Q: My daughter has been a little loose with her poop for the last 2-3 days after I started her on a probiotic and Flintstones vitamins (no iron). Her stool today was almost black, a little mucous and very dark green. She ate tons of blueberries and cherries today (as a side note). Do I have anything to worry about? No fever, no sickness. Very happy, but has a diaper rash now. She is 2 years old.
A: You’ve now entered the world of “what did my child eat?” In general, loose stools aren’t a big problem. Usually these are associated with either viral infections or a particular food your child has eaten. In general, I do advocate the use of probiotics. I haven’t heard of kids developing loose stools as a result, but you never know how any one person will respond to them. The most likely culprit for your child’s peculiar poop is the blueberries that she ate. Every time my daughter, Marissa, ate blueberries, we were sure to have a giant blue/black surprise in her diaper!
Foods like applesauce, bananas, mashed potatoes, and rice will normally slow down bowel movements, while foods like grapes, raisins, prunes, peaches, and high fiber foods will speed up bowel movements. Also, certain juices will affect the speed of your child’s internal poop generator.
However, if you ever see red, pure black or silver stools, then you should contact your pediatrician to check it out. Red or black may imply blood, which is never normal in stools. The only exception is if you see blood streaks, which could be from a rectal fissure. Silver stools may imply a liver problem. If the loose stools are associated with fever and/or pain, then a thorough evaluation is warranted.
As for the diaper rash, usually a good coating of A & D ointment will help speed up healing. If the rash changes in nature, consult your pediatrician to see if an infection has set in.