6m with tummy bug, how much sleep?

[indigobarbie]

My 6 month old DS1 had diahorrea but no vomiting since last tuesday, I phoned Dr on Friday and got rehydration sachets and stopped the milk on Friday.
He has been taking the sachets and up until yesterday has behaving normally and actually quite cheery, the poos have stopped being so frequent.
I added in a few rusks yesterday and he has slept from 9pm last night to 10am this morning, He normally wakes for one or two night feeds. I gave him another sachet this morning (but I roused him to give him it) then about an hour later he fell asleep and is still snoozing. Am I being overly paranoid? I don't think he is showing any signs of dehydration and I was going to introduce some milk back today? Is this the norm when babies don't feel well?

[indigobarbie]

Thank you Pixie, this is my first time for the wee man being ill :(

[BertieBotts]

He should be drinking milk I thought and nothing else? Is he bottle or breast fed? Rehydration sachets probably ok if they were prescribed but I'd probably hold back on solids for now.

Often babies/children sleep a lot when they are ill, don't worry, it's just their bodies resting to get them well again :) Keep an eye on his fontanelles to check it's not sunken and if you feel worried at any time call the doctor - it's what they're there for :)

[indigobarbie]

Hi Bertie, sorry should have said he is bottle fed. Dr said something to do with loose poos mean he loses and enzyme which breaks down the milk. Therefore, stopping the milk and going onto these sachets will help him absorb fluids better. Then once the poos stop being loose I can re-introduce some milk to see how it is tolerated.
I gave him a wee rouse at 1pm and he is more awake now, although a bit unsettled, has tears when crying and he took another sachet bottle so that's sounding OK.
Thanks for your reassurance, it's a bit worrying sometimes. I only gave him a small amount of rusk as it said it was OK to do so on the rehydration packets. It's really hard to know what to do isn't it?

[Seona1973]

up to date advice is to keep offering milk feeds even if formula fed and offer the rehydration swachets alongside if required.

From nhs website:
If you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your child and they have diarrhoea, continue if they will still feed (use their normal-strength feed if they are bottle-fed). Rehydration drinks should also be given if necessary.

[Seona1973]

sachets obviously!!

[indigobarbie]

thank you Seona, I only stopped the milk as the Dr said the enzymes were being depleted from the baby's system and therefore wouldn't be being absorbed the same? Anyways he of course, may be out of date.
DS1 is acting a bit more like his wee self and I did give him some milk earlier, he seems a lot better and the poos have stopped. They smelt very very rotten eggish.
He has slept a lot today but we will see what tonight brings. Thanks to everyone