What Should I Do for My Child's Acute Diarrhea?

QUESTION: I am getting conflicting advice on this question and would be
grateful for your advice. Can you please tell me if you should feed a child
who is having acute diarrhea? Some friends say yes, but mother says no. What
do you say?
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ANSWER: Acute diarrhea in a small child is not the same relatively benign
discomfort it is for an adult. Infants and small children with diarrhea can
become dehydrated extremely quickly and may die. It's always been the
standard treatment to withhold solid food from a baby with diarrhea and give
him or her only water or a rehydration fluid for the first 24 to 48 hours.
However, recent evidence points to the value of giving babies some
lactose-free formula after they've already received some fluids. Babies that
received a soy-based infant formula (not one with milk in it, which can cause
further diarrhea) had diarrhea for a shorter period of time than did babies
treated with just water and rehydration fluid. Because of this finding, it
might be a good idea to start a baby on some formula early in the course of
his or her illness.
Rehydration fluid is water with important nutrients like potassium added.
It's sold in pharmacies under the name Pedialyte. Your doctor can also tell
you how you can make your own rehydration fluid and how to use it. I am sure
your own doctor has some ideas about this, and it would be wise to ask him or
her about this subject and go along with that advice.