Seeing blood in your baby’s  stool can be alarming but this condition is common and usually not serious. The cause of bloody stools usually depends on the baby’s age.

What are the causes of bloody stools in babies ?

Some of the possible causes include the following :

• anal fissure – this is the most common cause of bloody stool in children. It is usually as a result of baby passing large or hard stools
• milk or soy protein intolerance can  cause vomiting and diarrhea and bloody stools
• infectious diarrhea which is diarrhea caused by a virus, bacterium or parasite
• more serious conditions such as intussusception

Certain foods such as beet and medications such as amoxicillin can cause red colored stools that look like blood.

When should I contact my doctor ?

Call your doctor right away if your child experiences  the following symptoms :

• child looks sick
• vomits blood
• passes large amount of blood with or without stool
• urine color turns pink
• tarry or blood-colored stool
• abdominal pain
• child is under 12 weeks
• bruises to the skin not caused by an injury
• small bleeding occurs more than 2 times

Home remedies for anal fissure

Blood from an anal fissure is usually bright red. This is usually seen after the child passes a very hard and large stool. The blood is seen on the surface of the stool or on the toilet tissue after wiping.

You may give the baby  a saline bath for 20 minutes , twice a day . To make this solution, add  2 ounces (60 ml) of table salt or baking soda to a tub of warm water. This will cleanse the area and promote healing.

You can  apply 1% hydrocortisone ointment (no prescription needed) 3 times per day for 1 day to help healing if anus looks irritated.

For children 1 year and older, offer high fiber diet to relieve constipation. Increase child’s intake of fruits, vegetables and grains.  Reduce  intake of milk products to  3 servings per day.

Anal fissure heals quickly with home remedies. However, contact your doctor if child gets worse or bleeding increases.
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