Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

dehydrated baby???? very worried!

22 replies

kateandfelicity · 26/01/2006 13:38

dd (8mo) has had quite bad diahrohea (really can't spell) she got sent hom from nursery on tuesday after having 3 loose nappies in 2.5hrs.

it has been in every nappy she's had. she doesn;t seem upset, but at night she is very clingy and unsettled. so spends most the night in our bed, pushing dp out of bed so she can hog it with mummy!

i gave her some diarolyte (electrolyte substitute) yesterday she had 1/2 a bottle of that which is quite good as it tastes foul.

should i get worried? should i take her to hospital? just don't want her getting dehydrated.

she is still having solid food (though pretty much comes out as it goes in!) and has been having 3 bottles of milk as well.

what do i do, if anything????

thanks in advance

Kate

OP posts:

mythumbelinas · 26/01/2006 13:41

maybe she's teething

colditz · 26/01/2006 13:41

I would knock the solid food on the head for a couple of days, and see if that will persuade her to drink more.

is she still doing wees? If so, she isn't very dehydrated and the fact that she is still drinking is good. Offer her as much fluid as you think she will take.

colditz · 26/01/2006 13:42

good point MT, ds used to have raging diarrhoea for two days before cutting a tooth!

mythumbelinas · 26/01/2006 13:45

so did mine .. and flushed cheeks

chapsmum · 26/01/2006 13:45

Are her nappies wet as well as dirty?

FairyMum · 26/01/2006 13:47

I am no GP, but think you are normally able to tell if they are dehydrated by looking at their lips. If dehydrated they get dry and cracked. They also go very pale.

alexsmum · 26/01/2006 13:49

just taken ds to the doctors for the same thing- well vomiting rather than bum stuff. his nappies were dry and was worried. dr said to keep checking his mouth and if his lips and tongue seemed dry thats when to worry about dehydration.
hope this helps.

alexsmum · 26/01/2006 13:51

just seen how old she is- i th9ink i would phone nhs direct just to be on the safe side. normally you have to knock milk on the head and just give clear fluids but if she s so young, you can't really? hhmmm tough one.

Original poster

kateandfelicity · 26/01/2006 13:51

don;t think its teeth the little rascal has already got 6, surely she doesn't need anymore!!!!

actually there has been a bug round nursery so a number of her little mates are ill too.

thing is she is really hungry for her solid food, she loves food.

so should i just try increasing fluids and see how i go? at what point (time wise) do i get concerned?

so confused!

OP posts:

chapsmum · 26/01/2006 14:05

kate, doesn't sound like you've got much to worry about at the moment> cinsider the reasons you would take her to hospita by looking at what they could do for you.

if you think she has an infection? has a temp etc 2)If you are no longer to make up the fluid that she is losing ie she start vomiting or things become worse 3)If she is off colour and not picking up over the next day. MEanwhile your doing a great job, up the fluids and if she's hungry feed her, keep the food bland. And don't be afraid to phone and speak to your gp if worried HTH

kreamkrackers · 26/01/2006 14:10

to check for dehydration see if her fontanel is sunken inwards and the same goes for her eyes. also pinch some skin on her arm and see how long it takes to get back to normal, if hydrated will return straight away but if dehydated it will take longer. also count each wet nappy, she should have at least 4 in 24 hours which are very noticeable. keep up with the fluids they're the most important thing at the moment.

kreamkrackers · 26/01/2006 14:14

i would take her to see a doctor even if she isn't dehydrated just to get her checked over as to what the cause is. also if you do get worried call the nhs direct.

Mercy · 26/01/2006 14:38

Dilute the milk 50/50. If she can sit/crawl leave bottles of water lying around so she can help herself (boiled water that has been cooled)

melrose · 26/01/2006 14:43

Agree about watering down the milk. DS had a nasty bug at about 6 months and that is how i got more fluids in him, made the formula with third-half the amount of powder and worked well.

Hlaf a bottle of diarylyte is v good and will stop dehydration, just keep perservering with that, it does work as also has rice powder in it to "Bind"!

moondog · 26/01/2006 14:48

I don't think you're supposed to mess around with formula at all.

Get to the GP if at all worried.
Dehydration in a small child can be fatal.

Sorry to freak you,but it could be serious.Don't take risks.

melrose · 26/01/2006 14:50

Formula is fine if you put less powder in than adviced, only bad if you put more in! Just more watery milk, hence better at rehydrating, esp if baby won't take plain water as mone wouldn't

moondog · 26/01/2006 14:51

Oh ok.
Don't really know about formula tbh.

moondog · 26/01/2006 14:52

On second thoughts..not convinced melrose,not at all.

melrose · 26/01/2006 14:53

It is fine, honestly, GP told me it was agood idea

Mercy · 26/01/2006 14:55

Moondog it's true - I was told this by GP and the Senior Registrar at a paediatric A & E.

chapsmum · 26/01/2006 14:55

Agree with moondog, a dehydrated baby is serious, and you should not let it get to the point where a baby has a sunken fontanel etc.
Kate I f you can give your baby extra water/juice, this is great ontop of her bottles, If you are haveing a problem with this then seek professional help. To be on the safe side

chapsmum · 26/01/2006 14:57

mercy great idea about the leaving the bottles about, the wee chap would drink anything as long as he thuoght it wasn't ment for hime!

Flip