Seeking Advice on Treating Diarrhea  and Vomiting in 8 Month Old

My 11 month old twins just got over something similar. It was a long, tough battle for us, I must admit. When the ear tugging started and chest rattling, we went to the doctor- 3 infected ears and 2 cases of bronchialitis later, we had to get an antibiotic and another bottle of infant Tylenol.
Home remedies that helped -- vapor rub on the bottom of baby's feet with socks overtop helped the chest congestion. Baths helped with the runny nose gooiness and body aches, and using the snot snatcher keeps the mucus flow coming out nose instead of down into chest. Vasaline on the nose to prevent cracking and bleeding. Extra drinks of water helped keep the mucus thinner (thus helping slow down the vomiting) and soothed sore throats, and mildly watered-down formula helped control the coughing. Their diarrhea ended less than 24 hours after we began the penicillan. Doctor had said it was a simple cold virus that became an infection; it lasts about 3 weeks total -- sorry, not great news there. Ours lasted the better part of 2 weeks. It sounds like it's time for you to make a doctor's appt to check for infection.
As for your Pedialyte question, sorry, I've haven't used that stuff on the kids. Good luck...J. P. Stanhope, NJ

Good Morning C.:

I hope your having a blessed and mindful day! I totally understand and can relate to you being overwhelmed. I am also a mother of twin girls and it is very challenging but a true blessing.

Have you taken them to the doctors yet, if not that should be the first thing you do. My daughters are 6 years old now and whenever my girls have had diarhea, I give them, dry chex cereal, bananana, toast and luke warm cafeine free peppermint tea which should be very diluted and it has to take it's course.

For the congestion, good old fashion vicks rubbed on their chest and if you don't want to put it on their chest because of their age, apply it directly on the top collar of their pj's or the surrounding area and the sudafed plug-in works wonders.

If their noses are clogged...get saline drops and once you suck the mucus out of their nose then use the saline drops.

There is a recommended daily dosage for pedialyte but I am not sure....sorry. When our daughters wre that age and they got sick, we gave them diluted gatorade and definately scale back on the milk because it doesn't help w/the phlegm/congestion.

It also sounds like you could use a nice warm cup of tea, warm bubble bath w/some candles and quality time to yourself..try not to be feel guilty but every mom should try to work that into their schedule especially before you go to bed because they will be in full swing and ready to conquer the world and you will still be exhausted and overwhelmed.

Good Luck and if you need to talk...I am here!

K.

hi C.; i would really NOT GIVE THEM PEDIALYTE; there is nothing nutritios in it at all. i know your doctor is probably telling you to give this to them but doctors are not too bright about nutrition sometimes.

do you nurse the babies? if so that is best, just keep nursing even a little ata time, every chance you get.

if not, and if you are using formula, and they won't keep that down, try a variety of very mild liquids in small, small doses; home made chicken broth is good, you can basically boil chicken parts to really suck out the nutrients from the meat and give them that maybe with a tiny bit of salt and pepper for flavor. you can give a lot of different kinds of teas as well; look on the AskMoxie.com website and Kellymom.com.

do they eat food? try little bits of food, not really baby food; things like a little brown rice w butter and salt, a little mashed potatoe, finely chopped up spinache or kale sauteed also in butter. they can hold a nice plain cracker or arrowroot cookie and chew it, certianly a piece of toast, dipped in the soft cooked yolk of a soft boiled egg; again the key is a little at a time. and PLENTY of water.

those pedia things could be making matters worse; basically they are made of sugar and oil. when my son was about 15 months he had something like you describe and couldn't keep anything down and pedialyte made it much worse.

try the La Leche League website as well. try to consult with a pediatric nutritionist or homeopath who specialises in kids nutrition. good luck.

Go to the doctor or the emergency room now. Babies can dehydrate very easily.It can cause a strain in their kidneys and get worse from there.. They might need I V fluids. The doctor can recommend a re-hydration schedule. Please get medical attention. All the advice here is given "blind" .. It's kind but useless because we cannot see/touch observe the babies. You have to go to the doctor.

They could have the Roto virus which can turn very severe. I suggest taking them to the doctor. If nothing else you'll have piece of mind, and professional advice on how to treat them. However, if they are losing weight, it's probably time to stop treating them at home, and see what a doctor can do for them.