My 19 month old has had diarrhea for the past three days. her fluid intake is the same as usual but she is eating less than normal. should i take her to her doctor?

Why not?: Doctors are often taught that parents know their children best, and that when there is a significant change in their behavior, particularly when they are unable to clearly vocalize the reasons, it is prudent to follow up and make sure that nothing significant is taking place. On the other hand, this may well be a viral illness which will resolve quickly.

Adjust diet: Watch for signs of dehydration such as fewer wet diapers, dry mouth and eyes. Adjusting the diet to include bananas, rice, applesauce with yogurt may help to control the symptoms. Watch for blood or mucus in the stool, and please see your PCP. Regular cow's milk products become more difficult to digest and for the duration of the illness, either continue breastfeeding or switch to soy milk.