Does Diarrhea Occur During Teething?

Teething is often associated with diarrhea, but it is not the case. Factors such as looser stools and sore gums can contribute to diarrhea during the teething period. However, research indicates that teething does not directly cause diarrhea. Some healthcare providers perceive that babies may experience diarrhea during the teething period, which may take a few days to resolve. If diarrhea persists after about a week or recurs every few weeks, it is important for parents to take it seriously.

A 2019 study found that 68 of parents believe diarrhea is a symptom of teething. Changes in eating or sleeping patterns may also occur during the teething period. Symptoms include irritability, disrupted sleep, swelling or inflammation of the gums, drooling, loss of appetite, rash around the mouth, mild temperature, diarrhea, and increased biting. While teething does not cause fever, rashes, diarrhea, or colds, it does cause stress and discomfort for the entire family.

Teething alone won’t cause diarrhea, as sore gums could encourage a child to drink or nurse more. However, severe diarrhea is unlikely to be related to teething. Diarrhea has been found in about 20 of teething children, but typically peaks with the eruption of incisors (the first teeth).

Despite common misconceptions, research indicates that teething does not directly cause diarrhea. However, some healthcare providers may perceive that babies may experience diarrhea during the teething period. If diarrhea doesn’t stop after about a week or reoccurs every few weeks, it is important for parents to consult a doctor.

Why do babies get diarrhea when teething?

Teething and Diarrhea. Many believe that the increased saliva produced during teething can cause stool to become slightly loose. Keep in mind, diarrhea can be a sign of a more serious infection so contact your infant’s pediatrician if the stool becomes watery, because your infant could be at risk for dehydration. Contacting your infant’s pediatrician is especially important if the diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting or a high fever.

I hope the list of symptoms and ways you can help your infant will guide you through your infant’s teething phase. I also hope this helps ease the potential stress experienced by many parents. Just remember, that many symptoms we think are teething can be associated with illness, may be completely unrelated to teething and may need to be addressed by a physician.

What does baby’s poop look like when teething?

One small caveat: iron supplements can turn the poop black as well, so if your baby has recently started an iron supplement a black poop may be normal. What you need to know: “When babies are teething, they have increased drool and saliva and the stools may look a little more slimy or mucusy,” Dr. Wolovits says.

You’ll probably never care about (or talk about) poop as much as you will when you’re a new parent. From color to texture to odor, you might find yourself sometimes wondering, “Is this normal?” That’s a good thing! “The extra attention to stool is very well-deserved,” says Laura Jana, MD, co-author of Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality. “Your baby’s poop tells a whole lot about how he or she is doing with eating.”

So get over any squeamishness you might have and check out this important baby poop info.

What it is: Meconium When: Within the 24 hours after birth.

Why does my baby have diarrhea but not sick?

Food allergies and intolerances. Food allergies, lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance, and sucrose intolerance are common causes of chronic diarrhea.

Food allergies Milk, milk products, and soy allergies are the most common food allergies that affect the digestive tract in children. Food allergies usually appear in the first year of life. Many children outgrow allergies to milk, milk-products, and soy by age 3. Allergies to other foods such as cereal grains, eggs, and seafood may also affect the digestive tract in children.

Lactose intolerance Lactose intolerance is a common condition that may cause diarrhea after eating foods or drinking beverages that contain milk or milk products. Low levels of lactase—the enzyme that helps digest lactose—or lactase deficiency, and malabsorption of lactose cause lactose intolerance.

Can teething upset a baby’s stomach?

Teething symptoms. Some babies may have no problems with teething, while others may be in a lot of discomfort and pain. Teething symptoms may include a raised temperature, reddened cheeks which may be warm, reddened gums, excessive dribbling which may cause a rash on the baby’s chin, poor appetite, chewing, restlessness and irritability. Your baby may also develop a high temperature, upset stomach or diarrhoea just before a tooth breaks through. It’s best to treat them as separate problems to teething. If you’re worried, see your doctor. If you are planning to introduce a new routine or sleep pattern, it might be better to get over the worst of the teething first.

Teething Gels – These usually contain antiseptic and anaesthetic which work by relieving the pain and preventing infection. The effects tend to last about 20 minutes, but can only be used several times a day, so always read the instructions. Ensure that you buy teething gel that is specifically for babies, as adult teething gels are not suitable for children. Consult your pharmacist for more information.

Teething granules or powder – Homeopathic teething remedies which some parents find helpful, particularly for babies waking at night with teething trouble. Larger High Street chemists should stock these.

What color is teething diarrhea?

What Does Teething Poop Look Like?. When babies are teething, some parents report noticing changes in their baby’s stool. If any teething poop occurs it might be slightly looser than usual, but it shouldn’t be watery or overly runny, which would indicate diarrhea. The color may vary, but it typically stays within the normal range of yellow, green, or brown. However, a significant change in the color, consistency, or smell of your baby’s poop —such as sour-smelling poop—could be a sign of an underlying issue and not directly related to teething. If you notice any of these changes, it’s best to consult your baby’s healthcare provider.

How Long Does Diarrhea Last When Teething?. If your baby experiences loose stools while teething, it’s important to remember that teething itself is not usually the cause. If diarrhea does occur, it’s essential to monitor the duration. Persistent diarrhea lasting more than a couple of days, or diarrhea accompanied by other symptoms like fever or vomiting, should prompt you to contact your baby’s healthcare provider to rule out other potential causes and ensure your baby stays hydrated.

How to Treat Diarrhea When Teething. If your baby is experiencing diarrhea while teething, it’s important to manage the symptoms carefully, even though teething itself is not typically the direct cause. Here are some steps you can take:

How many days does teething last?

– Teething only causes irritation around the time your baby’s tooth is about to break through the gum. The teething period generally lasts for about around 8 days, so longer periods of discomfort (commonly associated with teething) may be caused by something else.

– It should also be remembered that your baby has 20 milk teeth that will emerge over 2 years, and these will all cut through at different times, which may make it seem like the pain and irritability can last for months.

There is no evidence of an association between teething and problems with the digestive system. The most likely reason is that teething children are prone to pick up and chew on bacteria-ridden objects that ultimately cause diarrhea. Remember, the teething phase coincides with the time period that babies are most susceptible to infections. If your little one has diarrhea, always seek medical advice.

How to differentiate between diarrhea and normal baby poop?

• Diarrhea in Formula-Fed Infants: How to Tell. Formula-fed babies pass 1 to 8 stools per day during the first week. Then it starts to slow down to 1 to 4 per day. This lasts until 2 months of age.
• The stools are yellow in color and thick like peanut butter.
• Suspect diarrhea if the stools suddenly increase in number or looseness. If it lasts for 3 or more stools, the baby has diarrhea.
• If the stools contain mucus, blood, or smells bad, this points to diarrhea.
• Other clues to diarrhea are poor eating, acting sick or a fever.
• After 2 months of age, most babies pass 1 or 2 stools per day. They can also pass 1 every other day. They no longer appear to have mild diarrhea.

• When to Call for Diarrhea (0-12 Months). Call 911 Now. Not moving
• You think your child has a life-threatening emergency

• Call Doctor or Seek Care Now. Dehydration suspected. No urine in over 8 hours, dark urine, very dry mouth and no tears.
• Blood in the stool
• Constant stomach pain lasts more than 2 hours
• Vomits 3 or more times
• Age less than 1 month with 3 or more diarrhea stools in past 24 hours
• Severe diarrhea. 10 or more watery stools in the last 24 hours.
• Fever over 104° F (40° C)
• Fever in baby less than 12 weeks old. Caution: Do NOT give your baby any fever medicine before being seen.
• Weak immune system. Examples are sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer, organ transplant, taking oral steroids.
• Your child looks or acts very sick
• You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

How long do teething poops last?

Embrace the natural process of teething as a phase of your child’s development. If you notice your child having diarrhea in this period, you don’t need to be too alarmed as it usually clears up by itself in a few days. However, if the symptoms fail to subside in a week, call a doctor immediately.

Take a quiz. Find out what you can do with our Health Assistant.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Anna Targonskaya, Obstetrician and gynecologist.

What stage of teething hurts the most?

Stage 5: (25-33 months) For some children, this is the most painful stage of teething. During this time, the large molars emerge. These are the biggest teeth, and parents may find their normal soothing techniques are no longer effective. Try different methods to soothe the toddler until something helps. Many parents find it beneficial to give the toddler a hard vegetable to chew on, and this is also healthy. If implementing this method, make sure to keep a close eye on the child at all times to make sure he/she does not choke!

Helpful Hints For Soothing A Teething Baby. Some helpful hints for soothing a baby’s sensitive and sore gums include:

• Massaging a baby’s gums with a clean finger, damp washcloth, or clean dampened gauze pad. Providing this pressure to the gums can alleviate the baby’s pain.
• Providing a teething ring made of hard rubber. The liquid filled kind can break as the baby chews.
• Filling a bottle with water and allowing the baby to suck. Do not fill a bottle with milk or juice specifically to sooth teething. Extended contact with sugary liquids leads to tooth decay.
• Chilling a washcloth or teething ring for a baby to then chew on can also be very soothing. Do not freeze these items, however. Contact with objects that are too cold can cause harm to the gums and teeth.
• Giving the baby hard foods that are safe to chew on, if the baby is old enough to eat solid foods as part of his/her diet. Solid vegetables like a peeled and chilled cucumber or carrot can be helpful, but watch the baby closely, as pieces may break off and potentially become choking hazards.
• Drying the drool to keep the skin from becoming too irritated or a rash from forming. Keeping a clean dry bib or cloth under the baby’s chin can be helpful.
• Giving the baby over-the-counter remedies may alleviate pain as well. Before giving the baby any medicines, however, ask the pediatrician what is safe and appropriate for the child.

Can teething affect bowels?

Although there’s no direct link between constipation and teething, constipation can result from a lack of fluids or fibrous foods. If your child isn’t drinking much or avoiding certain foods because their mouth hurts, their bowel movements may be harder and less frequent.

Two potential reasons for constipation in babies are a lack of fluids and too little fiber in the diet of those old enough to eat solid foods.

When babies experience pain related to teething, they may not want to drink as frequently or nurse for as long. They may also avoid eating some foods that hurt their mouths. These changes can cause their poop to become harder.

Does teething pain stop once tooth cuts?

Does Teething Pain Stop Once the Tooth Cuts?. Yes, the teething pain stops once the tooth cuts through the gums. Babies experience pain while the tooth is trying to break through the gums. Once it cuts, there is no more pain. To help relieve pain from teething, there are some things you can do.

• Gently massage or rub the gums with clean fingers
• Allow the baby to suck on or chew a firm rubber teether (you can refrigerate the teether)
• Introduce some hard foods, such as a peeled and chilled cucumber or carrot
• Gently rub their gums with a cool washcloth
• Try an over-the-counter remedy, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to help relieve pain
• Dry the drool to prevent skin irritation

Final Thoughts. Understanding all you can about when do babies teeth come in is essential, as it is important to know everything you can do to help your baby throughout the teething process. Within the first six months of your baby getting their first tooth, it is a good idea to schedule your child’s first dental appointment with The Super Dentists.