DD2 came down with a stomach virus earlier this week and stopped eating/drinking. We took her to our pediatrictian and he said force her to drink or else else she'll end up in the hospital with an IV. Well, luckily the virus passed before it got to that point but it was close. We tried different ways to get her to drink assorted fluids but nothing worked. She fought against us anytime we put something to her mouth.

So, any suggestions? I could see where this could have been really bad if the medical IV treatment hadn't been there as a backup. Any tips on forcing a baby to drink when she doesn't want to?

Using "gear" is optional. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

-Blast

Aloha Blast,

Have you tried something flavored? Pedialyte is good stuff. They even have a frozen flavored version. Most of the times, kids don't pass up frozen sweet stuff. If you don't want Pedialyte, juice cut with water works too. I had to do that for my kids before. Then they will drink water after to clear their palate.

Sometimes, plain ice chips work too as does ice water. I don't know what it is with kids and cold stuff. But then again, I like it too.

When I was little and had stomach problems and didn't want to eat, my mom would give my hot ovaltine (made with water, not milk) and soda crackers. That seemed to help. I tried it with my kids too and it worked. They get fluid from the ovaltine mix. Coupled with the soda crackers, it seemd to settle their tummies. If the soda cracker is too hard for a 1 year old, you can break it up and toss it in the liquid to soften it. And since it is sweet, they drink water after.

I am glad DD2 is better. Good luch on hydrating.

Aloha is correct take any liquid like in sweet and turn it into a popcycle and give it to DD2.

I agree with Aoha, clear liquids (pedialyte is best, especially where nausea is symptom) and soda crackers. Stay away from fiber. Flat sprite or 7-up is good if diarrhea is an additional symptom. Don't try for mass, just steady intake and monitor the out take as best as you can (fluid wise). You want as much coming out the bottom end as you put into the top end.
Add a rocking chair, soothing music, and arms that never tire of holding DD2 and she will rest AND that means y'all will get some rest. Good Luck!

Blast, we went through something similar recently with our 3 year old. It wasn't that he wouldn't take water, but that he couldn't keep much down. There's a suppository to help with the vomiting, and my guess is that with vomiting and sore throat, that's one reason your girl didn't want to drink.

pedialite often tastes kinda nasty to kids if they aren't used to something similar. You can try freezing it into popsicles, giving ice chips, breaking up popsicles into pieces, things like that. When sick, clear liquids are best (nothing like milk).

I'm not sure you can do much. A large bulb tip syringe (you can get them at any pharmacy) could be used to irrigate the sides of the mouth, but sometimes as parents you have to force a child. Trust me, it's no fun - and a three year old fights against it a LOT.

I feel for ya...

Phenigren is the anti-nausea medicine. It comes in liquid, suppository, and (I think) pill forms. For most small children, the suppository works quickest and most reliably because they can't throw it up!

Our pediatrictian said not to use sugared stuff like fruit juice or water with sugar, that it would make things worse. After eight hours we threw that advise out the window. We tried water, water with sugar, pedialyte straight and frozen, apple juice, milk (cool and warm), all from sippy cups and bottles (Hey, I'm a scientist. Methodical experimentation is my thing). The only thing she ended up taking was a little apple sauce. Everything else she turned her head and viciously batted away. This went on for two days and one night. Luckily the second morning she drank like a camel. If not it would have been off to the hospital.

It was scary.

So, is there a special way to "headlock" her to force water down her throat without drowning her? Gads, just the idea sounds pretty bad, definately for a TEOTWAWKI sort of situation.

Oh and Aloha, as for sleep it seems that everyone is back on a regular schedule but me. Insomnia sucks.

-Blast

Blast, go blow something up, then you'll sleep like a baby afterwards.

Try a regular popsicle and put it in HER hand. Let her watch you eat one yourself. Or break off the top in front of her and give her the stick part and you eat the top, together.

Coming from Korea, is there anything that is fed there that might be more familiar?

I don't know much about children, much less babies, but the few I've known seem to rebel very easily against actual physical force.

For the future (it's guaranteed to happen again), try to find some suitable things for such times when she's well, then you might have something familiar to fall back on.

I'm glad she's feeling better. Get used to it if you plan on putting her in daycare or preschool. She will catch everything that every sickie brings in. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Blast, Susan makes a good point. Try watery jook for future reference.