20-Month Old Sick & Won't Drink Much

Popsicles!! But don't get the pedialyte one's, they taste terrible - I get the whole fruit one's. When my little one is sick, she refuses water and juice too... my ped said that gatorade is just as good as pedialyte, and even though it has extra sugar that little bit of extra sugar might motivate him to drink.
Go get some gatorade and some popsicles - my 2 year old never refuses that combo.

And just remembered one more thing - when my little one was sick, I would let her suck on a wet washcloth. For some reason having in in her mouth, with the texture of the washcloth and the cold water, soothed her. I believe We layed on the couch in front of the TV, and I would remove the washcloth and re-wet it often, and I got a pretty good amount of liquid in her that way.

Hi! Good Mom! You are doing all the right things, but your son has been sick long enough that those tricks may not be enough any more. Please consider taking him to the ER - they can check to see if he needs an IV to bring his body around so you can return home with a happy boy. It's always better to be safe than sorry and not not urinating means you might need intervention before things progress in the wrong direction!

Call the doctor immediately! This could be a medical emergency.

If the diapers are now almost dry you need to get him to the doctor quick. Dehydration is not a joke. More people/children die from this than you can imagine. Especially young ones. I don't mean to be so blunt, but it is serious. My cousins neighbor lost her little girl like this. Her electrolytes were so off her little heart stopped beating. Please call your pediatrician. Best wishes. Also, I give my kids their favorite popsicles, noodle soups, jello. If they like this, it all is liquid. Sometimes you can trick them to eating all the jello they want in order to keep them hydrated enough to feel better and want to drink the other stuff. My son never liked pedialyte. He will drink gatorade before drinking that and that is not bad for him. They now have G2 the lower calorie gatorade which has less sugar and that will be better for the diarreah. Don't forget the BRAT diet, bananas, rice, applesauce and toast to help the stomach flu and diarreah. I hope this helps. God bless.

Hi L.,
I would take him to a dr. he could have strep throat or something painful to swallow.Children can get dehydrated very quickly.
Not taking in fluids can make a fever go high very quickly.
High fever can create seizures.
So keep an eye on that every few hours. Meanwhile give him whatever you can that has liguid, like 100% fruit popsicles.
Dont wait too long to take to ER if it gets worse.
mother of 4

Try popsicles. Regular or pedialyte.

You might try using the motrin/tylenol syringe thingie to get some liquid in. My son did the same thing and I was really freaking out about dehydration. I just washed in in hot water, loaded it up with water and give it to him. He cried of course but at least I gave him some liquids to work with. Good luck!!

Hi- They make pedialyte popsicles that have been the only thing my girls would take when they've been really sick. They come from the shelf at the drugstore/market so you have to freeze yourself. If you can't find those just a regular sugar free popsicle might do the trick. Good Luck! Kari

Popcicles....homemade from juice or from the store. My daughter used to do this all the time, and sucking on a popcicle made her feel special (we kind of made a big deal out of getting one) and she received liquid.
K.

Hello...try and give him a popsicle. pedialyte has freezer pops. when my daughter was little she loved them! they think its a treat not knowing that they are good for them!

I am an RN and I would HIGHLY suggest you get him in to see the pediatrician ASAP. Babies can get dehydrated very quickly. If it has gone on for a week now he is probably dehydrated and undernourished as well. At the very least call the pediatrician and see what they say. He might have a very sore throat from all the vomiting and the doctor can recommend to you at least what to do so he will at least drink. Good luck.

For vomiting we make rice water, then use the rice porridge. We make rice with double the water and put sugar (brown or regular) and cinnamon in it; if that stays down then eating the watery rice with the sugar and cinnamon ... have some, it's delicious.

We, too, hated Pedialyte popsicles :-) but the natural juice bars are yuummmmmmm!

try pedialyte popsicles or make your own popsicles with apple juice and some water!
this always worked for me with my kids
good luck

if you still have a dry diaper Look for signs of deyhydration like
How can I tell if my toddler is dehydrated?
Any of these signs could indicate that your toddler is dehydrated or is becoming dehydrated:
• More than six to eight hours without a wet diaper
• Urine that looks darker in his diaper and smells stronger than usual
• Lethargy
• A dry, parched mouth and lips
• No tears while crying

Signs that your toddler may be seriously dehydrated:
• Sunken eyes
• Hands and feet that feel cold and look splotchy
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or delirium
• Excessive sleepiness or fussiness
Good luck
Danielle
Mom of 3 great kids 14, 10 & 5
http://www.babycenter.com/0_dehydration_11407.bc

Hi L.,
I have been through the same thing with my son and I know how frightening it is. I tried the Pedialyte and it is absolutely foul - I wouldn't drink that stuff either!
Try a little bit of soda - regular not diet. I don't usually let me son have soda other than a very special treat and a little treat when they're sick is so nice for them. The soda is very settling for the stomach and they are also getting liquids and a little sugar. 7up is good too.
Good luck and I'm sure he'll feel better soon.
G.

I know it's messy but try popsicles.

Good Luck!

Jello jigglers - made with plain jello from real juice, to eliminate the sugar factor. I'd try room temperature or slightly warm vegetable or chicken broth; personally I don't like cold drinks when I am sick.

You can try chicken broth (just chicken and potatos, with a tiny tiny bit of onion), with a little bit of salt, it works perfect for my 2 year old baby. He drinks it so well and loves to eat the potatos.

Hello L.;
Go to the store and buy some popcicles for the babies to suck on. It gets liquid down them and can help keep them hydrated. As for food, try soft foods like applesauce, pudding, or babyfood.
good luck. C.

i would try some natural juice Popsicles.

Try offering fruit that is high in both water and sugar like watermellon. Also try putting things in the blender like carrot juice along with ice...their favorite fruits make a great smoothie (along the jamba juice flavors), pineapple, banana, vanilla ice cream, and ice are tasty and good for them.Offer them some choices to be frozen (homemade popcicles), sometimes being involved is just what kids need. Herbal teas are one of our favorite remadies. There are several companies that offer kid friendly versions of delicious teas..there is a flu tea, throat coat, breath easy, and peppermint. Gatoraide may be a better choice for electrolytes too...it's pretty and can also be frozen. Good luck.
Patty T.

Hi there,

I, too, have twins and when they were your son's age, he had a similar experience. Have you tried popsicles? My pediatrician suggested this after many failed attempts at pedialyte. My kids still go nuts for otter pops! Hope this helps.

L.

Dear L.,

I really feel for you, I have been there with my kids. First of all I found out that giving them water makes them throw up if they are in the vomiting stage. I am not into sodas but, I did find that taking all the carbonation out of a regular coke and only giving them a tablespoon at a time really helped with the vomiting. Also Pedialyte make a popscicle they might like those, also I would give them natural fruit popscicles to get fluid into them. I hope they get well soon.

Have you tried the frozen pedialyte pops? The liquid Pedialyte is tastes nasty, however both my girls devour the frozen version.

It is definately a concern when they diaper is dry after an extended period. Be sure to call the doctor/hospital and let them know.

Get him to a hospital. He could be dehydrated and that is NOTHING to mess around with.

Watch out for these signs:

*if he hasn't peed a diaper (decent amount) in like 6 hrs.
*if his eyes look dark and sunk in
*if his skin doesn't bounce back fast when you pinch a bit of it (like on top of his arm)

Seriously, my son was discharged out of a hospital...threw up all night long and we were back in the hospital within 24 hrs. He took in fluids through an IV for about 6 hours before he finally peed his diaper.

Better to err on the side of caution.

I know kids hate the pedialyte but it's better than plain water. That tends to make them throw up again.

Good luck to you I hope he's okay.

Try wetting a baby washcloth and then freezing it. They can suck on it and get some liquid that way. I would roll it up and put it in a ziploc before freezing. Helps with teething too

Hi L.,
I remember going through the same thing with my daughter who is now 13. She was a little older when we started this (2yrs). We would make our own popsicles. I let her pick out the juice and pour it into the molds and then I let her insert the wooden sticks (you can use ice cube trays or dixie cups for molds too). She enjoyed being able to eat the popsicles that she made and at the same time was getting the hydration she needed. As she got older we made them out of gingerale to settle her tummy as well. The other trick is to get them to drink fluids using crazy straws. When my kids wouldn't take medicine I would have them suck it through a straw. You might want to try this for hydration purposes. We mom's need to be tricky sometimes. Good Luck.

When my youngest was sick and didn't want the Pedialyte, the doctor recommended popsicles (juice bars, not the all sugar ones). If he can't lick them, chop them up and give him a spoon. Also, if he's able to eat, the doctor said to try saltine crackers or plain, salted popcorn (usually something the kids will want to eat). The saltiness gets them to want to drink.

call or make an appt to see your doctor

I would try natural fruit popsicles (from whole foods)...Anything to get some fluids into him and easy on the digestive system.

Good luck!

When my DD had the rotovirus the advise nurse suggest jello water, popcicles or flat sprite to keep her hydrated. My dd wouldnt eat or drink anything and after a week ended up dehydrated and needing and IV. It was terrible, I feel for you. Hopefully you can get some liquids down him and he will feel better.

Best wishes,
A.

gelato ices worked for us, shaving a little spoonful at a time into the baby's mouth. however, call your pediatrician immediately if the baby is too quiet, lethargic, is not taking anything in, or has no wet diapers. too serious to let go for long...

I know this sounds a little crazy but, you don't want to end up in the emergency room with a dehydrated baby...IV's are no fun! Anything he will drink give to him. You can make jello water and let him sip it with a spoon or chicken broth. I've even had my pediatrician tell me that if he will drink it, soda is okay too...just get some fluid in him! Don't give him water, it will make him vomit again - unless it has been several (like five) hours since he last vomited. Sometimes they will drink gatorade...

Stick with water but try some differnt cups. It's all in the presentation, I've found. Try partially filled sports bottles or a different brand of sippy cup (maybe a disposable plastic one with a favorite character on it). None of my boys would drink Pedialyte.

Maybe you should try the pedialyte pop cycles, he or she will think they are getting a treat. or how about mix jello in water, not a whole pack but enough to make it sweet, and not thicken.

C. blakemore

Pedialyte makes popsicles that are super yummy. When the kids and I had the stomach flu, even a gulp of water would start the vomiting again. The popsicles are fun and they only allow a small bit of fluid at a time. Good luck!

At one time or another I think every mom goes through a terrible cold. Here is a simple rule of thumb.
1 ounce of water for every hour.
If they drink 2 ounces then you push it back an hour.
You can use a spoon, bottle or small thimble, even
a shot glass but measure out to make sure your
child is getting 1 ounce if water for every hour.
This does mean through the night and an alarm clock
helps, rather than trying to just stay up.
If they refuse to drink on their own you will
need to aquire a syringe either from medicine or
a quick trip to a local pharmacy, they hand them out
free and ask for some extra.
When you push the syringe you can blow
air in their face (directed toward their nose)
which has a tendency to make the
child swallow.
Your child does not need to eat.
If this goes on for more than 24hrs with no wet
diapers call your dr. for a sick visit. Place a small
square of toilet paper in the diaper or even better
take the diaper completely off.
If one of your children are staring out into space,
is not moving at all or has a fever not controlled with
motrin these are also good reasons to call your dr.

If the dr. feels necessary they do a blood test and
determine if medical assistance is needed but if you get the one ounce per hour it should not be needed.

Some might mention that they are loosing potassium and
encourage pedialite or watered down juice, which should
be avoided till the vomitting or loose stools are not induced by the introduction of liquids.

Lots of hugs, favorite book or if telivision/movies is your families interest, the least movement and rest the better they will be for it.

Sorry to hear they are sick, it's very stressfull.
I like that your on this fantastic website to get
some support and information.

If you are concerned with dehydration, any liquid is good...so, some things I try with my son are gatorade or propel, other juices besides apple juice (fruit punch, etc). Popsicles might work, or Kaiser has even suggested ice cream and jello (which were liquids before they hardened). Hope one of these works for you and your kids.

My son is 20 months old too. Try buying some Juice boxes and take a sip in front of him to get him interested. My son will only drink juice out of a straw and no sippy cup. He may like using a straw with your help. Also try freezer pops, Pedialite. He may like sucking on the frozen pop and working at it himself. Of course in a high chair and bib so you don't have to much of a mess, Both tactics have worked for me wonderfully. Good luck! Oh, Also give him a lot of fruit. It has tons of natural water.

My daughter will suck on the Pedialyte pop sicles. I have found those at Safeway.

Give him a oz of room temperture 7-up every 30 minutes. That will help with the vomiting. Also you can give him Pedialyte pop suckles. That will help. Let him chew on a clean wet ice cold wash rag. Do not give him apple juice it will create more mucus. Milk-apple juice-orange juice will create more mucus when the infant is sick. Pedialyte pop suckles and even white grage juice is better for them
Hope your son gets better soon.
J..

After reading the resonses you've had, I would say, I agree. Popcicles... we even made homemade ones with orange juice, apple juice, or whatever juice your child likes. Use small paper cups, popcicle sticks and foil - pour juice into the cups, cover tightly with foil and place stick in the middle of the foil; once frozen, remove foil and gently pull popcicle out of cup - may need to sit a couple of minutes.
R.

Try giving them the Pedialyte popsicles. It gives them the nutrients they need and hydrates them but they think they are getting a goody.

Have you tried the pedialyte freezer pops? My 21 month old was the same way, but would suck on those happily.

I would take him to the doctor or at least call...my experience with dehydration is better to be safe. My doc has always said to have them checked asap if they seem to be dehydrated or headed that way...hope he feels better soon- and you too!

This concerns me. I am an RN and my first thought is to call your doctor. I hope your kids get to feeling better soon.

It's been a while since I've had little ones, but don't they have the Pedialyte in those popcycle flavored things you can freeze? Could it be that he doesn't want to drink because his throat hurts and he associates drinking with a hurting to swallow? good luck. It's so hard when they don't feel good. Take care of yourself also.

L.,
Have you tried jello or popsicles (without stick)? Sometimes this would work for my children when they were little.
Grandma S. R

I suggest you try popsicles - I make them myself out of pedialyte as you want to stay away from to much sugar.

Try making watered down white grape or apple juice popsicles and let them self-feed in their high chairs.

I think they also have Pedialyte pops or suckers too.

Be careful! If they keep refusing liquids please go to the hospital. Children dehydrate very quickly. Check online for symptoms and keep a close eye on them.

Also, recruit help from family or good friends in dealing with the boys. You don't want to get over tired or sick yourself. Take care!

Try popsicles, gatoraide,cranberry juice. Anything right now to get the fluids in him. Then brake him off the sweet stuff he will be atronger and saying no to throwing a cup of just water when he is wll wont make you feel so guilty.

Pedialite makes popsickles. Kids seem to like them. It seems like it is worth a shot. However, It may be time to take this little one to the ER. Especially, if he/she is getting lethargic. Tracy's ER is really fast and has a full time Pediatrician in the ER. She is fantastic. Patterson docs can't give fluids so you will have to go to the ER if you think you need IV fluids. For now though, use the BRAT diet. Bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast. This is what the docs gave me when I took my son in for the stomach flu this year. Good luck!!

Hi!
What I have learnt is that you should be happy if they drink anything, whatever they prefer. It that is juice, lemonade, whatever. Doesn't matter. The important thing is that it is liquid. And they need to pee every six hour at least, otherwise they aren't getting enough of liquid and then you need to go to the emergeny room for dehydration. (Which you probably know!) Hang in there!

that calls for a medical opinion!!

Try using Popsicles. It will give them the fluid they need plus it taste better than plain water or ice chips. That was what my doctor told me when mine were little.

Good Luck

J.

Have you tried Popsicles? This can be a tasty yet sneaky way to get something into them. You could even make them yourself with juices you prefer...or with pedialyte/gatorade (which is basically the same thing as pedialyte...only cheaper).

I have an 11 month old baby girl who at times refuses to drink water as well as juice with water. I have found that Pedialyte freezer pop work. I break it down into a slushy and my daughter seems to like that. She like the coldness of it as well as it hydrate her also. I add water to Pedialyte because if you've ever tasted it it is very strong. Don't give up. They may not be drinking because of the way he feels but keep trying!

popcycles work wonders and hydrate the child.

I know it is not advised to give kids gatorade as the salt/sugar content is high, but it beats dehydration and taste better than pedialyte (bland). Or freeze the pedialyte and serve as popsicle. Keeps temp down and all kids like popsicles. I think pedialyte actually sells in a popsicle form. Just because they are peeing, does not mean they are not dehydrated. Put safety before good nutrition when it comes to dehydration. Give them whatever type of fluids you can get down their throats. Of course, check with your doctor for all medical advise. As a mom of twins, myself, make sure you are staying hydrated as well. Do not forget your health. Twins sure keep you on your toes and you can really get run down when they get sick. Good luck !!

My first recommendation is for you to take your children to see their doctor.

Most "flu" cases in children are caused by viruses. Among the symptoms are fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Maintaining adequate hydration and controlling fever are two key things that you can do to help your child endure the flu.

Toddlers are typically very picky about what they eat or drink, and it can get very tricky to figure out what they will or will not like. My recommendation for you is to try different liquids until he/she accepts it. Of course, you made the correct choice is choosing Pedia-Lyte, apple juice, and water, however you can also try other kinds of drinks (e.g. Gatorade, Sprite, even Jello---sugar-free). Soft drinks other than Sprite or 7-Up are not recommended.

Be sure that they are eating sufficiently and that if they have a fever, treat them with the appropriate medication (e.g. Children's Tylenol), but always consult with your family pediatrician before you administer any kind of medication to your child.

Hi L.,

Sure hope by the time you read this that your wee ones are better!! That kind of bug is awful, I'm so sorry you guys are having to go through it!

One thing I wanted to say was that Pedialyte or whatever other brand of CHILD electrolyte replacement is the thing that will help even more than water will (and we are major water fans around here - my little girl loves it and we don't even get juice because it's really just a sugary beverage). Oh, and apple juice actually works as a laxative (!!) which it sounds like you definitely don't need right now around your place!!

The one time our daughter had a bad bug (a bad strain of rotavirus, the pediatrician thought), the doc advised us to take it slow but to nurse (breastmilk can be tolerated when nothing else can!) and offer small amounts of Pedialyte very frequently (fortunately my daughter liked the apple flavor of Pedialyte, it was much better chilled than room temp by the way). They said this was going to replenish her little system the best and stave off any dehydration effects the best. So - keep trying with the Pedialyte - maybe a different flavor (I know that stuff's not cheap but when you have to get something in 'em, well....). Also if you didn't try chilling it first you might want to try that and see if your son is more accepting of it.

Again, hope things are going better now....hang in there (and use lots of hand cleaner and wash frequently so YOU don't end up catching it!)

God bless you,

S.

PS I agree with the mom that said a trip to the doctor might not be amiss, to be on the safe side.

My 12 month old has been having diarrhea and vomiting all week too. She won't drink Pedialyte either. We just saw her pedicatrician, who suggested we try mixing the Pedialyte with packets of sugar-free Kool Aid to improve the taste. I haven't tried it yet, but I plan on picking some up from the store this afternoon. Hope your little one is feeling better soon!

You can try freezing the Pedialyte in popsicle form (they also sell Pedialyte popsicles). Also, you can try putting ice chips in a damp wash cloth, tie it with a rubber band and let them suck on it (also good for teething!). Hope they feel better soon!

You can try popsicles. They have Dole Fruit with out a lot of sugar. As a mother of four and a daycare provider if you child has been vomiting for more than 48 hours, I would call your physician and ask him what to do. There is always a doctor on call who (if is a good doctor...) will call you back. I never take a chance, you never know. In our town right now there is an epidemic of Meningitis so I took my daughter who is six and my son who is five to the doctor after two days of being sick. My daughter was fine and my son had a double ear infection. Who knew, he never said a thing! Any way….. good luck and wish you well. The fact that you are concerned enough to ask for advice makes you a great mother!

Hi L.,

Still vomiting could be from his electrolite impalance...that is why they suggest Pedialyte...you might need to take him in for some IV fluids...at this point you need to make some choices...water alone can deplete his sodium levels and such...he needs some good stuff put back...I would call your doc or advise nurse...T.

L.,
Have you tried just a popsicle? Maybe the sweet taste will make him try it.... good luck.....M.

try peidialyte popcicles... or the tried and true way... a tsp of peidialyte every 5-15 minutes depending on how dehydrated they are... a lot of times a kid that has been vomiting is provoked by too many fluids too fast... he may be afraid of fluids because they eventually make him throw up again or upset a very fragile belly... give it a try... best of luck... hard to watch the little ones be sick!!!

When my daughter was sick like that the doctor recommended Crystal Lite mixed with water. She liked that. It is not something I would usually use, but anything with sugars (natural or otherwise) can encourage diarrhea.

The other thing my daughter likes is the frozen pedialyte pops...in a plastic tube you can squeeze out. Maybe he won't associate those with fluids.

Good luck! If he still has enough energy to cry like that he is still doing well. Take him straight to emergency if he becomes lethargic.

A.:-)

If you are still nursing... nurse nurse nurse! If not, so you have a good friend who would consider nursing your children? This can be a godsend. Best to you. - N.

Hi--How frustrating to have a baby who won't do what's best for him! You are right to worry about dehydration. One thing that might work are popsicles. I mean the kind you make at home from juice. They would be a novelty and would replace the fluids. He just might go for them. Good luck!

L.,

I am so sorry your children are sick... it is the worst!! Don't worry too much. All my doctors have said if they have a wet diaper at least three times a day, they are OK. If their fever get's too high, and they do not have a wet diaper at least three times, they you should go to the doctor/hospital. Are they eating at all?

I really hope they feel better soon!!

T.
www.beautipage.com/sonomaspa

You poor thing! That's a long time to deal with flu.
Perhaps try making juice pops, apple juice and pedialyte.
Also, he may have a sore throat associated with the vomiting, and swallowing hurts. Can take a look in his throat?

It sounds like he's not nursing, but does he take a pacifier. I've seen them where you can put in an ice-cube into a little pouch and toddler sucks on it as it melts.

Good luck.

Have you tried sugar-free popsicles? Or maybe making your own popsicles with diluted apple juice? Just keep trying to give fluids. I'm sure you're doing the best you can. Hope your little ones get better soon. Good luck!

Well your twins are probably over the flu by now but, I just saw your request. When my kids won't eat or drink anything I try real fruit juice Popsicles. They love them and little do they realize they are getting what they need. All they think is mom has given them treat. Hope this will help now or in the future.

Try some Popsicles and/or fruits like watermelon, grapes, cantalope, and oranges (they have a lot of water in them). The important thing is keeping him hydrated otherwise you'll end up in the ER. Good luck.

When my daughter would get sick like that I would give her flat seven up and like you said Pedialyte, but try the seven up

Hi, my daughter was the same way. When I asked her doctor what to do when she would not drink water and not give her juice, he said try some Gatorade or I used Propel. They have different flavors and help with dehydration. Hope this helps

DOn't stress or worry too much. Children are very strong. maybe him being sick is making the "forcing down of fluids" upsetting. Try pediapops which work well. Gatorade also works well, have him pick what color or flavor he want. Drink with him. Sugar free popsicles are great, or juice bars. If he still does not drink take him to a doctor. I hope he gets better soon.

hi L.
I know how you feel. when my oldest had the flu, I had a hard time getting him to drink. Have you tried pedia pops or the pedia jello. my son did better with those then plain water or pedialyte. good luck.

Have you tried popsicles? Most kids love the novelty and are willing because it is special - you could make them from juice or I think pedialyte may even make some. Also, check his breathing...my son started refusing to drink when he was 2yo once because he was developing pneumonia. Couldn't drink and breathe at the same time.

I use to try popcicles,when all else failed.

Will he take any kind of fluid through a syringe at all? My boy last year had the flu at 19 months old and I had to give him 5 cc of pedialyte through a syringe every 5 minutes for the first 2 hours and keep increasing after that if he is keeping it down. I have twins as well and we made it a fun game w/ both of them drinking like that....it was extremely tedious and hard, but it ended up working and he didn't have to be admitted to the hospital for dehydration. Keep trying it all..hang in there!

A little about me:
I am a mother of 24 month old twins and a registered nurse.

L.,

I recently went through this with my 3 year old, he had a 103.8 degree fever and refused to eat of drink anything.. We too tried everything, finally the only thing my husband found he would drink was ginger ale (against my better judgement) but it was fluid, maybe you could try a can and do what I did, sneak some unflavored pedialite into it and remember its only until he feels better... I personally hate giving the kids soda, but in a pinch if it will save my baby the torture of a banana bag at the hospital I will try almost anything..

Good luck!!
X.

Have you tried otter pops or some kind of popsicle? If you start eating one yourself before offering it to your child that sometimes helps so that they can "decide" what to eat. You could even try jello. That would be getting some kind of liquid into them. Good luck!

Try popsicles. Most kids love them. There are even Pdialyte popsicles available at Safeway. They are in a box next to the regular PediaLyte, so you will have to freeze them. The box contains multiple flavors which kids seem to prefer over the flavor in the large bottles.

L.:

My daughter went through this at about the same age. My pediatrician put her on a Classic Coke diet. Something about the Classic Coke settles the stomach and also will give your child fluids. She recommended 5ML every 15 minutes for the first 3 hours, then 10 ML every 30 minutes for the next 3 hours. . Keep increasing the amount every 3 hours. If they don't keep it down, go back to the previous amount until they do and then increase it again. This really helped for my daughter, in fact it kept her out of the hospital. I used one of the droppers I got from the pharmacy. Good luck!

Hi L.,

I would say that at this point, ANY liquid would be good. Maybe full strength apple juice, white grape, etc. Also, I have found that my kids like popsicles; pedialyte makes some, and of course there are juice pops and otter pops. Of my three children (ages 6, 5 and 8 months), one throws up substantially more than the others when sick, and I have found that even if he has a fever, I need to avoid medication, as it always is vomited back up, and seems to cause the vomiting. Another day or so, and I would say a call to the doctor as well!

A.

L., try this concoction: 10 drops of echinacea, 10 drops astragalus, 10 drops lomatium, 5 drops of reishi, and 5 drops of licorice root, add these to 2 oz of warm water (or diluted juice..but water would be best) Give every 2-3 waking hours for 2 days, then every 4 hrs until complete recovery.
Also the homeopathy remedy Anas barbarie (Ocsillococcinum).
Also check what you are all eating, mold (even in bread) is the main culprit behind colds and flus. You can also try Arsenicum album (for the vomiting) His throat probably really hurts (why he is refusing to drink) The Arsenicum album will help with the sore throat. I would try warm drinks instead of cold. You can get the herbal and homeopathic remedies at your local wholefoods store. Also try hydrotherapy, alternating hot cloths (2 minutes) and cold cloths (3 minutes) over the throat, do this twice a day. (it helps reduce congestion and inflamation)
Hope these help. Good luck!
M. H

PS I would alo try using a dropper to get the fluids in him

sorry your babes aren't well..
how about popcicles??
There are fruit ones too>>

When one of my kids was a baby I went through this and at the time I tried to think of what would be the baby equivalent of flat 7-UP or Ginger Ale. What I came up with was Country Time Lemonade (the powdered stuff). It worked really well, and you can mix it to whatever concentration your son likes. Sadly, my now 11-year old is still addicted to the stuff, but it was worth it since it got her to drink something when she was a dehydrated baby!

I am a stay at home mom now, but use to work as a nurse in Pediatric hospitals.
Popsicles and Jell-o have always been helpful for my kids to get their liquids in when they are sick. Even though jell-o is solid when you eat it, it actually is a liquid. my kids love otter pops as well.

I am the mother of 4 year old g/b twins. That's not really relevant to my input, but just thought I'd say that I can relate... Anyway, my question is: have you called the doctor? This sounds like a much more serious issue that needs medical advice, not just Mom advice.
Also, once your kids are healthy again, you should consider joining a twins' club. I'm a member of Sacramento Mothers of Multiples. It's a great resource.

I'm not sure from your message if he is drinking anything? If not, or just a little, the dry diapers are an indication that he is getting dehydrated which REQUIRES IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION. Please call your MD or advice nurse NOW if you haven't already done so.

For your information...the "Flu" or Influenza is a respiratory infection caused by a virus (antibiotics won't help) and does not cause vomiting. Your child may have food poisoning (especially if both kids started vomiting at the same time), or a virus that attacks the tummy, or something worse. Please seek help. A 20 month old is too young to take a "wait-and-see" approach. Good luck!

M.

First of all, as much as it is what he likes, and you are trying to get anything down him, stay away from the apple juice. Apple juice is a diuretic and will only dehydrate him further.

He may have a sore throat along with the flu - which makes swallowing painful. Try the pedia pops (Pedialyte popsicles) or other natural fruit pops (trader joes has some good ones). When my son had the flu years ago (he is 12 now - but I remember when he got it bad at 2) I crushed up a pedialyte popsicle and kept it in a cup like a slushie. I managed to get 1 tablespoon of slushie and 1 tablespoon of water into him - by spoon - every hour. More than that and he'd vomit. Using the slushie first soothed the throat for the water. It only lasted like that for about a day though and then he started to get hungry again.

If he goes over one more day with little or no fluids in him call the advice nurse and get him into a doc asap. Also keep tabs on the fever. Over 102 along with the vomiting and dehydration is a real threat.

Don't forget to take care of you too, mom. Breath - it will pass.

Oh, L., hang in there! You must be exhausted!

I always kept "otter pops" in the fridge for those situations. The frozen popsicle's in a clear tube. Sure, the Doctor's always say "clear" fluids, but in the end ANY fluid is better then none. And, one Dr. told me that food can be absorbed as fluids, also.
I also "froze" their favorite drink like Orange juice, gatorade,apple juice, kool aid,.... ANYTHING they wanted to suck on. When they're frozen, it "water's it down", and it's easier for them to get down when they're sick.
Hope that helps!
Love, N.

Dear L.,
Put the essential oil of peppermint and lemon on his tummy, just a drop or two of each. Rub it around clockwise because that is the way his digestion goes. You can’t do this to much, every time you change him or 2 to 5 times a day. You can dilute these with olive oil. Many health food stores sell empty dropper bottles. Fill it up with olive oil and add about 20 drops of each oil in with it to make it an easy application and to dilute the essential oils.
I find that water activates the vomiting reflex. Try organic peppermint tea with organic unfiltered apple juice, you can also do these individually. Also real ginger ale, if you want you can water it down. Clean out the bath tub and give him a bath with a cup and let him drink the water. You can also make ice or popsicles out of the juice and or tea.
There are a few other approaches if you want contact me.
Good luck and have a great day!
~ K.

Pedialite popsicles are staples in our house. My child knows no other kind.

When that fails I call the pediatrician. Mine did the same thing when she had Rota Virus. We ended up putting her in the hospital for 7 days on IVs to keep the fluids up.

Another time, she spent half a day on IV in the pediatrician's office.

Call the doc. if diaper still dry.

My daughter just went through this during Christmas. I finally resorted to Pediapops and the yogurt type drinks diluted with water. She had been throwing up for a week solid and I was very concerned and so finally, this was what she wanted and was able to hold down. Don't let it go for too long though without talking to your doctor. This happened another time with my daughter and she ended up in the hospital. Good luck!!!

Hi L.,

Try Pedialyte frozen popsicles, or just plain popsicles if that doesn't work. My children never liked the pedialyte popsicles as much as I would have liked, so against my grain I'd give them the sugary, regular popsicles just to get any "fluid" in the system. Good luck!

If they get lethargic, bring them in to the DR or the hospital - they need hydration. When my daughter was 20 months, she had an intestinal viral infection with similar symptoms. Without intake, she became lethargic, and I took her to the hospital. She was placed on an IV (no fun), hydrated, recovered. (She's 18 now!!) My other children never went to that extreme.

~ MommaSonia

L.... I find that when my 2 year old doesn't want to drink fluids pedilyte is great but gatorade is better. Unfortunately it has some sugar but if you water it down a little they seem to like the many different flavors and colors. It helps if you take them to the store and let them pick what they want out because they feel like they have some control therefore they are excited to drink it.

Our 5yr old daughter had the flu, lost 1/3 of her weight in 5 days, not peeing, and her bones were showing. We noticed she was really sleepy and couldn't stay awake. She too, wouldn't eat or drink and we were very worried. Instinct told me to give her a glucose tablet (sugar tablets they sell at any drug store)- at the same time I was on the phone to the hospital and they wanted her in ER. Within 5 minutes she "recovered" and was able to eat and drink, no longer sleepy. Seems she had low blood sugar and was too tired to drink or eat. We took her to the doctor an hour later and at that point she was happy and acting normal. Your child may be afraid to eat- because he thinks it will make him vomit. Give him sugar foods (not diet) and stay in touch with the advice nurse- per HOUR if necessary.

only things I can suggest is dipping a washcloth into water/ pedilyte and letting your son suck it. When my daughter got sick she had the same reaction to her sippy cup, it was like she knew that drinking the water inside would cause vomiting. The only thing she would take was the cloth and it allowed water to go slowly into her system and she didn't seem to vomit.

Hi, you can try putting a little Crystal light or tang in the pedialyte.

Hi L. - Be sure to always let your doctor know when your sick children are approaching dehydration... that is VERY serious in small children. Don't ever hesitate to contact your doctor when you are worried. That is what they are there for. In trying to get liquids into him, maybe try a little Jello water in a favorite flavor. I'm a grandmother of 5 and wish you and your children well. C. S.

we have a plastic popsicle maker and I use very dilute juice. Another thing I've done is small chunks of frozen apples (which had been previously microwaved so that they were about the consistency of apples in a pie). One of the other responders mentioned a pacifierish thing with a mesh bag that you can put ice cubes or frozen fruit in - I think it's called the baby-safe feeder.
Good luck! My twins are 6YO now and they don't get sick as often as they used to and also recover a lot faster now

This sounds like it must be REALLY hard for you! There's nothing worse than seeing your sick kid suffer!

Have you tried the Pedialyte frozen pops? My son would often suck on them when he refused everything else. And have you called the doctor? You might need to take him to the doctor if he's still throwing up and refusing fluids. As he gets dehydrated, he'll get less likely to be reasonable and cooperative, not more.

I hope he gets better soon!

K. K.

I know this was written a few days ago and probably not much help now, but maybe later. You can try warm jello, just mix like you usually do. But don't put it in the frig. or just put it in long enough so that it isn't hot. You can get sugar free jello also but I was told that sugar could help coat the throat if there has been irritation from vomiting.

Hello from L. -my boy \girl twins are 30yrs old now and my daughter-in-law wanted me to join this -mt advice to you --an old Indian remedy, try mint water ?! Do you have any mint growing near by ??? If so pick just some leaves -boil them in some water -add bsic sugar to the boiling water and cool it with ice see if you can get even a little doiwn them - or try boiled white rice water --just the water from the rice -though it is bland it will help their flu--beffer than IV'S.They will grow up and be healthy I promise ..L..

Hi,
You can also try Jell-o which is considered a clear liquid as well as Pedialyte popsicles. My toddler loves them. Good luck.

I would go with warm chicken broth from a can of campbells soup and jello water and a little coke with no bubbles will help the vomiting slow down. open the can of coke and put some in a cup in the freezer for a while to get the bubbles out. For some reason the coke settles the urge to vomit. These are from the old days like our Grandma's use to do but I have had to do this through the years with mine and it really works. You can also make up some old fashioned sugar water.

Just to let you know I am a stay at home mom with 4 children from 21-9!

Hi L.
Have yo tried making popsicles out of juice or pedialyte? They might take to those.
Good luck.
S.

Dear L.,

My children are all grown now, but Ive had this problem when they were small. Try giving him a frozen fruit bar and see if that works, it usually did for me.

J.

You are takink the chance that they will get very dehydrated which will put them in the hospital. If their throats are sore, or stomachs upset they wont take anything. You have to get them to a Dr. Or you may pay more in the long run. If they won't take water, (not good) apple juice (any juice is worst) or Pedialite (the best) then there is something else wrong. For their sake take them in somewhere. In a hurry. This flu could end up in pneumonia or worse and really make them sick. Another Mother. M. D.

Try Jello and popsicles.
They taste better!

i had that problem with my son. try jello or popcycles

I have been at that point with my 2 year old and my 4 year old. I finally couldn't take it any more, and gave in. I gave them gatorade, or the flavored water, or capri suns. Whatever they wanted to have, so long as he drank it. As long as some time of fluid was in them, and they weren't dehydrated to the point that they needed to be hospitalized. That's all a mother wants.

He might like a Pedialyte popsicle (they're like otter pops). Or you could try other flavors of Pedialyte. My girls are pretty picky about what flavors they like. Good luck!

I have two girls age 10 and 11.

Neither of my kids would drink pedialyte or anything else like that while sick. They both wanted the old stand-by, milk. So, I called my doc, and she said that if that was all they would drink, then that would have to be it. So, I let them, and they were fine. My son is almost 4 and still drinks milk when he's sick.

I would call your doctor and see what he/she recommends. If your little guy will ONLY drink milk, what harm will happen if you give it to him, rather than have him be dehydrated?

Good luck!

i would take him to the doctor. the flu that is out right now is very scary and holds on tight. i am against western meds for the most part, however, i went to get antibiotics two weeks ago while battling this, my body was also throwing up and i found it very hard to stop at times. a visit to the doctor will bring him great relief. it is almost like we, as people, are becoming dependent on antibiotics these days. sorry to hear your baby is sick, if you can afford the doctor, please go.

Try posicles or otterpops. Pedialite works well too. Jello is another good one and is easy on the stoamch. If they are in daycare keep them home until they are strong and fever free for at least 48 hours. I am a mom of an 11 year old and 13 year old and one on the way.

one way to keep liquids going in is to just squirt it in his motuh with a medicine dropper. Just a squirt every few minutes (or hour if he can't keep anything down). Chicken soup broth is good too and straight gatorade to replenish. My son would only drink ginger ale when he went through the same thing at about the same age. We never give him that kind of stuff, but it was the only way to get him to drink anything. Sometimes it is ok to break those rules if you have to. A few days of sugar or whatever is ok (plus the sugar helps with energy, short term of course). The pedialyte or gatorade is very imprtant (more that water) when they get this sick. They can't hold the plain water in their systems (cellular level) without the electrolytes, so make sure to try to get some of that in them. good luck!!

to mom of sick baby , give him pedialyte popscicle kids love that they think its ice cream ! or make ice popscicle of juice in ice cube trays ! good luck !!!!!!!!!

You might try jello - either as a warm liquid to drink or firm as usual. Just not red, so as not to be frightened if he vomits red jello. Or try some chicken broth. Both are consider clear liquids, but he may be able to sip it better because there is some flavor to them.

Hope he gets better soon!

A been-there Mom,
C.

have you tried jello or popsicles?

Two things:

First, does he possibly have a soar thraot that is making it painful for him to swallow? I'd take look and if it is red call the oncall nurse and see if they have any soar throat suggestions.

Second, if he likes popcicles, there are or were Pedialyte popcicles, or you could make them.

Otherwise, since he's over a year old, you could try camomile tea with lots of honey or, once his stomach settles, warm milk with honey. The honey helps with sore throats and would make the tea palatable to get liquid into him.

Good luck!

I would get him onto the dr little nes get dehydayed real fast

It sounds like you are doing everything possible to help your 20 month old boy. It may be necessary to get him hospitalized so he can be on a drip to rehydrate his blood with fluids before his kidneys shut down; which is very dangerous. I encourage you to go to the emergency ward and get a doctors opinion and hopefully your little boy will recover quickly once he is rehydrated.

L., if everything you try fails give your son fruit popsicle, he may eat them and they are a form of liquid.
Just be sure there is no milk coating or choclate on them.
Good luck and God bless. If you have powerade at your store you might also try that..........Hugs, J.

L. - My former husband, a pediatrician, always told his moms to give the little ones 7-Up, Ginger Ale or Coke with most of the fizz taken out (shake it up first). Works like a charm. Good for adults, too. The key is to use regular not diet soda...it's the syrup in the drinks that does the trick.

We just went through this as well. My daughter responded well to warm chicken broth and I also mixed Pedialyte in her yogurt, she would not drink it straight either. I hope he is doing better.

Hello L.,

I too have a 20mo old. I have been told by my daughters doctor to give her gatoraide (diluted. There are several out there that are clear. One that comes to mind is RAIN. My daughters refuses the Pedialyte also but she really likes the gatoraide. You may try it. Good luck. Hope your little one feels better soon.

M. L.

A little about me: I am an active duty soldier who is married and I have 1-15y/o boy, 3-girls (14, 11 & 20mo)

Popsicles! or Pedialyte Popsicles!

Would definitely advise to seek help from your Pediatrician ASAP, or go to the ER since infants can become dehydrated rapidly and it can become serious.

I have found that 7up is a good way to get a baby to drink when all the new ways fail, if you do not want the baby to have soda try gader aid

Have you tried something that is more like a popsicle? Maybe you can freeze some water with some food coloring or just a little bit of juice and treat it like a treat. If he has a sore throat, it might help relieve that a little bit also! I'm not sure if you still have them on bottles, but I would mix less formula in my baby's bottle and make it a lot more watery than normal. She was too young to drink from a cup effectively when she was sick, so this helped to keep her hydrated.

I know you mentioned that he refused ice chips and apple juice, but have you tried frozen diluted apple juice? In the past, I've put the diluted apple juice in the freezer long enough to make a slushy and allowed my daughter to "play" with it. She would feed me, and I would feed her. Naturally, plain is better; but sometimes the little bit of apple juice will make it more appealing. I hope this helps!

When he cries, are there tears? If he won't take any liquids, and he's not getting his diapers wet, and he doesn't have tears, he's probably dehydrated. Do his eyes look dark and sunken? My son was admitted to the hospital at age 3 1/2 for dehydration caused by the flu. They had to administer IV fluids for a couple of days. (He'll be 16 in April.) Call your doctor, but be very clear about how much liquid he's actually holding down. They'll send you to the emergency room if he's dehydrated. Good luck.

L., Ok I am responding after the fact I see but next time to anyone...we just went through this with dehydration....

I would get him into an urgent care that can administer IV or an ER ( I know a pain to wait) and when you get there, tell them he has no wet diapers and if no tears when he crying that you want a supervising nurse/doctor to get liquids into him with an IV (they will test his blood and kidneys too)

Just went through this at sutter roseville and they left my 5 year old in waiting too long despite my insisting he was passed dehydrated and it took 5 phlebotomists to get a needle in a vein because he was so dry and now hysterical, though some fight is good..I could not keep anything in him as he threw up from midnight-9 am and never gets sick so it was scary even for him..I now have supervisor's name for next time as they could not apologize enough as I was taking pictures with my camera and video to document what happened. Bring some water/ice to let him have in wait room should there be trauma and he can get some down...cause they will not give you any until you are triaged and in a bed

Call your ped but do not hesitate to go in..I was home alone with my 24 month old so I know how hard it is to go to ER My husband drove home from trip at 4am but we were all zombies but glad he had fluids...

I was told, by my doctor, that simply giving them a teaspoon of water, Pedialite, Gatoraide, every 10 mins is all it takes. That seemed to work for me. One teaspoon every 10 mins.
Give it a try. Good Luck.
B.

You are right to be concerned. Dehydration is very serious. If your child will not take any type of fluids (have you tried popsicles?)and is having only a slightly moist diaper you really should discuss this with his pediatrician. He/she may want to see your child.

Have you tried fruit popsicles? When my daughter had rotovirus, our nurse advised this instead of water. She said that water can feel heavy on the stomach and may induce more vomiting. Which seemed to make sense to me - all I want when I'm sick is a little ginger ale. Hope they feel better soon, it's awful when the little ones are sick.

Your child at this age should not go more than 12 hrs without a good wet diaper or he may be dehydrated. That may mean Iv fluids in the clinic or the ER. Please do as much as you can to get him to drink,gatorade if you must . You really do not want to have to get IV fuids so even though you want him to drink water consider the alternatives. From a mother of 3 and An RN of 11 years

Small children can get dehydrated fast as well as vomiting can cause a child to loose electrolytes quickly. Pedialyte has those electrolytes and is why it is preferred. However, it's important to get whatever you can into the child. Gatorade or other sports drinks might be more palatable and have some of the electrolytes. Also, if you haven't contacted your pediatrician, it's a good idea. Let him/her decided what the next step should be.

Have you tried try shaken up colas or frozen pedialyte or just plain sugar water ?

____@____.com

I would try regular otter pops and different gatorade. He might like it better if he can use a straw. If it's hard for him to drink from a straw, you can do what I used to do. You put the straw in the cup, put your finger over the end, and then put the liquid in their mouth. A lot of times, kids think this is fun. Good luck and I hope he feels better soon!
M.

My son just got over this flu. He had it for over 7 days:( I wanted to just give him water as well, but the pedialyte hydrates faster. My doctor advised against any juice.... we tried the clear pedialyte with a crystal light flavor something I would never normally drink or give to my child but it worked. He stayed hydrated through that 7 day horrible flu. If not watch him closely and if he doesn't have tears I would take him in right a way.

I know this is going to sound crazy but it has worked for me
since there not drinking any thing go out and buy 7up not diet just 7up and try it warm see how that goes
Good luck God Bless
Danielle mother of 4