Diarrhea
Is this diarrhea something to worry about?
Content reviewed against published AAP, CDC guidelines
Last reviewed:
Key takeaways
- Go to the ER if: call your pediatrician now
- Call your doctor if: call your pediatrician today
- Usually safe to monitor at home: monitor at home
- When in doubt, call your pediatrician — they would rather hear from you than have you worry alone
How old is your baby?
This is not medical advice. When in doubt, always call your pediatrician.
Quick Reference Guide
Call 911 / Go to ER
Call your pediatrician now
Diarrhea in a baby under 3 months can lead to dehydration very quickly. Young infants have limited fluid reserves and need prompt evaluation.
- Call your pediatrician's office or after-hours line immediately
- If you cannot reach them within 30 minutes, go to the ER
- Continue offering breast milk or formula in small, frequent amounts
- Do not give water, juice, or anti-diarrheal medications
- Count wet diapers and note the time of each stool
Seek immediate medical care
Blood in diarrhea can indicate a bacterial infection, intussusception, or other condition that needs urgent evaluation.
- Call your pediatrician immediately or go to the ER
- Save a soiled diaper or take a photo to show the doctor
- Do not give any medications unless directed by a doctor
- Note when the bloody stools started and how many there have been
Go to the ER now
Your baby is showing signs of significant dehydration. Babies can become dangerously dehydrated much faster than adults. They may need IV fluids.
- Go to the emergency room now
- Try to offer small sips of breast milk, formula, or Pedialyte on the way
- Do not give plain water to infants under 12 months
- Bring a list of how many wet diapers and stools in the last 24 hours
Call Your Pediatrician
Call your pediatrician today
Your baby is showing early signs of dehydration or has persistent diarrhea that needs medical guidance. Mild dehydration can be managed at home with the right approach, but your doctor should advise.
- Call your pediatrician during office hours or the after-hours line
- Offer frequent small amounts of breast milk, formula, or Pedialyte
- For babies over 6 months, your doctor may recommend an oral rehydration solution
- Avoid fruit juice and sugary drinks - they can worsen diarrhea
- Track wet diapers closely - aim for at least 4-6 in 24 hours
Call during office hours
The diarrhea deserves a call to your pediatrician to discuss whether your baby should be seen, but it is not an emergency right now.
- Call your pediatrician during their next office hours
- Continue breastfeeding or formula feeding as normal
- For babies on solids, offer bland foods like bananas, rice cereal, and toast
- Avoid dairy products other than breast milk or formula
- Monitor for signs of dehydration: fewer wet diapers, dry mouth, no tears
Monitor at Home
Monitor at home
Mild diarrhea is common in babies, especially with teething, new foods, or mild viral infections. As long as your baby is drinking well and producing wet diapers, you can monitor at home.
- Continue offering breast milk or formula frequently
- Watch for signs of dehydration: fewer wet diapers, dry lips, fussiness
- If your baby is eating solids, stick to bland foods and avoid juice
- Apply barrier cream (zinc oxide) to prevent diaper rash from frequent stools
- Call your pediatrician if diarrhea lasts more than 2 days or worsens
Diarrhea — When to Seek Care Decision Guide
Urgency: Emergency / ER
Scenario: Call your pediatrician now
What to Do: Diarrhea in a baby under 3 months can lead to dehydration very quickly. Young infants have limited fluid reserves and need prompt evaluation.
Key Actions: Call your pediatrician's office or after-hours line immediately; If you cannot reach them within 30 minutes, go to the ER; Continue offering breast milk or formula in small, frequent amounts; Do not give water, juice, or anti-diarrheal medications; Count wet diapers and note the time of each stool
Urgency: Emergency / ER
Scenario: Seek immediate medical care
What to Do: Blood in diarrhea can indicate a bacterial infection, intussusception, or other condition that needs urgent evaluation.
Key Actions: Call your pediatrician immediately or go to the ER; Save a soiled diaper or take a photo to show the doctor; Do not give any medications unless directed by a doctor; Note when the bloody stools started and how many there have been
Urgency: Emergency / ER
Scenario: Go to the ER now
What to Do: Your baby is showing signs of significant dehydration. Babies can become dangerously dehydrated much faster than adults. They may need IV fluids.
Key Actions: Go to the emergency room now; Try to offer small sips of breast milk, formula, or Pedialyte on the way; Do not give plain water to infants under 12 months; Bring a list of how many wet diapers and stools in the last 24 hours
Urgency: Call Doctor
Scenario: Call your pediatrician today
What to Do: Your baby is showing early signs of dehydration or has persistent diarrhea that needs medical guidance. Mild dehydration can be managed at home with the right approach, but your doctor should advise.
Key Actions: Call your pediatrician during office hours or the after-hours line; Offer frequent small amounts of breast milk, formula, or Pedialyte; For babies over 6 months, your doctor may recommend an oral rehydration solution; Avoid fruit juice and sugary drinks - they can worsen diarrhea; Track wet diapers closely - aim for at least 4-6 in 24 hours
Urgency: Call Doctor
Scenario: Call during office hours
What to Do: The diarrhea deserves a call to your pediatrician to discuss whether your baby should be seen, but it is not an emergency right now.
Key Actions: Call your pediatrician during their next office hours; Continue breastfeeding or formula feeding as normal; For babies on solids, offer bland foods like bananas, rice cereal, and toast; Avoid dairy products other than breast milk or formula; Monitor for signs of dehydration: fewer wet diapers, dry mouth, no tears
Urgency: Monitor at Home
Scenario: Monitor at home
What to Do: Mild diarrhea is common in babies, especially with teething, new foods, or mild viral infections. As long as your baby is drinking well and producing wet diapers, you can monitor at home.
Key Actions: Continue offering breast milk or formula frequently; Watch for signs of dehydration: fewer wet diapers, dry lips, fussiness; If your baby is eating solids, stick to bland foods and avoid juice; Apply barrier cream (zinc oxide) to prevent diaper rash from frequent stools; Call your pediatrician if diarrhea lasts more than 2 days or worsens
| Urgency | Scenario | What to Do | Key Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency / ER | Call your pediatrician now | Diarrhea in a baby under 3 months can lead to dehydration very quickly. Young infants have limited fluid reserves and need prompt evaluation. | Call your pediatrician's office or after-hours line immediately; If you cannot reach them within 30 minutes, go to the ER; Continue offering breast milk or formula in small, frequent amounts; Do not give water, juice, or anti-diarrheal medications; Count wet diapers and note the time of each stool |
| Emergency / ER | Seek immediate medical care | Blood in diarrhea can indicate a bacterial infection, intussusception, or other condition that needs urgent evaluation. | Call your pediatrician immediately or go to the ER; Save a soiled diaper or take a photo to show the doctor; Do not give any medications unless directed by a doctor; Note when the bloody stools started and how many there have been |
| Emergency / ER | Go to the ER now | Your baby is showing signs of significant dehydration. Babies can become dangerously dehydrated much faster than adults. They may need IV fluids. | Go to the emergency room now; Try to offer small sips of breast milk, formula, or Pedialyte on the way; Do not give plain water to infants under 12 months; Bring a list of how many wet diapers and stools in the last 24 hours |
| Call Doctor | Call your pediatrician today | Your baby is showing early signs of dehydration or has persistent diarrhea that needs medical guidance. Mild dehydration can be managed at home with the right approach, but your doctor should advise. | Call your pediatrician during office hours or the after-hours line; Offer frequent small amounts of breast milk, formula, or Pedialyte; For babies over 6 months, your doctor may recommend an oral rehydration solution; Avoid fruit juice and sugary drinks - they can worsen diarrhea; Track wet diapers closely - aim for at least 4-6 in 24 hours |
| Call Doctor | Call during office hours | The diarrhea deserves a call to your pediatrician to discuss whether your baby should be seen, but it is not an emergency right now. | Call your pediatrician during their next office hours; Continue breastfeeding or formula feeding as normal; For babies on solids, offer bland foods like bananas, rice cereal, and toast; Avoid dairy products other than breast milk or formula; Monitor for signs of dehydration: fewer wet diapers, dry mouth, no tears |
| Monitor at Home | Monitor at home | Mild diarrhea is common in babies, especially with teething, new foods, or mild viral infections. As long as your baby is drinking well and producing wet diapers, you can monitor at home. | Continue offering breast milk or formula frequently; Watch for signs of dehydration: fewer wet diapers, dry lips, fussiness; If your baby is eating solids, stick to bland foods and avoid juice; Apply barrier cream (zinc oxide) to prevent diaper rash from frequent stools; Call your pediatrician if diarrhea lasts more than 2 days or worsens |
Based on AAP and CDC symptom management guidelines. Always call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.
Frequently asked questions
When should I take my baby to the ER for diarrhea?
When should I call the doctor about baby diarrhea?
When can I monitor diarrhea at home?
Bottom line
Most cases of diarrhea in babies can be managed at home with monitoring. Seek emergency care if you notice call your pediatrician now. When in doubt, call your pediatrician.
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician. Worrying about your baby means you care — that is a good thing.
All content follows our editorial policy and is reviewed against published clinical guidelines.
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