What Causes Red Stool In A Child?

Posted on Sat, 29 Apr 2017

Question: Hi Dr, Birth weight of my daughter as on 5th Aug-16 was 2.6 kg and she currently weighs 6.5 kg. Is that normal? Also yest i gav her tomato and carrot puree and her mornin motion was red. PFA image for your reference. Pls advice.

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Weight is less for age

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Can understand your concerns.

I have seen the picture that you have attached.

Weight at 8 months of age should be around 7.5 kg, so the weight of child is less for age. After 6 months of age, complementary feeding should be started because milk alone is not sufficient for growth of the child. After 6 months, child should be given ceralac, oats, rice and dal, add small amount of butter or ghee in every meal. In fruits you can give banana and apple. As child starts to digest, feed can be increased. Egg should also be given.

Red colour of stools is due to puree that you gave which had tomato and carrot. There is no need to worry about this.

In my opinion, you should also start multivitamin drops and vitamin d drops till 1 year of age. This will also improve appetite of child.

I hope this will help you. Wishing your child good health. Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Patel (41 hours later)

Oki. She has morning bowl full of XXXXXXX kheer (2tsp with 1 cup milk) and dal khichdi during the day made wit 2tbsp rice powder, 1tbsp moong dal powder, 1 and half tbsp rawa and jeera/ salt/ for taste. She gets so full after eating al dis during the day that cnt eat nythng else. Pls confirm if her diet is good enough for a 8mnth old. She is super active during the day n night.

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
It's good enough

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome once again.

The diet that you are giving is good enough for a baby of 8 month. One thing that is missing is fruits. Give small amount of apple or banana in diet also. Give small amounts of feed but at short intervals. Like if you give more at one time then child's tummy will be full and he won't eat more but if give the same amount at some gap then child can eat more. Frequent feeding helps.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Patel (26 hours later)

Yes definitely I wud try n include more of fruits. Also missed to mention along with the above diet she takes regular 3hourly feeds. However, currently shes not eating anything. She jst wants to drink water and my feed. She vomited out the food i gave her and she has got a biting sensation. Is it possible that this is dueto teething? Her lower 2teeth hav com 2wks bck.Pls suggest.

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It's due to teething

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

After 5 months, teething process starts and as result there is irritation at region of gums and child starts to take everything in mouth. Vitamin D drops should be given till 1 year of age for early teething.

Don't be in a haste, feeds should be introduced slowly and once child starts to digests it then we increase the feed.

Take care.

Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana