Sick

Updated on March 17, 2008
C.S. asks from Clearwater, FL
23 answers

I got my 5 month old son sick! =( Should i give him some pedelite or juice instead of just formula?

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P.H.

answers from Tampa on

lots of liquids......depending on illness if it is tummy than I wlould stay away from formula the best is gigerale,pedelite
keep very quite....if possible

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K.C.

answers from Tampa on

Stick with the formula. If he's throwing up and has loose stools, you might want to add pedialite too.

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R.

answers from Tampa on

At 5months old I would at least call his doctor. The nurses and tell you what you should do over the phone or if you need to bring him in. Good Luck! It's so hard to see them sick isn't it?

1 mom found this helpful
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D.J.

answers from Tampa on

My advice would be to call your son's doctor before you do anything. It's tough when they're so little and sick, but I hope he gets better soon :) But please call his doctor first.

Good Luck :)

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N.C.

answers from Tampa on

probably not, talk to your pediatrician is the safest thing to do.

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S.H.

answers from Sarasota on

I would stick with the formula and maybe some water in a bottle (if he'll take it) to keep him hydrated. I would stay away from the juice...too much sugar. I didn't give my son juice at all during his first year and on the very rare occasions he drinks it now I water it down 50/50. I have heard mixed reviews on pedelite, so I've never given it to my 21 month old son. You can certainly give you pediatrician a call though to see how he/she feels about pedelite. I hope you guys are feeling better soon.

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S.H.

answers from Tampa on

1. Call your doc - under 6 months needs a pediatrician's guidance for pedialytes (due to electrolytes and child's metabolism).

2. Juice can actually cause diarrhea to worsen due to its high sugar content (sucrose). It can rapidly worsen dehydration in a matter of hours in a patient so young. Most docs caution against full-strength juice for a 6 month and older baby as well.

3. Take care of you, too! :)

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K.J.

answers from Tampa on

I would talk to his Dr's and ask them what they think.But I would stay away from the juice while he is sick.That's iswhat my kids Dr's office has told me over the last few years when mine kids were sick.

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R.W.

answers from Tampa on

Don't give him juice while he is sick. It could make him worse. But I would give him the pedilite. But the best advice I can give you is to call his doctor and get advice. Every child is different. I was always told not to give the girls juice when sick. Especially if they have loose stools because it will make it worse. He's to young to take any risks. The hospital has Ask A Nurse where you can also get good advice.

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R.P.

answers from Tampa on

Hi C., First of all I'd call the pediatricians office to see what their reccomendation is, at 5 months you want to be careful what you give them. If there is a lot of diareah and fever you don't want the baby to become dehydrated, it can happen so quick with a tiny baby. They can also hear from you what the babys symptoms are and might suggest something else, and they'll be able to tell you what to look for in case of complications... JMHO
R.

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T.J.

answers from Tampa on

Hi
What kind of sick? Watery Stool, vomiting> These will quickly cause dehydration in an infant. Pedialyte only, for 24 hrs. Call your pediatrician immediatly for guidelines. SO to better answer your question, for watery stools or emesis ( vomiting) clear liquids only for 24 hrs. If you cannot see through it, the solid part of formula, will make the problem persist. Call MD if not stopped.

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A.B.

answers from Lakeland on

5 MONTH is too young for juice substitute half of the formula feedings for pedialite. But he still need his formula!

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K.T.

answers from Tampa on

It depends if he is throwing up or has diareah give him pedelite. If it is just a cold the doctor will probably tell you to continue the formula. That is what my daughters pediatrician told her. But like everyone else is saying call your dr.

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T.C.

answers from Tampa on

You need to call your son's pediatrician, if you don't know what to do for his sickness. Tell the doctor what the symptoms are and how long they have been occuring. The doctor should be able to guide you safely through the course of the illness.

Good luck.

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L.P.

answers from Tampa on

If your child is vomiting, try only the pedialyte. If not, alternate between pedialyte and formula. Don't give him juices. They have too much sugar and will cause higher sodium levels. I just went through this with my son. If you want, you caneven put a peppermint into a bottle of water and shake it up a little. This will calm an icky tummy.

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K.R.

answers from Sarasota on

everybody keeps saying not to give him juice, but pedialite is fine...i'd say just give him water between formula feedings. i'd stay away from juice...my kids didn't get juice until they were over a year old, and i still mix half juice half water. definately call your doc though...especially since you didn't say what his symptoms are. like someone else said...if he's vomiting and having diarrhea then he could get dehydrated quickly. good luck.

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L.S.

answers from Naples on

Not to sure if you want to give him formula, to thick and harder to digest. My kids both had only pedialyte ( half of that mixed with half water ) when they were not drinking enough. Juice could be the best first, with half of that water also and if he doesnt dring that, then the pedialyte may come in handy.
Good luck.......... L.
My kids have juice today but it is still mixed with water. When in doubt your pedi will know what to do. Everyone has their own opinions about juices and formulas BUT every baby and child is different. 5 months old is very young. Maybe his formula now is making him sick.

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P.N.

answers from Tampa on

If he is throwing up all he is eating, switch to Pedalyte. The main concern is keeping him hydrated. If you are concerned about nutrition, you can mix 4 oz of the formula with 4 oz of the pedalyte to thin it down. When you are sick, I bet you have a hard time drinking milk :P It makes a ton of mucus which comes back up. Pedaylte is a great product. Talk to your peditrician if you are concerned. I just call mine whenever I need advice...such as over the counter med dosages. A good ped. doesn't mind the call. If he has a fever go to the doc. A lot of the flu virus is going around and it can lead to the hospitiliazation of a young infant.

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R.R.

answers from Tampa on

I was always told that Pedelite was not good for children under 1 year old. But, I have given them watered down juice though to keep them hydrated if they were throwing up or had diarea.(No apple juice if they have diarea). Hope I was of some help.

R. R.

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C.D.

answers from Tampa on

My 4 month old son is just getting over the stomach bug that is going around. He has had diarrhea and throwing up for 3 days. I spoke to my pediatrician and they have me alternating his normal amount of formula with the same amount of Pedialite for 24 hours to make sure he is well hydrated. I was told not to mix it with water. I have also used 1/2 water and 1/2 juice but the doctor said that it is empty calories and a lot of sugar and not doing much good. The Pedialite at least has the elecrolytes.

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C.W.

answers from Tampa on

Hi C..
Do you think that he is dehydrated? If so then you might want to take him to the doctor. You will know if he is dehydrated if he does not have a wet diaper for a while and if he cries not tears. You could also check the insides of his cheeks. If they are dry then you should take him in.
The juice might actually hurt him more than do good. It might make him have to go number 2 a lot.

Hope that he gets better soon.

C.

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S.M.

answers from Lakeland on

i wouldn't give him juice yet, not at five months if often at all.. juice is overrated.. its high in suger and can actually dehydrate your youngster quicker.. you make your formula with water, as long as he is drinking that you shouldn't worry.. you can offer pedealyte if you want, but not in replacment of his daily feedings.. what kind of sick is he? a cold, runny nose sorta thing? his formula should be enough.. and pedealite in between here and there, lots of fluids help thin the mucus and help it drain.. if hes been vomiting and having diarreha you should pay closer attention to what hes drinking. babies can dehydrate much faster than us.. if he keeps up diarreha and vomiting more than a full day, i would take him to his doctor.. just to be safe, also if there is a fever present.. babies are tougher than we think about fevers belive it or not, but its still scary..
i would like to add i am not a doctor, but i have two children 16mo & 4 yr.. and have had my share of colds/fevers/infections/& everything eles!! what i told you above, was exactly what my doctor told me... good luck, and feel free to ask me any other questions you may have...

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L.C.

answers from Tampa on

I think it depends on what kind of sick that the baby is...if it's a cold - I would say do both...but the best thing with a baby is to call the babies doctor for advise!! Good luck...nothing hurts us mom's more then a sick baby!!

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