Everyone needs water and certain chemicals (electrolytes) to be healthy. Normally, you drink fluids to meet the need, and being thirsty tells you when you need more fluids. But babies and very young children can't always tell you when they need fluid, especially when they're sick.
What is dehydration in children?
Dehydration is not having enough water in your body. Children most often become dehydrated if they are throwing up or having diarrhea (frequent, loose watery stool) and aren't drinking enough to make up for it. Fever makes dehydration worse.
Throwing up and diarrhea can cause dehydration
Getting too little milk when breastfeeding can cause dehydration in babies
Severe dehydration can make children very sick or sometimes die
A dehydrated child needs fluids and minerals called electrolytes
Breast milk and oral rehydration solutions (sold at drug and food stores) have the right balance of water and electrolytes
Soda, juice, and sports drinks don't have the right balance of water and electrolytes.
What are the symptoms of dehydration?
Children will have symptoms of whatever is making them dehydrated, such as a lot of throwing up, diarrhea, or both.
Dehydrated infants need medical care right away if:
The soft spot on their head is sunken
Their eyes are sunken
They have no tears when they cry
Their mouth is dry
They are not urinating much
They are not as alert or active as usual (lethargic)
Mild to moderate dehydration usually causes a dry mouth and lips. Children may be thirstier than usual and may urinate less than usual. Children may interact with other people less or be less playful than usual.
Go to a doctor right away if your child has one of these warning signs:
Can’t keep any fluids down
Has no tears
Isn't passing the usual amount of urine or is wetting fewer diapers
Just lies there looking weak and tired
Sometimes, has a bluish color to the skin and breathes rapidly
Severe dehydration can be life-threatening if it isn't treated quickly.
How do doctors treat dehydration in children?
Children who have a little vomiting or diarrhea but aren't dehydrated can keep drinking what they usually do.
Dehydrated children need extra fluid with the right mix of water and electrolytes. Plain water, milk, clear soda, juice, and sports drinks don't have the right balance of water and electrolytes.
What fluids to give:
Breast milk, if you're already breastfeeding (breast milk contains electrolytes and is the best fluid for breastfeeding babies)
For infants who are not breastfeeding, oral rehydration solution (a combination of water and electrolytes) that you can buy as a powder or liquid at a drug store or grocery store. Once your baby has gone 12 hours without throwing up, then you can give formula.
Children older than 1 year may try small sips of clear broths or soups, clear sodas, gelatin, or juice diluted to half-strength with water, or popsicles. Plain water, undiluted juice, or sports drinks are not ideal for treating dehydration at any age. Oral rehydration solution is also an alternative, especially for dehydration that is not severe.
How to give fluids:
If your child is dehydrated from throwing up, give small sips of fluids every 10 minutes, then larger amounts more often if your child can keep it down
If your child is dehydrated from diarrhea, give more fluid, less often—you can also give formula or regular food if your child isn't throwing up
If your child is severely dehydrated or is too sick to drink enough, doctors will:
Give fluids through a vein (by IV)
Give fluids through a thin plastic tube that goes into the child's nose, down the throat, and into the stomach
