I get a lot of questions about this from readers and have also wondered myself…how do you rehydrate your sick child without succumbing to the artificial ingredients found in Pedialyte? Just ask any pediatrician across the country and they’ll likely say this is the beverage of choice when it comes to children recovering from the stomach bug…
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I am not saying this drink won’t provide your sick child with some much needed nutrients (we’ve used it before ourselves years ago), but what about the unnecessary extras it comes with like artificial flavors, sweeteners, and color (yellow 6)? We’ve already discussed some disturbing facts about the artificial dyes that require a warning label in many countries outside of the US, but as far as I can tell there aren’t many acceptable rehydration alternatives that don’t contain them. And when I asked our pediatrician’s office if they could please recommend another option, since I wanted to avoid the questionable artificial ingredients in Pedialyte, they had no idea what I was talking about. I am honestly not sure why I was surprised.
So I decided to reach out to a local, board certified pediatrician, who is also trained in integrative medicine, for some advice. Dr. Sheila Kilbane shared with me that there is actually an alternative, and it’s a well-known recipe provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) called Oral Rehydration Salts/Solution (ORS). In so many words she said this solution was created for those in developing countries that can’t just run down the street to the nearest Piggly Wiggly to grab some Pedialyte. And after she explained it to me like that it made complete sense that there would be an acceptable, easy alternative to Pedialyte in existence. So I then went back to our regular pediatrician’s office and specifically asked if ORS would adequately replenish my child during a time of dehydration and this time they said “yes.” It’s amazing to me the amount of pull drug companies have on our doctors these days because Pedialyte is of course made by Abbott, one of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies on the planet.
I’d like to share this “Homemade Pedialyte” ORS version with you today, but with one warning message…
Disclaimer: This recipe is recommended for children who are older than 1, generally healthy with properly functioning kidneys, and not experiencing severe dehydration or high fever (which would probably require direct medical attention anyhow). And, as always, follow your own doctor’s advice over anything you find on the internet!
Homemade Pedialyte Recipe
Mix together:
- 1 quart water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Note: If you fear your child will think this drink is too plain consider adding in a couple splashes of orange Juice. Also, the sugar and salt may dissolve more easily if you warm up the water first.
I did also ask Dr. Kilbane about using coconut water for rehydration since it does contain some natural electrolytes, but the concern there is the lack of sodium. Your body needs the sodium to help you retain the liquid, otherwise it will just go right through you. You could potentially add 1/4 teaspoon salt and some OJ to coconut water to make sure both the sodium and sugar aspects are covered, but the recipe above is a sure thing.
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This is a case where for dehydrated, ill kids (not as general sports drink) you want as processed (or simple) as possible. For this to make a difference between keeping and hydrating a kid at home and needing a hospital stay you wouldn’t want to use honey, mollasses or juice. If you child will drink the homemade solution (and really you only want a teaspoon or two at a time initially) then great, otherwise you may need chemicals that still keep the solution as easy as possible to absorb, but more palatable. This is processed foods at it’s best (though color is unneeded). I personally throw sugar and salt in with plain tea and it works fine for me, but I don’t have a young child’s gut. Medication are generally chemicals, which is why if needed I’m fine with pedialyte whe needed. Cathy
This is pretty similar to our homemade sports drink recipe (which is the same thing as pedalyte):
1 gallon water
1 packet Kool-aid
3/4 cup sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons of Morton’s Lite Salt
I’m not a fan of Kool-aid and have been making it using diluted juice and skipping the sugar.
What’s great about the Morton’s Lite Salt is that it has the potassium citrate, which is better for re-hydrating than plain table salt.
Is it possible that parents are overreacting when somebody in their family has caught a stomach bug? My thinking was, that a healthy child (and adult) is easily going to recover from a stomach bug without any special measures, and Pedialyte & Co only come into action when the illness is so persistent that dehydration might become a real issue.
BTW, why are so many posters recommending coconut water? That thing, that needs to be imported over thousand of miles from tropical regions? It’s amazing to me the amount of pull real-food-preachers have on our people these days…
I LOVE this! My younger daughter has gotten the flu and various viruses where she is vomiting for days and we’ve had to give her the Pedialyte. I hate reading that label and seeing all of the food dyes in there! I need to keep this on hand. Thanks so much for this great post!
This is awesome to have on hand!!! My daughter is severely allergic to corn and coconut (among 22 other foods), and I noticed that the pedialyte label is almost exclusively corn ingredients. Thank you sooo much!!!
This is especially helpful during this time of year. I’m assuming that it can be used for adults as well (similar to a sports drink) or am I worng?
Hi Emmy. Yes, you can certainly use it for adults as well. Jill
Thank you for this post.Instead of pedialyte, I have been giving my boys gatorade for dehydration. I figured it would be less toxic than pedialyte. However, I am so glad I found your post.Looking at the ingredients in both products they really are just sugar and salt plus artificial stuff.
Never knew how these itesm helped with absorption until now.
Rehydration is sooo important! It’s the first thing the hospitals ever do when you go in. When you are hydrated, you absorb more nutrients or medicine. Have you seen this hydrating drink powder? http://www.reliv.com/US/EN/Reliv-Innergize-Performance-Nutrition.html
Our family uses it during and after working out, during sickness or afterwards to rehydrate. It’s dye-free, gluten-free, and raises electrolytes. Beet sugar is the source for the healthy fructose. Good to always have on hand.
This maybe a silly question but will this solution work on grown-ups with a stomach bug?
Hi Jenn. Yes, it should work for the adults too! Jill
What do you do for higher fevers in terms of conventional medicine? I’ve been reading about the ingredients in Children’s Tylenol and am horrified! Just wondering if there is some sort of dye free, non-gmo alternative (besides cold rags on the head)?? THANKS!!!
Hi Marissa. I give my kids the Motrin and Tylenol, but, the dye free version. I feel like they really get sick so much less now so when they run a fever, I do give them medicine to bring it back down. Jill
Therapeutic Grade Essential oils (mainly Peppermint) can help bring down the temperature. Apply to feet, spine and maybe forehead. (Keep away from eyes)
There may still be times to use Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen but the Peppermint helps in our family.
I just made this today for my sick 2-year old and he preferred it over Pedialyte. (I don’t think any special drink was required, but for a little boy not feeling well with a nasty cough desperately asking for milk and refusing water, being able to offer “juice” was a good distraction.)
I like this option not only because of how simple and “real” it is, but also because Pedialyte is so darn expensive! And my son won’t go through an entire bottle in the 48 hours between opening it and the package’s recommendation that the remainder should be thrown out.
This is a far better option. Thank you!
[...] But who wants to pay $5.50 for a liter of water containing table salt and as little potassium as 1/5 of the daily need? Wouldn’t it be healthier and more practical to fix raspberry tea with a pinch of salt for your child instead? Here is a list of potassium-rich foods and drinks. You may try ONE Coconut water, a true natural electrolyte too. Keep your child away from the above chemicals (red segments in the diagram) even if they were recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics! Here is much better alternative: Rehydrating Your Child With Homemade Pedialyte [...]
I am a professional PhD pharmaceutical chemist. I have reviewed both Pedialyte and Pediatric Electrolyte at Dye Diet.
Pedialyte Fruit Flavor contains 20 mg of Yellow 6 artificial color that always contains impurities of known human carcinogens, according to the FDA specifications data. Pediatric Electrolytes (CVS)are almost completely IDENTICAL to Pedialyte BUT note, all they are OVERPRICED to $4 – 5 a bottle!!! POTASSIUM lectrolyte content is only 22% of RDI. Go explore Dye Diet for more detail.
I am German and my first reaction was – wait there is a pre-made drink for that?
The second was, wtf are they putting into that
I grew up with watered down juice with a pinch of salt or the old and not quite as healthy flat Coca Cola and pretzel sticks trick once I was a bit better.
My great-aunt tends to use coconut water with a pinch of salt – but she lives in a country where it is easy to get fresh coconut water.
Simplest IV solution is basically watered down NaCl too
Also: I have been told about the WHO option in an advanced First Aid lesson – just mentioned, no recipe – and it’d have been my first point of research – as in “what would they do where they can’t find a grocery store” way.
Thank you so much for posting this recipe. I have often wondered about Pedialyte and thought there has to be a more chemical free alternative. Thank you for doing the work for me. My two year old is sick and I made hime the drink and he loves it!!
Thanks for this! I cut it with 1/3 100% apple juice (not sure if it helps or hurts a sick belly, but I feared my daughter wouldn’t go for the slightly salty-water taste). She drank 2 big glasses. I don’t know why we make everything more complicated and less healthy when it comes to food in this country! Thanks for all that you do.
Just a word of caution, if your child is dehydrated due to diarrhea: apple juice causes/can contribute to diarrhea. It is helpful to give in the case of constipation, though. (If you’re thinking of the BRAT diet, applesauce causes constipation. The difference in the juice vs the sauce is due to the skins of the apple.) So perhaps using a different juice in this case would be a better idea.
Not just for babies….What a timely article for me! My husband (a senior) got a terrible GI virus on the evening this was published. Using your info, your question about coconut water, and the article “Homemade Oral Rehydration Solution for Diarrhea” by Nicole Evans M.D.(http://voices.yahoo.com/how-safely-homemade-oral-rehydration-solution-7503074.html?cat=5), I mixed up an ORS that worked miracles for him! In just 24 hours, he had bounced back from what usually takes a few days of recovery. Now, this is his “sports drink” of choice for golf days and we no longer even consider using the dangerous ingredients in commercial sports drinks. Thank you!!
Here’s my Adult ORS Sports Drink:
1/2 tsp of salt
1 tsp baking soda (NOT baking powder!)
8 tsp sugar
1/2 c. warm water
1/2 c. orange juice
24 oz. (3 c.) coconut water
Dissolve the salt, soda and sugar in the warm water, add remaining liquid to yield 1 quart.
Note: I combined a measured quantity of the salt, soda and sugar in a jar so we could to take the mix on vacation. Use 2 1/2 tsp. of this mix per 1 CUP of liquid (1/8 c. warm water, 1/4 c. OJ, 11 oz coconut water);add more water or OJ to fill your bottle, if desired.
Thank you for this! I’m making it for my 3.5 year old this morning! Have really been appreciating your blog!
I’m wondering if you could use honey or other natural sweetener instead of sugar, and also if you mean sea salt or ionized salt? This will be good to keep in mind for when my little guy gets sick!
Michelle – I am honestly not sure if a natural sweetener will have the same effect as sugar. I normally avoid refined sugar as well, but I would check with a doctor before making a substitution in that type of situation (where you child is dehydrated).
Could you substitute stevia for the sugar? If so what would be the amount of stevia used?
Hi Brandon. We do not use stevia. The versions of stevia commercially available are almost always highly processed. ~Amy
I have been using almost the same recipe for three years now. i refuse to buy the crap they sell. but i do not put juice in mine due to the fact that the juice usually make the diarrhea worse.
[...] Homemade Pedialyte – 100 Days of Real Food [...]
I’m sure this question has a very logical answer but I can’t think of a reason why our bodies would need refined sugar?? I thought it was horribly bad for us, especially when ill. Thanks for taking the time to read and respond to these comments! I know it’s a lot of work!
Hi Stephanie. As I understand it, the combination of glucose and sodium help water get more rapidly into the bloodstream. ~Amy