Is Pedialyte Ok for 3 Month Old?

Updated on May 13, 2008
E.K. asks from Redondo Beach, CA
27 answers

Hi Moms,
Ok, I may be jumping the gun here, but I'll ask just in case. I'm just getting over the flu (blech) and now I'm paranoid that my 3 month old is going to get sick. I know my 3 yo has it :( >sigh< Anyway, should my baby get it, is pedialyte ok to give her? I breastfeed her.
Yay! Just in time for Mother's Day!

E.

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So What Happened?

Thanks Moms!!!
I appreciate the time you all took to respond to my plea. :) Nothing like a sick baby (or potentially sick baby) to send a mom into a panic.
I just continued to nurse her like crazy and make sure she was well hydrated. She appears to have avoided the flu!! Yippeeeee!!!!!! My older daughter did have just a mild bout of flu and is back to feeling her old coo-coo self again.
Thanks again Moms!

E.

More Answers

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T.

answers from Las Vegas on

E.,

Your best bet would be to keep breastfeeding her as much as possible. Unlike formula, breastmilk is considered a clear fluid so you could give it any time you could give pediatlyte. But it has the added bonus of having nutritional value plus you are passing on the antibodies your body is making to fight the flu. Nurse, nurse, nurse and then nurse some more. It really is best for baby in many, many different ways. Any time you or your baby is sick the best thing you can do is nurse as much as possible.

T.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.S.

answers from Honolulu on

If you are breastfeeding then pedialyte isn't necessary. Breast milk has all she needs...she may not even get sick sick since she is getting all the antibodies you have been making since you were sick. Just breastfeed on demand so she doesn't dehydrate if she does get sick. Our whole house had the flu and strep many times since my daughter was born and she has been the healthiest one of all of us!!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Here's a link for Pedialyte usage: Click on the "FAQ's" tab.
http://pedialyte.com/dehydration.aspx?section=1

Like anything with an infant, consult your Pediatrician first.
Don't guess.

Perhaps your baby will not get sick. Many times when my kids were babies...they did not get sick, even though others in the household were.

Wash hands frequently and don't touch baby's mouth or hands or face. I know, it's hard, and your'e breastfeeding. Wash hands, and disinfect household objects she may come in contact with.

Take care and Happy Mother's Day!
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

1 mom found this helpful
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K.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

I was told to continue breast feeding exclusively when I was sick and when my son got bronchiolitis when he was 4 months. She'll receive all your antibodies which is the best thing. I don't think Pedialyte is right for infants but I do know that many cough and cold medicines for children were recently recalled and taken off the shelves. It was all over the news a few months ago. An advisory committee of leading pediatricians has warned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that not only are over-the-counter medicines ineffective on infants, they probably are not even safe.

Below is a report issued by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about a year and a half ago. This report warns against the dangers for children 2 & under but since this report cam out they have found that these types of medicines are risky even for children under 6, including Benedryl. It's scary and surprising & I know it's hard because their symptoms can be bad but they should ride it out and use a cool mist humidifier in their room when they sleep and ask your pediatrician about saline nasal solution.

Parents Magazine has a helpful article on this topic, here is the link:
http://www.parents.com/baby/health/cold/how-to-soothe-kid...

Here is the CDC report:

Cough and Cold Medications in Children Less Than Two Years of Age
    Audience: Pediatric and primary care healthcare professionals and patients
    [Posted 01/12/2007] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) article describing three deaths in U.S. infants aged less than 12 months associated with cough and cold medications. These medications were determined by medical examiners or coroners to be the underlying cause of death. The cases described in this report underscore the need for clinicians to use caution when prescribing and caregivers to use caution when administering cough and cold medications to children aged less than 2 years.

Secondly, we discussed a Center for Disease Control report about infant deaths due to cold medication. Julie Hunter looked the report up and I have pasted it here for you. Cold medicine relieves symptoms of a cold but does not “cure” a cold. Here is what the CDC said
Infant Deaths Associated with Cough and Cold Medications – United States , 2005
PRESS CONTACT: CDC - Division of Media Relations
###-###-####
 
Cough and cold medicines can be harmful and should be used with caution in children under 2 years of age. Cough and cold medicines can be harmful and should be used with caution in children under 2 years of age. Although it is very rare, we identified three infants who died from the toxic effects of cough and cold medicines in 2005. In addition, in 2004 and 2005, over 1,500 children less than 2 years old were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for adverse events from cough and cold medicines. While these drugs are effective in older children and adults, there is little evidence these drugs help in children under 2 years old. Parents should always consult a healthcare provider before giving cough or cold medicine to kids under 2 years old. Healthcare providers should use caution when giving cough and cold medicines to children under 2 years old.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.J.

answers from Reno on

Check with your pediatrician. You can't keep it on hand because it has an expiration date.
M.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

No!!!! Especially if you breastfeed her. Just feed her on demand! I went through this with my son twice, both times he was throwing up, doesn't matter - I let him nurse as much as he would and he never got dehydrated. Breastmilk is MUCH better than pedialyte (it has dyes and other crap in it).

I have a bug too, just started feeling better today! Hope you are feeling better soon!
M.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

Since you are breastfeeding, your little one should be okay. If she does get sick, it will not be very bad or last very long. When you breastfeed, your body gives her the antibodies that you have and continue to make. If your baby starts to get sick before you do, the germs pass to your breast during a feeding, and your body starts to make the antibodies before you even get it. You are a constant source of "medicine" for her. Keep BFing, you are doing the best thing ever for your child! :-)

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M.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

My exclusively breastfed babies healed practically over night from flus, colds, etc. Their pediatrician never okayed pedialyte until they were over two. I can't say we ever needed it anyway. Your milk is the best thing. Your body delivers the antibodies for what you've just had to the baby via the breastmilk so the baby either never gets sick or fights it off quickly. Just nourish yourself well and keep her on your breast!

Blessings from

M.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.D.

answers from Reno on

I don't think that it is O.K. Babies aren't even supposed to have water before they are six months old because it can throw off their electrolytes. If she gets the flu (which hopefully she won't since she's being breastfed) just feed her tiny amounts of breastmilk at a time. Just be sure to watch for dehydration because it can happen VERY quickly in babies that young.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.T.

answers from Honolulu on

Your breastmilk is her pedialyte! Don't be so quick to jump the gun and give her things off the shelves when you have God's given gift...the best thing for her. The longer you hold off putting chemicals into her body the better. Remember she has her whole life ahead of her...there is no need to rush outside remedies. And this is IF she gets sick. Chances are more likely that she won't because the antibodies WILL protect her. Trust in that and you'll be fine.

Aloha,
A.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.R.

answers from Spokane on

Just keep nursing, breastmilk is very hydrating and has way more vitamins/minerals/nutrients in it than pedialyte. If she were drinking the pedialyte she'd be missing out on the really good stuff that would truly help her fight the flu! :)

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S.M.

answers from Fayetteville on

I once asked my doctor the same question when my daughter was a few months old. She said not to give her the pedialyte, instead buy the non flavored electrolyte packets and add it to the pumped milk.

Hope this helps

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M.S.

answers from San Diego on

Definitely ask your pediatrician. If she does get sick with a stomach virus at her age she will need to see him/her anyway. Babies can dehydrate so easily and you best get this kind of advise from a doctor.

Good luck and hope your sweet-one doesn't get sick. And hats off to you for breastfeeding!

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L.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

When my daughter was about 5 months old, and still solely breastfed, she and I both got a bad flu (she actually had rotavirus) and I was so dehydrated from being sick that my milk temporarily stopped. We tried soy formula, and ofcourse she spit that right up, then pedialyte. She wasn't crazy about that either, but they have popsicles that she atleast thought were interesting. The doctor told me to give her anything (even watered down gatoraide) that she would take. Once I got enough fluids in me, she preferred to nurse, so as long as she wants to nurse, breastmilk is better than anythng else! Lets just hope she doesn't get sick!

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J.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

NO JUST KEEP NURSING !!!!!!!! That is all your baby needs... hope you both are well soon.

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J.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

i would ask your dr first. if your breast feeding i would just continue with that. if she vomiting then offer the breat more then usual. pedia lite should be ok but i would still ask because they will want you to only give the baby so much. good luck hope shes better soon!

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L.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

At 3 months old, I wouldn't give her anything other than breastmilk. Even if she ends up with the flu, breastmilk, with your antibodies, is the best thing you can give her, and she's probably too young to be able to handle Pedialyte (which I believe has a lot of sugar in it).

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S.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

when my baby was a couple of months old and got sick my doctor said it was o.k. to give him pedialyte but the unflavored one not the one with flavor.

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B.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Yes it is fine to give her. Unles they have come up with some new reason in the last three years not to.
I hope she doesn't get it. Most babies that breast feed do not get sick. I hope she is one of them. :O)
Take care
B.

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C.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

The doctor's gave it to my 6 week old when she was in the hospital for RSV....but I recommend you check with the doctor first.

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J.L.

answers from San Diego on

Hui E., I gave my son pedialyte at 2 months andhe did fine. But for peace of mine check with his pedeatrician. J.

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S.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Generally, breastfed babies get antibodies against anything mom has through the milk, so you have nothing to worry about.
Sorry you have the flu. Get well soon!

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A.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

Your baby can't get the flu from your breastmilk, and in fact, your milk is exactly the thing keeping her well. Trust her immune system and trust the substance that's building it (breastmilk) to do their job.

Hope you feel better.
-A.
(Mom to two boys, 5 years and 10 months)

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R.S.

answers from San Diego on

My son had many surgeries around this age--and we swore by Pedialyte!!

XOXO,
R.

S.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

Just keep breastfeeding; nothing else is needed. The antibodies that your body built up will be passed along to your daughter in the breast milk. You don't want to give her anything else (no water, no pedialyte) that will keep her from wanting the full "dose" of breast milk. As long as you continue to BF her, she won't get dehydrated at all. Do what you can to make sure YOU don't get dehydrated, and she'll be fine.

When I delivered DS2 both DH and I had the flu really bad. I asked "how do I make sure the new baby doesn't get sick?" They told me to breastfeed as soon as I could, for the same reason I gave above.

Good luck!

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A.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

No...because Pedialyte does not have the nutrients a 3 month old needs, and a 3 month old cannot digest stuff like that yet. She can end up malnourished off of PEdialyte.

Pedialyte does not prevent the flu. If I were you I'd continue breastfeeding.

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Your baby is so young especially to have the flu. I would take her to the pediatricain. IF she gets it over the weekend, take her to the ER. She would be very young to get the flu already, her immune system is not strong enough yet, so a simple flu for you and your 3 year old can easily turn into somthing else for her.

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