“Most of the time, kids with diarrhea can be treated at home,” says Dr. Gigangte. Here's how:

Focus on fluids: “ When children have diarrhea, they are losing more liquid than usual and they need to replace it so they need to drink more than the usual amounts of fluid,” says Dr. Neuspiel. “To make up for fluid losses, typically we'd recommend an oral rehydration solution, such as Pedialyte, which contains water and electrolytes to maintain hydration.” While infants tend to be okay to take in these solutions, which taste like salt water, toddlers and preschoolers may not like the taste of them. “Add a little unsweetened Kool-Aid to give it a better taste,” says Dr. Gigante. “Because of its high sugar content, fruit juice makes diarrhea worse so we don't recommend that.”

For older children, diluted juice or a drink like Gatorade, which has some electrolytes in it, may help keep up with fluid losses. Discuss the best options for your child with your doctor.

Make diet changes: “If diarrhea is really mild—just one or two loose bowel movements, I usually don't tell parents to change the diet,” says Dr. Gigante. “If the diarrhea is more severe, once I get the Pedialyte or fluids in, I'd slowly return to regular foods which are easy to digest.” Assuming the child is not vomiting, that means clear liquids and the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. “These foods might improve the diarrhea and help avoid more significant diarrhea and dehydration,” says Dr. Neuspiel.