Why do they tell you to give ribena to stop dehydration during a sickness a bug??

[nappyaddict]

Why is ribena better than just plain water?

He's keeping semi-skimmed milk down. It's when I gave him ribena he started again.

Going back to your original question: the cells in the gut that absorb water can't absorb it on its own. It needs either salt, sugar or protein to get it into the cells. Also it is good to replace salt lost through vomiting. If he's drinking milk it will be absorbed because of the protein and will stop him getting dehydrated. The lactose intolerance thing may be a worry though. I'd say just give him what he wants (sorbet / ice cream might be nice?). Hope he gets better.

Is it better for him to have ribena which has the sugar needed but for it to make him sick or plain water which doesn't make him sick but presumably won't hydrate him either?

When DD had the bad sickness bug for a week last year, we hit on sports drinks - they have that bit of salt and sugar but are much more palatable than dioralyte. (other big advantage, the village shop sells them!)

Recently my mum was ill and she asked my GP big bro for advice, and thats what he recommended too.

But if anything except plain water makes your kid sick, then plain water that stays in is definitely going to be more hydrating than the best isotonic in the world if it comes straight back out!

Plain water will hydrate him. It just won't replace the sugars and salts he's losing. Much better than nothing though.

Fingers crossed no sick yet but after eating a small amount of weetabix yesterday and drinking quite a lot he's gone back to refusing everying.

Also he keeps doing this hyperventilating type thing. Any ideas what that could be?