Signs your baby's digestive system needs help (2 of 2)

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Dehydration

Vomiting, sometimes combined with diarrhoea, can lead to dehydration, which means the child does not have enough liquid in his or her body. Babies and toddlers get dehydrated more quickly than older children and it can be a medical emergency.

When to seek medical advice: Signs of dehydration include not passing much urine, having a dry mouth, pale or mottled skin, cold hands and feet, and having eyesthat look sunken – in babies the soft area on the top of the head known as the fontanelle may look sunken too. The child may be irritable or drowsy. Consult your GP immediately if you think your baby or child is dehydrated. Especially in babies under 6 months old, this can be a medical emergency that needs immediate attention.

Constipation

The opposite of diarrhoea, constipation occurs when your child doesn't poo at least three times a week. The poos have little liquid in them, making them hard and difficult to shift. They can be compacted in a hard large poo or they might be pellets like rabbit droppings. Sometimes the child's underpants are soiled, when diarrhoea leaks around hard, compacted poos.

Constipation can occur for a number of reasons, including lack of fluids orexercise, a poor diet without enough fibre, stress from potty training or fear of using a toilet away from home, or medical conditions such as coeliac disease or hypothyroidism.

As well as diarrhoea, constipation may also be a symptom of IBS. Dr Read explains, constipation "is often a feature of IBS and may alternate with bouts of diarrhoea".

Some medication can also cause constipation as a side effect so check the information leaflet of any your child is taking. Do not stop any medication before seeking medical advice.

When to seek medical advice: If your child has abdominal pain, stomach cramps, painful bowel movements or fewer than normal bowel movements, you should consult your GP. Also consult your GP if your child does not have at least 3 bowel movements a week, if there is blood in the poo or if your child has to push more than normal when using the toilet. The longer constipation persists, the longer it will take for bowel movements to return back to normal.

Abdominal pain

Whether you call it a tummy ache, stomach ache or stomach cramps, abdominal pain occurs in the abdomen, the region that is just above your hips extending up to your ribs. Abdominal pain can be dull or sharp, feel like a cramp, or come and go. There are many reasons for tummy ache including gastroenteritis, trapped wind, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome or appendicitis.

When to seek medical advice: If your child has a severe or constant tummy ache, or if it starts unexpectedly and is sudden – especially if it is located in a specific area – consult your GP immediately or take your child to A&E as it could be a medical emergency. If the pain is intermittent – coming and going over a few months – you should also consult your GP.

Not sure about making a phone call?

If you are unsure if your child's symptoms are bad enough to call your GP or have other worries, don't hesitate to contact your GP's surgery for advice or call an NHS advice line.

The IBS Network provides a Self Care Plan on its website to help support people living with IBS.

Coeliac UK's website provides support for people with coeliac disease.

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