When can babies have pediatyle? [proper age, safety & benefits]

A lot of parents are unsure when their babies can have Pedialyte. The answer to that question is not black and white. Pedialyte is a great way for children to replace fluids, electrolytes, minerals, and glucose when they are sick or when the weather is hot. However, it’s important to talk with your pediatrician before giving your baby anything other than breastmilk or formula when he/she has diarrhea because some things like apple juice can make it worse. If you want to know when can babies have pedialyte, keep reading. 

What does Pedialyte do for babies?

Pedialyte is mainly used to treat dehydration in both babies and children. It has the proper electrolytes, minerals, and glucose that our bodies need when we are dehydrated so it can be used for mild diarrhea as well.

When Can Babies Have Pedialyte?

Most babies can start drinking Pedialyte as early as two weeks old but always check with your child’s doctor first. If your baby is younger than two weeks old and has diarrhea, vomiting, or a fever, contact their doctor right away before giving them any type of fluid.

Pedialyte is a liquid meant to treat dehydration in infants and children. It contains water, glucose (sugar), sodium chloride (table salt) and citric acid. The FDA has not yet released an official age for bottle-feeding with Pedialyte but it likely falls between six months and two years of age. Pedialyte is also safe for those older than two years of age, as well as adults and seniors who are experiencing diarrhea (when it contains potassium). Pedialyte must be diluted according to package instructions before consumption. It should not be given undiluted or used past the expiration date.

With babies less than 6 months old, you should be cautious. Giving water or other fluids other than formula or breast milk to infants may cause significant complications.

Pedialyte Dosing For Infants

Pedialyte comes in two main forms: powder and liquid. The FDA has not released an official age for bottle-feeding with Pedialyte but it likely falls between six months and two years of age. Pedialyte is also safe for those older than two years of age, as well as adults and seniors who are experiencing diarrhea (when it contains potassium).

The general rule of thumb when using the powdered form is that one scoop should be mixed into eight ounces or half a liter of water. This mixture can then either be consumed within twenty minutes afterward or stored in the refrigerator for up to forty-eight hours before being discarded so long as you give it another once over until smooth before drinking.

Liquid Pedialyte is also safe for those older than two years of age, as well as adults and seniors who are experiencing diarrhea (when it contains potassium).

Pedialyte must be diluted according to package instructions before consumption. It should not be given undiluted or used past the expiration date.

When using liquid Pedialyte in a bottle, you can mix one part Pedialyte with four parts water then heat the mixture up in a pot on your stovetop until hot but not boiling – around 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Then shake well and use within twenty minutes after removing from the heat source- otherwise, store in the refrigerator until next feeding time if you will wait longer than that! If using the powdered form, add pediatric electrolytes powder into eight ounces or half a liter of water. Shake it up well, allow it to dissolve completely if needed – then feed the baby!

Breastfed Infants Getting Pedialyte

When using Pedialyte to rehydrate a breastfed infant, you should continue to breastfeed the baby during the therapy. Nursing will assist to soothe your baby while also delivering much-needed nourishment.

Breast milk includes important antibodies that may aid in the fight against illness. It will also help with the rehydration therapy, perhaps even speeding it up. During these illnesses, though, your baby may develop temporary lactose intolerance. Lactose may make the symptoms of gastroenteritis last longer. When you avoid dairy intake while nursing, your baby gets all of the advantages of breast milk without stomach problems. He or she should be able to handle dairy in your diet after the sickness has passed.

Formula-fed Infants Taking Pedialyte

It’s advisable to stop feeding formula to infants who aren’t able to keep fluids down. Use a teaspoon or syringe to provide Pedialyte in tiny amounts of 0.15 to 0.3 fluid ounces every five minutes, just as you would with breastfeeding infants. Continue with the formula until your infant is able to swallow liquids.

If your baby is on a cow’s milk-based formula, switching to soy formula during the diarrheal stage of the disease is frequently beneficial. This helps to bind the stools by avoiding lactose, which is more difficult to digest and may prolong the sickness.

If you’re concerned that your child may vomit again, serve the formula on a spoon. This ensures that they eat just tiny quantities, reducing the risk of their stomach rejecting it.

How much Pedialyte for a 1-year-old?

If you’re nursing or administering formula, stick to the following recommendations. Then, every 15 minutes or as required, give your kid tiny sips of Pedialyte. Use a syringe or a spoon if required. If you think you need extra Pedialyte or if your infant still seems dehydrated, go to your doctor.

What Are the Side-Effects to Pedialyte

Pedialyte does have certain downsides. However, most people who use Pedialyte don’t have any serious side effects. Vomiting and nausea are the most frequent adverse effects. To counteract this, give your infant modest quantities at a time – no more than two tablespoons at a time. The following are some of the more serious adverse effects that Pedialyte may cause:

Dizziness (not easy to spot in infants).
Swelling in feet and ankles.
Mood changes (they may be difficult to soothe one minute, and a breeze the next).
Restlessness.
Seizures.

Pedialyte is available in a variety of tastes and formats. These are the following:

>> Pedialyte Classic: This is a liquid version of Pedialyte that comes in a variety of tastes or is flavorless. It helps to replenish zinc and electrolytes that have been lost. It may also be purchased as a powder.

>> Pedialyte AdvancedCare: AdvancedCare helps to keep you hydrated while you’re ill. It contains PreActiv Prebiotics, which aid in the maintenance of a healthy digestive system balance. It comes in both liquid and powder form.

>> Pedialyte Advanced Care Plus includes the same PreActiv Prebiotics as the AdvancedCare line, but with 33% more electrolytes. As a result, it is more efficient than the two options above.

>> Pedialyte Sparkling Rush Powder includes just tastes and no colors. To successfully fight dehydration, it has an optimum mix of sugar and electrolytes.

>> Pedialyte Freezer Popsicles are Pedialyte packets that are frozen and eaten like a popsicle. They are not, however, advised for newborns.

Signs Of Dehydration In Infants

Sings of dehydration in infants include:

>> Lethargy

>> Skin that looks wrinkly and dry, which is the opposite of moist. That means it won’t bounce back when you press on it with your fingers for a few seconds. It will stay indented as long as you keep pressure on it instead of springing right back into shape as normal skin would do.

>> No tears or very little eye tear production – babies produce more tears than adults because they rely more on their sense of sight to communicate and be entertained (which doesn’t work if they can’t see anything!) so lack of tearing could indicate something is wrong with baby’s hydration status. If no teardrops come out at all this is a more serious concern.

>> Dry mouth (it will feel sticky if you rub your finger on it) and tongue that doesn’t move easily or look pink like normal – this can be mistaken for poor oral motor skills but actually indicate dehydration because the saliva glands are not producing enough watery secretions to moisten baby’s mouth, allowing dryness to occur.

If your little one is showing any of these symptoms and they seem very severe, make sure you seek medical attention as soon as possible:

>> No wet diapers in an hour after feeding which means there isn’t much urine being produced; even though we all know how uncomfortable diaper changes can be for newborns who pee during every single change! This symptom should never be ignored because it could indicate a serious health issue.

>> Lethargy – don’t let your baby sleep for more than an hour during the day or night to make sure they are waking up often enough to drink their milk and be hydrated. If you notice lethargy, try breastfeeding them first before giving them Pedialyte as there is no need to give a bottle if mommy can nurse instead!

Pedialyte For Toddlers 

If your toddler is sick with diarrhea or vomiting, you may want to give them Pedialyte. They are allowed if they have no fever and are not dehydrated!

Don’t give them the powder version of Pedialyte unless it’s mixed in their formula – this can upset their stomach further since it has a high concentration of sugars that should be diluted into less concentrated levels for easier digestion.

For toddlers under two years old who might still drink from bottles, avoid the juice versions because these contain too much sugar which will make dehydration worse instead of better when combined with other bodily fluid losses like vomiting. Instead, choose an unflavored option so kids don’t complain about the taste but enjoy all calories contained within without any added sugars.

To avoid having to administer Pedialyte when you are not at home, make sure your little one has access to it all the time in their diaper bag or carry on luggage while they travel with you! They will love this because children always prefer things that taste like candy instead of some nasty tasting drink for dehydration – but trust me, adding lots of sugar into Pedialyte doesn’t solve any problems and makes them worse!

You can also ask a doctor for information about how much is safe to give your toddler if they have diarrhea since there are no set guidelines for this condition so far. If they do receive too much though, watch closely for signs of electrolyte imbalances which can lead to heart issues in extreme cases.

Does Pedialyte Make You Poop?

Well, it depends on the person and situation. If you’re asking whether or not it can make a baby poop, then we need to ask under what circumstances is Pedialyte given to an infant? Typically if there’s something wrong with their eating habits like dehydration or malnutrition, they might be prescribed some of this drink as part of medical treatment for such conditions.

So, a baby’s poop might be affected by the Pedialyte if they’re under medical treatment for something like malnutrition or dehydration. If not, then it probably won’t affect their bowel movements at all!

Conclusion:

Pedialyte is a rehydration drink for children, which means it’s designed to help people replenish fluids lost from vomiting or diarrhea. It also helps with dehydration caused by the flu and other illnesses. There are different types of Pedialyte available depending on your child’s age group so be sure you purchase the right one if you think they might need it!

Read more:

Is it safe to drink pedialyte while pregnant?

Can babies have maple syrup? [is it safe at all?]