection is the most common cause of diarrhoea in tamariki. This is also known as gastroenteritis or a ‘tummy bug’.
Other causes of diarrhoea in tamariki include:
- food intolerances
- coeliac disease (gluten allergy)
- inflammatory bowel disease
When to get medical help for your child with diarrhoea
If your toddler has diarrhoea, call Healthline free on 0800 611 116 or take them to a health professional.
They will talk to you about your child’s symptoms to work out what is causing their diarrhoea. The health professional may examine your child. They may order tests such as a poo sample to look for other causes.
Toddler’s diarrhoea is different from a tummy bug. If your child develops diarrhoea and they are unwell or have a fever, they may have an infection.
When to get urgent medical help for your child
See a health professional urgently if your child has:
- a fever with their diarrhoea
- vomiting
- not been eating or drinking their usual amounts
- blood in their poo
- tummy pain
- greasy or oily poo
- accidents such as leaking of poo
- weight loss
These symptoms may suggest your child has an infection or another medical condition causing their diarrhoea.
Healthline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 611 116. Call Healthline if you need advice about a child of any age who is unwell, hurt, or has any symptoms of sickness. It's free to callers throughout New Zealand, including from a mobile phone.
Managing toddler's diarrhoea
Most tamariki with toddler's diarrhoea don't need any treatment. But, changes to your child’s diet may help stop or reduce their diarrhoea. Think of the 3 Fs.
Fat
Toddler’s diarrhoea is more common in tamariki who eat a low-fat diet. Fat slows down the passage of food through the digestive tract. Although a low-fat diet is recommended for adults to help prevent disease, tamariki need some fat in their diet. This can help improve toddler's diarrhoea.
Tamariki should be eating a range of foods with different fats in them. This includes foods such as:
- full-fat milk
- yoghurt
- cheese
- butter
- olive oils and spreads
- avocado
- dips like low-salt hummus
- meat, fish and eggs
- seeds and nut spreads*
*Nuts are a choking hazard - use peanut butter or other nut spreads for tamariki under 5.
Fruit juice
Too much juice can cause diarrhoea because it contains sugars that aren’t fully absorbed, leading to watery poo. Sugary drinks can also fill tamariki up, so they have less of an appetite for nutritious foods.
Water is the best drink for tamariki. Keep fruit juice as an occasional treat. If your child is used to juice, dilute it gradually with water until they can drink water happily.
Fibre
Very low-fibre or very high-fibre intake may make toddler’s diarrhoea worse in some tamariki. For a toddler with a low fibre intake, increasing their fibre intake may help their diarrhoea. But, too much fibre can cause loose, watery poo, so it's important to get the right balance of fibre for your child.
All tamariki need a balanced diet. But, some foods are more likely to cause toddler’s diarrhoea than others.
Foods to consider reducing if your child has toddler’s diarrhoea include:
- high-fibre cereal such as porridge, wheat biscuits or cereals with raisins
- wholemeal bread
- peas and corn
- baked beans, lentils and pulses
- raisins and grapes
Aim for 5 age-appropriate portions of fruit and vegetables per day, each roughly the size of your child's fist.
Does my child always need to eat like this?
No, your child usually only needs to eat less fibre and more fat when they have diarrhoea. Symptoms of toddler’s diarrhoea usually settle by the age of 5 to 6 years. A recommended healthy diet for pre-school aged tamariki includes plenty of fibre and not too much fat.
This page gives more general information on managing toddler’s diarrhoea. If you are worried about your child’s eating and nutrition, see a health professional.
Are there any long-term effects of toddler’s diarrhoea?
No. Tamariki with toddler’s diarrhoea continue to grow and develop normally.
