sick toddler not drinking enough liquids! how to keep him hydrated?

Loving - posted on 01/09/2009

I tasted Pedialite when my little one was sick & wouldn't drink it either...that stuff is aweful. I don't blame them. Anyhow, I know you said he doesn't like sweets, but maybe try a pedialite icepop (the push-up kind in the clear plastic.) My son sufferd from febrile seizures (induced by high fevers). I was told this will not only give him the electrilites he needs and hydrate him, but also help reduce the fever. See if that works. They aren't as sweet as the regular, sugary ice pops. Also, see if he will eat jello or chicken noodle soup. The broth will help hydrate him as well. As long as he is getting some kind of caloric intake & fluids, he should be fine.

Emily - posted on 01/09/2009

Pedialyte popsicles always do the trick in our house.

Michelle - posted on 01/09/2009

ice pops are the best thing they will give him the much needed liquid and will help with a fever, if you are worried about sugar dont buy them ready made make your own then you know whats in them. use water with a sqeeze of fresh lemon or orange which wil give him vit c which is god for colds he will love them i promise.

Cathy - posted on 01/09/2009

Does he like pop cicles? When my daughter had her stomach virus she would not drink any thing but she would eat pop cicles, which kept her hydrated. I know the sugar is not the best, if you have any home made popcicle containers you might see if the pedialite and a little water would freeze to make popcicles. My nurst told me if she is sick, she will not dehydrate as long as she has at least 2 wet diapers a day,which is not much. :) Also she really liked drinking out of a big cup instead of her sippy cup. Try different things like straws if he knows how to use them. :) Cathy Fout

Alison - posted on 01/08/2009

1.  Nothing makes a kid thirsty like some salty snacks. 

2.  Be careful of the no-sugar added/sugar free ice pops.  Just make sure there is no artificial sweetener in there.  I'd rather him have the sugar that the chemicals. 

Rachael - posted on 01/08/2009

one thing that they did when my son was in the hospital, and would not drink anything was to put the juice in a eyedropper. It is a new fun way to drink. You can also try giving him a sticker every time he drinks!!

Carol - posted on 01/07/2009

THEY HAVE IT IN POPSICLES TOO, AND DIFFRENT FLAVORS

Melissa - posted on 01/07/2009

Wow! Thanks for all the help. I actually bought some "no sugar added" juice popcycles. I didn't think he'd like them, but I tried one in front of him (they weren't overly sweet), and he loved it. PLUS...after reading another thread on here the same day, I figured out he's cutting his first molars! Yikes (I feel like a dope for missing it and taking so long to figure out he really just needed some Tylenol...I put of giving him meds if at all possible, but this time, it probably would have really helped.) After one day of hell, he seems to be almost back to normal. He's still touchy about drinking anything, but at least he's drinking water again (in small bits). Thank you! I will be using some of your ideas in the future. I thought the herbal tea ice pops idea was great, as I try to avoid sugar/sodium/caffeine.

Carol - posted on 01/07/2009

DID YOU TRY PEDILITE?

Lisa - posted on 01/07/2009

sorry for my type-Os :)

Lisa - posted on 01/07/2009

i was told when my twins had their tonsils out (age 4) that if they could keep 1 tablespoon and hour of fluid down (best H2O or a sports drink) they would be physically hydrated. other option, otter / freezer pops (they even sell pediolyte frozen0

Lisa - posted on 01/07/2009

Quoting Melissa:

sick toddler not drinking enough liquids! how to keep him hydrated?

My little guy has been sick for quite some time. Nothing major...just a series of colds (this is his first year in day care...and they seem to be passing things back and forth). Today, he woke up with a minor fever, so I stayed home with him. He's had very little to drink today...not even 1/2 a cup of apple juice. I can't inspire him to drink anything. He hates things that are sweet (he barely tolerates apple). So, I fed him oranges and grapes since they are "juicy". I'm a little worried. How do I keep him hydrated when he won't drink anything? Pedialyte seems ironic. Yes, it might hydrate him, but if he won't drink it, it does me no good. Any suggestions?

Barb - posted on 01/07/2009

another thing that may work is jello gelatin. I know my son was in daycare and I finally had to take him out because I was getting calls everyday to pick him up because he was constantly sick. I now have a babysitter who takes very good care of him. also what the hospital did for me when my son was dehydrated was giving him liquids with a medicine syringe...works like a charm but constant attention.

Francine - posted on 01/07/2009

Try popsicles or freezies

Teresa - posted on 01/07/2009

Quoting Megan:

Mine would do popsicles, also iced tea. He loves anything I put a straw in. Or tell him is just for grownups. My four year old is not crazy about sweet either. My dr said kool-aid too. Anything at all helps. good luck. We have the stomach flu here!

Iced tea? caffeine is a diuretic and will add to the dehydration problem, and children should not have more than 200 mg of caffeine per day anyway.  Gatorade is loaded with sodium and sugar.

Nichole - posted on 01/07/2009

I give my boys 1 part ginger ale to 3 parts water and tell them it is "special water" that will make them feel strong again...cheesy but it works for them as they do not like pedialyte and I refuse to give them gatorade due to sodium.

Samantha - posted on 01/07/2009

Powerade or things he likes to drink frozen into a pop. make him some homemade popsicles. See if that will help, you know he doesn't like things sweet so make him some pops with juices that he does like. If his fluid intake doesn't get better in the next couple of days I would see your doctor for advice.

Jacqueline - posted on 01/07/2009

How about sugar free jello? Try different flavors and maybe different shapes might interest him.

Teresa - posted on 01/07/2009

All great ideas but not all tasty and some come with too much sugar and salt., which can actually add to the dehydration problem.

In my house we drink Advocare Rehydrate at the beach, after mowing the yard, after exercising, when we have the flu, after too much at "happy hour", even to help with leg cramps due to night sweats from menopause.  It's a powder that you mix yourself.  Make it strong or weak, freeze it or heat it, or sprinkle it on cereal.  Another product is an electrolyte balancing gel called Advocare Excel gel.  Excel gel kinda tastes like strawberry frosting, but not as sweet.  Excel gel is even on special now, buy 2 get 1 FREE.  Both are sugar free, low sodium and have good levels of magnesium and potasium to help uptake fluids even better than by drinking just water.

And they taste great.

Of course, I love Advocare products so much I signed up for a discount, and then as I shared the products with my friends and family, I started to earn additional income.  Let me know if you would like to know more or if you would just like to try Rehydrate and Excel gel - they come with a complete money back guarantee.  So you don't have to worry about wasting your money and have full boxes sitting on the shelf next to the Pedialyte that your son won't drink.  I have a blog, you can check it out, even order it anonymously if you like.

This just absolutely WORKS.  Professional & Olympic athletes use it,, and there is a team of Drs behind it.

BTW, has your son been taking antibiotics for his colds?  That kills the bad bacteria, but it also kills the good stuff.  He may need to put some probiotics back into his system. Advocare makes a probiotic formulated just for kids.  It will help his digestion and stregthen his immune system.  Also helps with colic.

Again, money back guarantee - you have nothing to lose.

And about the bath, i think too long of a bath actually becomes dehydrating.  I am googling that info now.

I hope this helps, Teresa

Carrie - posted on 01/07/2009

Sugar free ice pops is a good trick, and it taste great! Hope he feels better!

Amy - posted on 01/07/2009

Pedialyte makes pediapops. Sometimes frozen makes a difference.

Rachel - posted on 01/07/2009

pedialite ice pops

Kris - posted on 01/07/2009

We used to have to spoon feed our daughter water to keep her hydrated, it was fun for her because it wasn't the typical method of drinking.  Set a timer for every five minutes or so and take a tablespoon of water.  Works great for tummy bugs when everything wants to come back up too.

Tania - posted on 01/07/2009

In NZ we have what's known as "Juices" frozen juice, and my son loves sucking away at the ice. Good luck, hope he gets better soon.

Cathie - posted on 01/07/2009

How about ice pops?

Jennifer - posted on 01/07/2009

Will your soon take a popsicle?  If he's not giving you a few wet diapers then I would call the doctor.  He also may have a sore throat and it bothers him to swollow.  Strep is unusual in young toddlers but you never know.

Tina - posted on 01/07/2009

Popsicles are one idea, as long as he takes small sips of liquid every 15 mins or so, he will stay hydrated. Any juicy fruit is good too. Oranges, grapes, etc. As long as he continues to urinate, that means he is hydrated. Good luck and keep up the good work!

Tammie - posted on 01/07/2009

Hi Melissa - try Gatorade. It isn't as sweet and has the nutrients necessary to keep him hydrated while he is sick. My son's liked the Purple Frost. If he doesn't like to drink it, then make popcicles out of them. Good Luck and hang in there! Tammie

Quoting Melissa:

sick toddler not drinking enough liquids! how to keep him hydrated?

My little guy has been sick for quite some time. Nothing major...just a series of colds (this is his first year in day care...and they seem to be passing things back and forth). Today, he woke up with a minor fever, so I stayed home with him. He's had very little to drink today...not even 1/2 a cup of apple juice. I can't inspire him to drink anything. He hates things that are sweet (he barely tolerates apple). So, I fed him oranges and grapes since they are "juicy". I'm a little worried. How do I keep him hydrated when he won't drink anything? Pedialyte seems ironic. Yes, it might hydrate him, but if he won't drink it, it does me no good. Any suggestions?

Maryellen - posted on 01/07/2009

POPSICLES...or see if he'll drink a little bit of water...

Jessica - posted on 01/07/2009

I would try some new and interesting cups- and drink out of a similar one myself when he's around. My son was stubborn and I could get him to do things that he thought only grownups were supposed ot do. I only suggest this because he didn't like popsicles. All the best!

Lisa - posted on 01/07/2009

Oh gosh, just went through this . . it's awful. My kid (21 months) loved otter pops. The only bummer is that they didn't come frozen so he had to wait to eat one. Try giving your child the light colored ones (i.e. orange) just in case he spills it as they melt before they can eat it all. I usually cut the otter pop in half and then give him half at a time with a napkin wrapped around it. Good luck!

Megan - posted on 01/06/2009

Mine would do popsicles, also iced tea. He loves anything I put a straw in. Or tell him is just for grownups. My four year old is not crazy about sweet either. My dr said kool-aid too. Anything at all helps. good luck. We have the stomach flu here!

Sonja - posted on 01/06/2009

popsicles

Belinda - posted on 01/06/2009

hi sorry to hear its never nice to see our kids sick is it , i have a son who has colds quiet often i give him pentivite liquid avalible from chemist, also try giving him an icypole to suck on this works for my son also.

Kristen - posted on 01/06/2009

Pedialyte makes popsicles that you freeze yourself.  What about unsweetened apple sauce?

Lisa - posted on 01/06/2009

well i feel your pain on the colds going back in forth my son is not in day care and has gotten 3 colds this month! He still eats and drinks but when he wasnt they told me to get ice pops. the pedialyte makes them. my son hates that stuff but im sure any flovor ice would work. its hard to force them to do anything. i hope it works out for you

Kwabea - posted on 01/06/2009

When my little one was sick and not drinking the Dr told me to use a dropped and give the baby pedia ltye (the one with flavor- the plain is nasty). She stated that as I gave the dropped at a time it would stay down and help to hydrate my little man. Hope this helps.

Marci - posted on 01/06/2009

If he likes oranges and grapes freeze orange juice and grape juice, put sticks in them.

Brianne - posted on 01/06/2009

ice cubes are fun and hydrating. let him sit naked with some icecubes.. it will cool his body and if he sucks on them they will hydrate him. does he like the bath? give him cups and such in the bath so that he can play and dump water on himself. maybe a wet cloth would help as well. sucking on a cool wet cloth feels nice for them as well.



Good luck!

Pati - posted on 01/06/2009

popsicles would be my first suggestion,id freeze gatoraid when my kid was little. but if he does not like sweet stuff... try mint tea, you can make it strong and freeze it but he might like to drink it warm. its great for stomach aches too.  My mom used to give us jello still warm but not set (can even go in a bottle). again if he is not liking sweet drinks that might not work. good old H20 or watermellon.