Dd is sick, how do I avoid dehydration?

[PamE]

We got back from vacation this afternoon and dd started throwing up within a half an hour! I'm sure it's not food poisoning because we've all eaten the same things and none of the rest of us feel ill. She just drank a few sips of water a few minutes ago and it came right back up. How quickly can a 4yo (almost 5) become dehydrated? I know for an adult it takes almost three days of not keeping anything down, but am really clueless when it comes to the little ones and I'd like to do what I can to avoid it.

[TXmom]

Bless her heart! I'm not sure on the dehydration, but you could ask her to try a little bit of popsicle or ice chips.

[jwmcdaniel]

My dr. recommended giving about 1 Tablespoon of flat ginger ale or 7-up every 15 minutes or so until she could keep it down.....

And for some reason, I'm thinking you're to stay away from water when they are vomiting - choose carbonated drinks that have lost some of the bubble. I may be wrong, but I think I've heard that somewhere.

Good luck and I hope she feels better very soon.

[jwmcdaniel]

I forgot to add - there are Pedialyte popsicles now that might be a good choice....

[PamE]

Thank you! The popscicles are a big hit. She has stopped vomiting now but ds has started. :\ Mil anf fil had the same thing last week. Hopefully it will skip dh and I!

[Melody]

I think it takes a while for them to become dehydrated. Ds was throwing up every 20 minutes for about 16 hours and then about 1 time an hour a couple of months ago and it kept up over a weekend and he never became dehydrated. I kept offering him water (not too cold) and popsicles and he had a hard time keeping it down. THe pedialite is a good suggestion if it keeps up for more than 24 hours or if the runs show up. Otherwise I would stick to popsicles and clear fluids. Good luck, nothing worse than watching your kids get sick like that and knowing they just have to wait it out.
I ended up giving ds kids gravol to give him a break.

[kat]

You might want to check with your ped. just in case on the dehydration. Our speech therapist dehydrated in one day and had to be hospitalized (she was pregnant as well).
The last time I went to the hospital with a migraine they hooked me up to an IV and forced fluids because of the risk of dehydration, and administered the meds through the IV. When I get migraines I usually throw up 2 or 3 times.
With little ones I would think they could dehydrate even faster.

[Ryleigh]

keep up with the popsicles and freezies! dr recomened clear sodas (served flat and room temp only 1 - 2 oz at a time), apple juice or pedilyte. I've never seen the pedialyte popsicles, but if you find them, they should be good.
not sure on how long it takes to get dehydrated. ds went 3 days as an infant but hed to keep a close eye on him. Hope they are feeling better soon. I just hate when anyone is not feeling well, especially kids.

[Lynda/WA]

One way to check for dehydration (I know it works for adults, not sure about children) is to pinch a little bit of skin up on the back of the hand. It should immediately return to shape.
DS was extremely sick one time for a couple of days. He was about 1. The doctor had us give him water 1 teaspoon full at a time. They also weighed him and had me bring him back the next day. If he lost over a certain amount of weight more they were going to IV him. I should point out that was in Arizona were it isn't uncommon for people to get dehydrated anyways. I myself have been I'd for dehydration twice (once when sick). I think many more adults don't drink enough fluids so are already partially dehydrated when they get sick which may be why so many of us can list adults IVd for dehydration but not children.
You can probably tell when your kids are really in trouble. DS was paler than ever with a glazed look. Very listless. In fact when you would pick him up he just let his arms and legs hang.

As for the sodas vs water vs pedialyte - you get less water from a soda because some of the water in it is used up to break down the sugar. At the same time my kids find it easier to keep down slightly flat room temp sodas so we go with that when sick. We usually go with 7-up but Mom always did ginger ale. I think ginger is one of those home remedies for a number of things , nausea being one of them. Pedialyte has the electrolytes which is good but can wreck havock on the system. Not sure about a preschooler but a baby can get a nasty case of diaper rash. That age sure does love their popscicles though so I'd try that and flat soda. What kid doesn't want a soda? Even one at room temp? The biggest thing that I have found is just alittle at a time but frequently.

[KarlaB]

Hope your little ones are feeling better soon!!! My ds was really sick when he was just shy of two. He couldn't even keep down a sip of water/juice. He dehydrated very quickly and ended up on an iv. Not fun. :( Hopefully the popsicles and flat pop will stay down for your dks. To make the pop flat quicker than just letting it sit out you can stir it until it stops fizzing. :) Hope you and your dh avoid the "bug" going around and that your dks are up and about soon!

[RCT]

hope you little one is better soon, I use the pedialite popcicles, the only thing my kids want when they are sick, they seem to work well....hope things get better soon....