Best way to give a 1 year old dioralyte?

[JDad2015]

Does anyone have a successful way to administer dioralyte (oral rehydration fluid) to a 1 year old?

I've tried a Tommee Tippee beaker and now her regular milk bottle. I've tried adding 'no added sugar' Ribena. She hates all of the above.

She's never been a great water drinker though she's never had a problem with milk.

Any suggestions?

How about trying a Calpol syringe? It would take a while to administer in such small doses but worth a try.

Freeze it in an ice lolly mould? It can be a treat!

Syringe

It's disgusting so no wonder she won't drink it! Offer ice lollies and food instead maybe

Is she showing signs of dehydration? Will she still take milk?

That was my next step - got about 20ml in before she got extremely cross. But thanks for the tip.

Best way is to mix it with sugary juice and give her 5mls every 5 mins with a syringe. If she's been vomiting and can't tolerate that (keeps vomiting) then she needs to be seen. Even if she doesn't like it its worth being cruel to be kind to stop her becoming dehydrated. If she's refusing all drinks could she have a sore throat? In which case maybe give her some paracetamol?

If she absolutely refuses it but will take sugary juice without the dioralyte, just get her to drink that. Not as quick to rehydrate but its better than nothing. Good luck!

Above post referred to syringe method. Will try ice one.

She's taking milk fine. GP said to try some dioralyte. And no solid food for 24 hours.

Current nhs advice is not to starve them so sounds like your go advice is out of date. If they are hungry give bland carb rich foods. I normally start with toast

GP *

I haven't heard of no food either. I would give simple food. 'Sick' food here is:

• chicken and rice. Just some small or shredded pieces of plain chicken. Add peas sometimes

• chicken and noodle soup

• porridge made with water

• apple purée

Will she drink coconut water instead??

It tastes a lot like milk, so hidden in a sippy cup she might not notice & it is a natural rehydration fluid , so will do the same job as Diaralyte

Would that not have a laxative effect?

Diarylte is basically sugar and salt hydration. So you can give that using other stuff. Flat lemonade is recommended and salty plain crisps or salted butter with marmite on toast.

Thinking on it further, Milk is also a good rehydration fluid, though not if theres any chance they are intolerant, not great if they are still vomiting too shudders at childhood memory of drinking milk & vomiting cottage cheese a few minutes later

Our GP has suggested flat coke & crisps in the past for DD, but she was quite a bit older, not so sure its the best idea for a 1yo

Coconut water shouldn't be laxative, we drink a lot of it & haven't had that problem

Rock - I think ds2 was only 1 year when doctor recommended flat lemonade ( sugary but no caffeine like coke). I thought wtf he's 1, but it makes sense. It's only for a day or two, and they only drink a tiny bit.
Apart from when they have been sick I don't allow mine sugary drinks at all still, ds1 is 6 1/2.

Thats good to know then Artco, I wasn't judging, I'd just never heard of that recommended for such a young one, so wasn't sure if it was okay or not, but if your GP recommended it, then it must be safe

I suppose it the whole ' yes it's crap sugar water basically, but if it prevents hospitalisation for dehydration', then it's bad but preventing worse?

I have never met anyone, adult or child, who can stomach dioralyte. Give her ice lollies - they have lots of sugar in (which she will need if she is vomiting) and they are tasty and fun and she will consume them slowly, which is a good way of getting liquid down without it returning.

I suppose it the whole ' yes it's crap sugar water basically, but if it prevents hospitalisation for dehydration', then it's bad but preventing worse

Exactly, besides, even as very healthy eaters, I don't see a problem with it as an occasional treat when well

Your DD is hopefully well on the mend now but we were given thos advice once by GP - to stop milk and give dioralyte. We found it impossible as she hated dioralyte and liked her milk so we gave milk in small doses. Better some liquid than none, we thought.