How do you keep a baby hydrated when they refuse to drink?

[ShinyMoonInAPurpleSky]

Ds is 8 months and has had a viral infection for a few days now. I am worried he is going to become dehydrated as he has only had 6oz at 3am and 5oz at 7am. Ever since then he has screamed if the bottle goes anywhere near his mouth. His nappies are very dry and he did have the runs a little early this morning but he hasnt vomited. He has eaten today bur not much - just some weetabix and pureed fruit.

How do I keep him hydrated if he won't drink? He has just screamed himself to sleep in my arms :(

Sorry, having done some research spoon feeding water seems to be the only option...I can't see this being very effective though?

Even a few drops is better than nothing. Has he got any ulcers or similar in his mouth that the bottle might be irritating?

Will he suck a wet facecloth?

Fruity ice lolly?

I used to get those syringes that you can get for giving small children medicine, I used to feed this to my child with water in it when he wouldn't take it, only little drops.

You could use a medicine syringe to shoot some water into the side of his mouth every 20 minutes or so.

I haven't seen any ulcers or anything, he will suck on his dummy fine (since he's been ill I haven't been able to get it off him!).

I will try the wet facecloth idea and will have a look for a syringe. I have to give him his calpol by putting it in the spoon then dipping the dummy in it repeatedly until he has had the full dose so the idea of spoon feeding water sounds like it would be really difficult!

We tried him on ice lollies earlier in the week and he wasn't having any of it unfortunately.

Thanks for th eideas everyone!

How about a dummy medcine provider and put some water in that !

DS 2 had D&V when he was about 6 months. i managed to feed him diarolyte from a bottle when he was sleeping; he would drink nearly a whole bottle this way- i think some sort of suckling instinct takes over- kind of like when you do a 'dream feed'- maybe you could try this.

second the dream feed

Ok, the dream feed didn't really work...ds is napping at the moment and he sleeps on his front so I had to turn him over which woke him up (doh!) I tried to give him a bottle of water but then he realised what it was! I'll go and wake him up in a bit and try the flannel and spoon feeding water, I know I had a syringe but it's gone walkabouts grr!

My Ds has been in hospital on a drip for dyhydration a few times, the last few we've avoided it by syringing 5ml of dioralyte every 5 min. FOR HOURS!. It's forceful and horrible to do but as a last resort (ie cold hand and feet, sunken soft spot etc.) it' better than the alternative.