Advice for the clueless, please. 8 month old ds had diarrhea for about two days, and just thrown up a tidal wave of puke. What should I be doing/feeding him?

[JamesAndTheGiantBanana]

That's it really. He's been off his food a bit all day but finally got a bottle into him and he erupted. His stomach HAS to be empty, there was masses of it. Diarrhea in every nappy for the last six nappies, tailing off to small amount in each nappy now but lime green almost, and stringy looking (sorry for tmi)

No idea what's caused it, as in particular foods etc but he hasn't been right since he had a jar of egg custard on monday evening (was within date and sealed) he has a sore bottom from all the diarrhea too. Having said all that he's perfectly happy.

Tell me what to do, it's the first time he hasn't been well and I'm not sure if I should feed him, confine him to milk, give him meds.... what?

Little portions rather than big "meals". Preferably predominantly water, as milk can make it worse unless BF in which case keep with that.

Then go on to the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, apple, toast - all good for giving him energy but getting his system going again.

As long as he's taking water and producing wet (wee) nappies then no need to worry.

thanks weegle, do you mean mashed banana, stewed apple, baby rice on their own? and dry toast?

He will usually drink some water but don't know if he'll have more than an ounce or two. He's due his bedtime feed soon, should I try to give him the same amount of water instead?

When my DS had this about the same age - Doctor advised electrolyte solution made up as follows:-

1pint water
3 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

to be sipped for 24 hours.

Then dilute milk until you are sure it stays down, then diet as above until recovered.
Tonight I would just give a few sips and keep an eye on him. Sure he won't be hungry with a bug.

Good luck to the poor mite.

I'd agree, avoid the milk completely (in fact just posted the same on another thread).
He probably won't take lots of water, just small quantities is fine.
Personally I'd stop everything but water at least until morning or lunchtime even, then try a bit of mashed banana as suggested.
Its scary the first time they're poorly...

i would keep him on cool boiled water...buy some sachets of diarolyte, if he is off his food it isnt the end of the world dont give him any dairy products ie: milk yoghurt cheese etc. keep him on dry foods like toast and finger foods

My doctor recommended teaspoonfulls of water at a time, every few minutes.

It sounds a bit bonkers but it hydrates them without triggering the vomiting that a larger amount would.

IIRC 8months is too young for diarolyte i think its from 1 or 2 years that can be given. Phamacist wouldnt give me it for ds when he was a similar age.

Think you can use rehydration sachets from very young.

Am unfortunately rather expert in D&V bugs - I put 2.5 ml of diarolyte in a medicine syringe and give that every 20 mins. Stops them getting dehydrated (and then vomiting from that rather than the bug). And make up ice cubes with the rehydration stuff and give the crushed ice. Feels nice on sore and dry throats too. My DS was on the verge of being hospitalised after being ill for a week, then after doing the above he got up and walked about!

Don't worry about food until they are better - resist the temptation to feed them until their tum is settled.

Sorry yes - just re-red my post and it's not massively clear:

Water for now - small amounts frequently

Then when he's not been sick for a good while (and you'll probably know when he's begging for food!) go on the BRAT diet. So yes, mashed bananas, stewed apples, dry toast, baby rice all good - stewed apples mixed with baby rice is a good one.

Then gradually reintroduce the dairy.

We found at that age it was difficult completing eliminating the milk because it's such a comfort-prop so we watered it down but I suspect if you can get away with a lot less milk than usual the bug will shift faster.

Hope he gets a good night and perks up tomorrow.

"re-read" even

Thanks all, just got 100ml of a rehydration sachet into him (did check on packet it was suitable for under 1's) he drank it quite enthusiastically but I'll give it to him little and often as you suggest.

Bound to be a long night if his stomach is empty! ah, fun.

hope he gets better soon

dd (7m) had this... then I caught it, then dh

I had no dioralyte in the house (besides, she was not in the mood to take a bottle ) so I just gave bm little and often - big feeds came straight back up.

good luck, hope you don;t get it...

james I don't like to contradict everyone but there is guidance form the royal college of peadiatrics and child health on this and it is to:
use rehydration fluid
introduce full strength formula as soon as rehydration fluid is tolerated ie kept down for 4 hours
reintroduce normal diet at same time
the reasoning behind this is to provide a high calorie intake asap once rehydration fluids are tolerated
so you should go back to full strength bottles asap
good luck hope he feels better soon my lo had this last week when we were skiing