Dehydration? - Denver,CO

From the Texas Children's Pediactric Associate's patient resources:

Offer clear fluids (not milk) in small amounts until 8 hours have passed without vomiting.

For a child over 1 year old with vomiting (but no diarrhea), the best fluid is water or ice chips because water can be directly absorbed across the stomach wall. If your child is 2 years old or older water is best, but half-strength lemon-lime soda or Popsicles are also okay. Stir the soda until no fizz remains (the bubbles inflate the stomach and increase the chances of continued vomiting).

Start with 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of the clear fluid, depending on your child's age, every 5 minutes. After 4 hours without vomiting, double the amount each hour. If your child vomits using this treatment, rest the stomach completely for 1 hour and then start over but with smaller amounts. This one-swallow-at-a-time spoonfed approach rarely fails.

A nurse line told me that you only get concerned with dehydration when he doesn't urinate for 12 hours or more.

3 moms found this helpful

My guy had something like this about a month ago. He was throwing everything up. The doc said to let him drink 2 teaspoonfulls of water or pedialite every 10 minutes. Wait for an hour after he throws up, though, to let his stomach calm down. When we did little sips at a time, he was more able to keep liquid down.

As long as he's peeing, he's doing ok. If he hasn't peed in 12 hours, let the doctor know, cause he may be dehydrated.

3 moms found this helpful

Ginger ale or ginger tea, pedialyte or Gatorade (watered down) and/or freeze any of these like an ice pop. No gulping just sipping. Maybe some dry toast. Don't let him eat anything heavy like milk or dairy. He needs to rest so his body will fight it off. He will be fine if he doesn't eat for a day or so, but make sure he is sipping liquids. Small quantities should stay down, if not call the doctor.

2 moms found this helpful

We usually make our own pedialyte, and start off with just a teaspoon at a time until it stays down. It doesn't taste as good as the real pedialyte, so the kids aren't tempted to gulp it down too fast, so it ends up staying down better. I can't remember the recipe off hand. I usually just google it. Hope he feels better soon. :)

1 mom found this helpful

I've heard that coconut water/juice the pure kind without added sugar, like you can buy from good earth ( or any health food store) is good for rehydrating because it has a very high amount of natural electrolytes. So when he can start keeping little sips of fluid down without throwing up I would try that.

If the vomiting continues for more than twelve hours or so I start to worry, but most of the time they stop throwing up by then. I'd say more than 24 hours I would for sure take them to the doctor just to make sure.

When you press on the fingernails, if the pink doesn't come back quickly, is a sign of dehydration. whole foods has a "feel better drink" called B.R.A.T.
that my daughter really liked. Its organic without all the yacky artificial ingredients.

Try watered down ginger ale, or pedialyte or gatorade/powerade... (we also give my daughter emergen-c immune defense to replace her lost vitamins) he might not puke it up if he gets small sips frequently...

Another Idea is to get some frozen juice pops and have him suck on those! If he can keep it down, dry toast or saltines may help. Of course... if he has a high fever, becomes overly lethargic (you cant rouse him easily, or he cannot stay awake for a few minutes when you wake him) , or stops urinating take him into the doctor!

Good Luck!
-M.

Have you called your doctor yet?
Yes you should be concerned if he can't keep fluids, maybe you've been giving him too much try giving him 2 oz every 10 to 15 minutes and gradually increase the amount, however, call your doctor first

Good Luck
Hope he feels better.