Baby electrolytes

[34saving]

Ok. My 17 mo old just got her first "real" sickness about 15 hours ago. She's drinking a lot (mostly diluted apple juice), but she's getting rid of a lot too. (Food leaves instantly, so we're avoiding that for the time being.) Of course, dehydration is my big concern, so what I need to know is: Do I need Pedilyte (or its equilvalent) or is there something else that will work? (BTW, she shows no signs of dehydration at the moment.) Thanks!

[mom-from-missouri]

use the brat diet:
bananna
rice
applesauce
toast
watch the applejuice--even diluted, too much can add to or cause diarrhea
If she was well hydirated before she got sick, pedilyte usually isnt needed until after 24 hours--may not need it at all if she can tolerate the brat food. Even with the brat, it may take 2-4 hours to start keeping it in and down. good luck

[34saving]

Thanks for the advice! I'm hoping by morning she'll be able to tolerate food bettter.
I've tried applesauce and she vomitted it up. Same with the two or three Cheerios she ate. Liquids seem to be the only thing staying in long enough to affect the diarrhea. By morning we'll be over 24 hours, so I guess I try the Pedialyte. One thing I can't believe -- there were no baby electrolyte products at our local store that didn't have added artificial color. What are they thinking? Baby doesn't need the color and neither does her laundy. We'll she's asleep, let's hope she stays that way for awhile. Thanks!

[Lori63]

One thing I can't believe -- there were no baby electrolyte products at our local store that didn't have added artificial color. What are they thinking?

What about children who can't have added colors? That is just ridiculous.

[PrincessPerky]

We had to hunt for the clear around here too. Seems marketers know most parents don't mind.

Hope she feels better.

[34saving]

Long sleep last night. That's good at least. Tried the electrolytes this morning. She couldn't handle it full strength, so I had to dilute it. (I know that's a no-no but when she's instanting vomiting the full strength .. .) Still no luck eating any brat items, but I'll keep trying. I bought the store brand electrolytes (Target) so I wrote to them telling them to either make something without artificial colors or carry what they already make. I'll let you guys know if I get a response. Thanks for the advice!

[miclason]

to make your own electrolytes beverage at home:
Boil one liter of water, let it cool
add 1 tsp salt
add 1 tbsp sugar
stir

One very important thing to remember is that electrolytes should be spoonfed and never, ever given in a bottle, as this causes vomiting...

This is widely used here in ES. We all learned to do this during the war, when there was curfew...you couldn't go out from 6pm to 6am... Also, every year, from January through February, there is a strange "rotavirus" going on and babies and small children are generally the most affected ones: high fever, vomiting and diahrrea (sp?) so we keep getting reminders of this via TV, radio and newspaper ads.

Hope the baby gets better!

[34saving]

Thanks for the formula miclason. I'll have to try that out. (Seems easy enough and certainly cheaper than the store stuff -- and with no artificial colors!)

So far no fever (at least not a significant one), but I do wonder about the rotavirus.

BTW, don't mind my stupidity (haven't had much sleep lately), but ES? The only country I can think of is Estonia, but . . . let me know if you get the chance Thanks!

[miclason]

sorry about that, I'm from El Salvador (ES)....most foreigners refer to it as Salvador only, so maybe that's why it didn't come to mind for you..."during the war" would be the 70's and 80's...(but, having really poor zones in the country, with little or no access to medical care, this sort of knowledge is never obsolete!)

[34saving]

I thought of El Salvador about 2 minutes after my last post. . . .yep. Brain is a little slow today. Well, fluids are staying down better and I just tried a tiny bit of rice. We'll see how that goes. In the meantime a fever has hit (102), so the rotavirus is looking like more and more of a possibility. Thanks for everybody's advice/support!

[PrincessPerky]

My DS didn't have a fever with rotovirus for the longest time. And DD like never gets a fever, not even with the HUGE earinfection she had, it was like 99. that doesn't count as a fever.

[34saving]

This morning she seems to be handle "brat"s -- not bratwursts -- I'm not looking for that kind of punishment! Looks like the fever broke this morning. What's funny is now she want nothing to do with the electrolytes. Maybe she associates them with vomitting/being sick? Anyway, it seems like the worst is over. Thanks for your advice!