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Dehydration
Pediatrician
Babies get dehydrated quickly with vomiting, diarrhea, fever or heat. The key is to give fluids little by little, and often.
What to do
- Keep breastfeeding or giving formula, and more often.
- If the baby is vomiting or has diarrhea, give infant oral rehydration solution (such as Pedialyte) in small amounts: 1 to 2 teaspoons (5 to 10 mL) every few minutes, with a syringe or spoon. If the baby keeps it down, slowly give more.
- If the baby already eats solids, continue normal foods in small portions when hungry.
- Count wet diapers and write everything down.
- If things don't improve in a few hours or a warning sign appears, call or go to the ER.
What not to do
- Don't give plain water to a baby under 6 months.
- Don't use juice, soda, sports drinks (like Gatorade) or tea to rehydrate.
- Don't make homemade rehydration drinks or water down formula.
- Don't give anti-diarrhea medicine unless the pediatrician says so.
