Vomiting and diarrhea can cause babies to lose water and important electrolytes. Because infants have small bodies and limited fluid reserves, they can become dehydrated more quickly than older children and adults.
Pedialyte is one brand of oral rehydration solution, often shortened to ORS. It contains a specific balance of water, sugar, and electrolytes intended to help replace fluid lost through vomiting or diarrhea.
A baby under one year may sometimes receive an oral rehydration solution, but it should not automatically be given whenever the baby spits up, has one loose stool, refuses a feeding, or seems thirsty. The appropriate response depends on the baby’s age, symptoms, feeding method, health history, and degree of dehydration.
Medical notice: This article provides general educational information. It does not replace advice from your baby’s pediatrician or another qualified healthcare professional. Contact a healthcare professional before giving Pedialyte to a young infant, particularly a newborn or baby younger than six months.
What Is Pedialyte?
Pedialyte is a commercially prepared oral rehydration solution. Similar store-brand products may be labeled as pediatric electrolyte solutions or oral electrolyte solutions.
These products contain carefully measured amounts of:
- Water
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Sugar or another carbohydrate
- Other ingredients that help maintain the product’s stability and flavor
The combination is designed to help the intestines absorb water and electrolytes more effectively than plain water alone when fluid has been lost through diarrhea or vomiting. Oral rehydration solutions are intended to prevent or treat mild dehydration; severe dehydration may require urgent medical care and intravenous fluids.
Pedialyte is not:
- Infant formula
- Breast milk
- A treatment for the infection causing diarrhea
- A medicine that stops vomiting
- An everyday drink for babies
- A substitute for medical care when a baby is seriously ill
Can Babies Under 1 Have Pedialyte?
A pediatrician may recommend Pedialyte or another oral rehydration solution for a baby experiencing vomiting, frequent watery diarrhea, or early signs of dehydration.
However, infants under one year vary greatly in age and medical vulnerability. Advice suitable for an eleven-month-old may not be appropriate for a newborn.
Contact the pediatrician before giving an oral rehydration solution when the baby:
- Is younger than six months
- Was born prematurely
- Has a heart, kidney, digestive, or metabolic condition
- Has a weakened immune system
- Is repeatedly vomiting
- Has frequent watery diarrhea
- Is feeding poorly
- Shows signs of dehydration
- Has recently had surgery
- Takes prescription medicine
Babies younger than three months who have diarrhea, repeated vomiting, fever, poor feeding, or unusual behavior should be assessed promptly. Young infants can become dehydrated quickly, and symptoms that seem mild may require medical evaluation.
Is Pedialyte Safe for Newborns?
Do not independently give Pedialyte to a newborn.
A newborn with vomiting, diarrhea, poor feeding, reduced wet diapers, fever, unusual sleepiness, or difficulty waking needs prompt professional guidance. These symptoms may be related to dehydration, infection, a feeding problem, or another condition that cannot be diagnosed through an online article.
Breast milk or properly prepared infant formula normally provides the fluid and nutrition a healthy newborn requires. An oral rehydration solution may be recommended in particular circumstances, but the pediatrician should determine whether it is needed and how it should be used.
A baby younger than three months with a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher needs prompt medical evaluation.
When Might a Pediatrician Recommend Pedialyte?
A clinician may consider an oral rehydration solution when an infant is losing fluid through:
- Frequent watery diarrhea
- Repeated vomiting
- A gastrointestinal infection
- Difficulty keeping normal feeds down
- Another illness associated with dehydration
ORS is intended to replace both water and electrolytes. It may be used in addition to the baby’s normal feeding plan rather than becoming the baby’s only source of nutrition for an extended period.
The American Academy of Pediatrics explains that breastfed babies with diarrhea can often continue breastfeeding. Additional electrolyte solution may be recommended when the pediatrician believes breast milk alone is not keeping up with fluid losses.
Continue Breastfeeding Unless Advised Otherwise
A baby who is breastfed can generally continue nursing during diarrhea or vomiting unless a healthcare professional gives different instructions.
Frequent breastfeeding provides:
- Fluid
- Calories
- Nutrients
- Comfort
- Immune-supporting components
Offer the breast as advised by the pediatrician and monitor whether the baby can feed effectively.
Contact the pediatrician when the baby:
- Repeatedly refuses the breast
- Falls asleep before feeding normally
- Vomits most feeds
- Has noticeably fewer wet diapers
- Appears weak or difficult to wake
- Cannot maintain a latch because of illness or breathing difficulty
Current AAP and CDC guidance supports continuing breastfeeding while using oral rehydration when additional replacement fluid is needed.
What About Formula-Fed Babies?
Do not routinely dilute infant formula or change the water-to-powder ratio because the baby has diarrhea or vomiting.
Formula must normally be prepared using the exact instructions on its container. Adding extra water can dilute nutrients and electrolytes, while adding extra powder can make the formula too concentrated.
A pediatrician may recommend temporarily offering oral rehydration solution when vomiting prevents a baby from keeping formula down. Normal formula feeding is generally resumed as the baby is rehydrated and able to tolerate feeds.
Ask for individualized instructions rather than independently alternating, diluting, or mixing Pedialyte and formula.
Do Not Replace Formula With Pedialyte for Long Periods
Pedialyte supplies fluid and electrolytes but does not provide complete infant nutrition.
It does not contain the same balance of:
- Protein
- Fat
- Calories
- Vitamins
- Minerals
that breast milk or infant formula provides.
Using an oral rehydration solution as an infant’s only drink for too long may leave the baby hungry and without adequate nutrition. The pediatrician should explain how long it should be offered and when normal feeding should continue or resume.
How Much Pedialyte Should an Infant Receive?
There is no single amount that is appropriate for every infant.
The correct plan can depend on:
- The baby’s age
- Current weight
- Degree of dehydration
- Number of vomiting episodes
- Frequency of watery stools
- Whether the baby is breastfed or formula-fed
- Other medical conditions
- Whether the baby can keep fluid down
Do not use an online calculation based on pounds, age, or number of stools as a substitute for professional advice.
For vomiting, clinicians may recommend offering small amounts frequently rather than a large volume at once. The pediatrician should provide the amount, timing, and feeding plan for your baby.
How to Offer an Oral Rehydration Solution
Follow the pediatrician’s directions and the instructions on the exact product.
Depending on the baby’s age and feeding ability, the solution may be offered using:
- A bottle
- A small medicine cup
- A spoon
- An oral syringe
An oral syringe should be aimed gently toward the inside of the cheek rather than forced toward the back of the throat.
Do not:
- Force a large amount into the baby’s mouth
- Feed while the baby is lying flat
- Use an adult sports bottle
- Give frozen electrolyte pops to a young infant
- Continue feeding when the baby is choking or struggling to breathe
Seek medical advice when the baby repeatedly vomits the solution or cannot take enough fluid.
Do Not Dilute Ready-to-Use Pedialyte
Ready-to-use oral electrolyte solutions are already prepared with a specific balance of water, sugar, and electrolytes.
Do not add:
- Extra water
- Juice
- Formula powder
- Sugar
- Salt
- Honey
- Tea
- Medicine
Diluting the solution changes its intended electrolyte concentration. Adding sugar or juice may also worsen diarrhea.
When using a powdered oral rehydration product, mix it only with the exact amount and type of water specified on its package. CDC guidance emphasizes following the packet instructions carefully because using the wrong volume of water changes the solution’s composition.
Do Not Make Homemade Pedialyte for an Infant
Homemade electrolyte recipes can be measured incorrectly.
Too much salt can be dangerous, while too little salt or too much water may fail to replace what the baby has lost. Small measuring errors matter more for an infant than for an older child or adult.
Use a commercially prepared oral rehydration solution recommended by the pediatrician or pharmacist. Do not substitute:
- Salt water
- Sugar water
- Rice water
- Coconut water
- Herbal tea
- Broth
- Sports drinks
- Energy drinks
- Soda
- Juice
These drinks do not provide the same controlled balance as an infant-appropriate oral rehydration solution.
Why Plain Water Is Not the Same as Pedialyte
Plain water does not replace the sodium and other electrolytes lost through frequent vomiting or diarrhea.
Giving excessive plain water to a young infant can also dilute sodium in the bloodstream. Infants younger than six months should not be given water as a replacement for breast milk, formula, or an appropriate oral rehydration solution during illness without professional instructions.
Water may be appropriate as part of an older baby’s normal diet after complementary feeding begins, but it is not a treatment for infant dehydration.
Why Sports Drinks and Juice Are Not Suitable
Sports drinks are designed mainly for older children and adults during physical activity. They may contain too much sugar and an electrolyte balance that is not appropriate for treating infant dehydration.
Fruit juice, soda, and sweetened drinks can draw additional water into the intestines and worsen diarrhea.
For an infant with fluid loss, use only the feeding and rehydration plan recommended by the baby’s healthcare professional. A pediatric oral rehydration solution is different from an ordinary beverage.
Signs of Dehydration in a Baby
Possible signs of mild or moderate dehydration include:
- Fewer wet diapers than usual
- Urine that appears darker than usual
- A dry mouth or tongue
- Fewer or no tears when crying
- A sunken soft spot on the head
- Unusual fussiness
- Reduced activity
- Excessive sleepiness
- Feeding less than usual
A noticeable change from the baby’s normal wet-diaper and feeding pattern is important. Do not wait for every sign to appear before seeking advice.
Signs of Severe Dehydration or Serious Illness
Seek urgent medical care when a baby:
- Is very difficult to wake
- Is unusually limp or weak
- Cannot drink or feed
- Repeatedly vomits every offered fluid
- Has had no urine for an unusually long time
- Has very dry lips, mouth, or tongue
- Has markedly sunken eyes or a sunken soft spot
- Breathes rapidly or struggles to breathe
- Has blue, gray, or unusually pale coloring
- Has blood in the stool
- Has blood or green fluid in the vomit
- Has a swollen or painful abdomen
- Has a seizure
- Appears seriously unwell
A baby with severe dehydration may need assessment and intravenous fluids rather than continued home treatment.
Spit-Up Is Not Always Vomiting
Many babies spit up small amounts of milk after feeding. Spit-up usually flows gently from the mouth and may occur after burping or changing position.
Vomiting is generally more forceful and may involve larger amounts or repeated episodes.
Contact the pediatrician when vomiting:
- Is forceful or projectile
- Occurs repeatedly
- Contains green fluid or blood
- Is accompanied by a swollen abdomen
- Prevents normal feeding
- Is associated with reduced wet diapers
- Occurs in a newborn
- Is accompanied by unusual sleepiness or poor responsiveness
Repeated or unusually forceful vomiting in a young infant requires medical evaluation because it may have causes other than an ordinary stomach infection.
Should You Give Medicine for Infant Diarrhea?
Do not give a baby an over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medicine unless the pediatrician specifically prescribes or recommends it.
Stopping diarrhea without identifying the cause can be inappropriate, and some medicines are unsafe for infants.
Do not independently give:
- Adult anti-diarrhea medicine
- Antibiotics left over from another illness
- Herbal remedies
- Probiotics marketed for adults
- Bismuth-containing products
- Activated charcoal
The main priority is preventing dehydration while a healthcare professional determines whether additional treatment is needed.
Safe Storage and Handling
Follow the storage instructions on the product.
Depending on the formulation, this may include:
- Refrigerating the container after opening
- Discarding it after the period stated on the label
- Keeping the cap and opening clean
- Avoiding direct drinking from the container
- Keeping it away from heat
- Keeping it out of children’s reach
Do not use a product when:
- The seal was broken before opening
- The container is leaking or swollen
- The liquid looks or smells unusual
- The use-by date has passed
- It was stored improperly
- You are unsure how long it has been open
Pour the needed amount into a clean feeding container rather than repeatedly inserting a used syringe, spoon, or bottle nipple into the original container.
When to Contact the Pediatrician
Contact the pediatrician promptly when:
- The baby is younger than three months and has diarrhea or vomiting
- Vomiting continues or becomes forceful
- Diarrhea is frequent or very watery
- The baby refuses feeds
- The baby cannot keep fluids down
- Wet diapers decrease
- The baby seems weak, unusually sleepy, or irritable
- There is blood in the stool
- The baby has a fever
- Symptoms are worsening
- You are uncertain whether to give Pedialyte
Parents should seek help earlier for premature babies or infants with chronic medical conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a one-month-old baby have Pedialyte?
Do not independently give Pedialyte to a one-month-old. Contact the pediatrician promptly when a newborn has vomiting, diarrhea, poor feeding, reduced wet diapers, fever, or unusual sleepiness.
Can a six-month-old have Pedialyte?
A pediatrician may recommend an oral rehydration solution for a six-month-old experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, or mild dehydration. Follow the clinician’s directions and the exact product instructions.
Can Pedialyte replace breast milk?
No. Continue breastfeeding unless the pediatrician advises otherwise. Pedialyte replaces fluid and electrolytes but does not provide complete infant nutrition.
Can Pedialyte replace infant formula?
It should not replace formula for an extended period. A pediatrician may recommend it temporarily when vomiting prevents the baby from keeping normal feeds down.
Can I mix Pedialyte with formula?
Do not mix it with formula unless the pediatrician gives specific instructions. Prepare formula and oral rehydration solution separately according to their labels.
Can I dilute Pedialyte with water?
Do not dilute a ready-to-use product. Powdered products must be mixed with the exact quantity of water stated on the package.
Can Pedialyte stop diarrhea?
No. It helps replace fluid and electrolytes but does not stop diarrhea or eliminate its cause.
Can I give Pedialyte for ordinary spit-up?
Ordinary small-volume spit-up usually does not require an oral rehydration solution. Contact the pediatrician when spit-up becomes forceful vomiting, affects feeding or growth, or is accompanied by dehydration signs.
Can I give Pedialyte every day?
Pedialyte is not an everyday infant drink. Daily or repeated use should occur only as part of a medical feeding or hydration plan.
What should I do when my baby refuses Pedialyte?
Do not force-feed it. Contact the pediatrician when the baby is unable or unwilling to take enough breast milk, formula, or recommended rehydration fluid.
The Bottom Line
Babies under one year can sometimes receive Pedialyte or another oral rehydration solution, but it should be used for a specific reason and with professional guidance.
Remember:
- Contact a pediatrician before giving it to a newborn or young infant.
- Continue breastfeeding unless instructed otherwise.
- Prepare formula normally unless a clinician changes the plan.
- Do not dilute ready-to-use Pedialyte.
- Do not make homemade electrolyte drinks.
- Do not use sports drinks, juice, soda, tea, or excessive plain water.
- Watch wet diapers, feeding, alertness, and breathing.
- Seek urgent care for severe dehydration, green or bloody vomit, blood in the stool, breathing trouble, or difficulty waking the baby.
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Treating Dehydration With Electrolyte Solution
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Signs of Dehydration in Infants and Children
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Preventing Dehydration When a Child Is Vomiting
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Diarrhea in Babies
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Causes of Vomiting in Infants and Children
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Oral Rehydration for Infants and Children
- MedlinePlus: Dehydration
