Rehydrating Your Child Naturally: Homemade Pedialyte
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 your little one recovering from the stomach bug… And in case you are not familiar with Pedialyte, it's a hydration solution that is meant to offset the effects (such as vomiting or diarrhea) of illnesses like the flu. -
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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 (Gatorade or other sports drinks often come up as another electrolyte solution but it's also full of artificial sweeteners and dyes).
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 better choices on fast rehydration. 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 (N-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" N-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
½ 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. You could also pour this solution into freezer pop molds and make homemade Pedialyte popsicles.
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 ¼ teaspoon table 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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Lisa is a wife, mother, foodie, blogger, and #1 New York Times Best-selling author who is on a mission to cut out processed food.
Comments
Jonsays
My wife has been pretty ill lately and can't keep much down (or in). Our midwife suggested Pedialyte to get her hydration up and keep the baby growing healthy.
The CVS generic unflavored version (same active ingredients as Pedialyte) has no artificial ingredients (no color or flavoring) and is cheaper than Pedialyte, which I believe also makes a "plain" version with no unnatural ingredients.
So it seems not all Pedialyte is bad. Tastes just fine plain too.
I am a registered nurse and also a mother of three and have been through the stomach bug more times than I would have liked. I have two concerns about this recipe- the first is sugar will worsen diarrhea, that is precisely why the docs recommend pedialyte or g2 gatorade in the first place- fruit juice, and any other sugar is not recommended. Try getting a kid to drink electrolyte replacement fluid without anything sweet to make it palatable. Secondly- this recipe does not replace potassium, which is extremely important for heart and muscle function- this is lost rapidly during episodes of vomitting and diarrhea and can lead to heart dysrythmias. That being said, the only time my children receive anything with artificial sweetener is when they have the stomach bug. Also, pedialyte makes a dye free version- just fyi.
Does the type of sugar used matter? I hate to give my 1 year old white refined sugar as she has never had a taste of it yet! Would some raw can sugar or other sugar like maple syrup work? Thank you! She had a febrile seizure tonight and I'm a lot paranoid at this point!
Hi Mitch. This is the recipe as is it stands from the World Health Organization. They state "common sugar" (sucrose). Here are some alternative electrolyte replenishers that the Food Babe posted but they were intended to replace sports drinks and not intended as a pediatric dehydration solution: http://foodbabe.com/2012/07/10/the-secret-behind-gatorade-how-to-replenish-electrolytes-naturally/. ~Amy
Hi, I made some of this actually about 5 minutes ago and I've been sipping on it, I did add the orange juice to it also. My question is being someone who regularly drank pedialyte when sick because I like the taste how can I make the homemade pedialyte taste better? It has sort of a fizz to it and I don't really like it. Was I supposed to use hot water, or is cold water fine, etc. I also found a couple other recipes for this ( here is the link;http://www.babysavers.com/how-to-make-homemade-pedialyte-recipes-and-instructions/ ) and wanted to know if anyone has tried them or is willing to and give me some feedback? My main goal with making pedialyte instead of buying it is my husband drinks it like crazy and for 3-6$ a bottle it gets expensive so I was hoping to save money but I know he won't drink anything unless it taste good. If anyone can help me I would appreciate it, thanks everyone!
Hi Stephanie. It is really just meant to be used to rehydrate in situations where rehydration is needed because of illness. Is your husband using it as an everyday drink? ~Amy
This is also a common recipe to replace gatorade or powerade after/during a workout, therefore it could easily be consumed daily, with no problems.
Water, sugar (though raw honey is better), and salt (I usually add some lemon, too) are all parts of a normal diet & make quite a healthy beverage.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy)says
Hello Sue. We cannot dispense any kind of medical advice, however, this is a hydration technique/recipe used by the World Health Organization. Here is a bit of info on the importance of electrolytes: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153188.php. ~Amy
I'm sure this works for any age. I worked as a nursing aid in geriatrics for about 8 years and we frequently had to work on rehydrating patients. Something like this probably would have helped them much better on a regular basis and helped them lead a more comfortable last few years. Unfortunately, I didn't know about all this then and I had no intention of continuing in the medical profession beyond that. Now I know to balance the natural medicines and helps with the modern medicines when needed. My husband, as a nurse, is still slightly skeptical but I remind him that modern medicine is only a few decades old where as most of the remedies I am willing to turn to first have been used for centuries with few problems. I would also suggest finding a good recipe for bone broth and give to the 96 year old in your care. Many additional minerals and nutrients in that. Take some for yourself as well =)
One danger of promoting something you have to purchase(as well as the junk it contains)is that if you need the product quickly and either cannot really afford it or cannot get to a place to buy it your child becomes even more ill! Far better to just "know" what to mix up at home-unadulterated-does the job and hardly costs anything!
Tamperedwater...that is just the trolls name, get the pun - needing to promote the unnatural chemical version of pedialyte, that is what trolls get paid to do and "tameredwater" is a fitting name because their products are just that "tampered with chemicals". Trolls are becoming more obnoxious, as they are supposed to be, trying to deter people from healthier natural alernatives. Keep up the good work Lisa. We are grateful for your hard work.
Have you looked a baby formula!?! I need to supplement while I'm at work and I was shocked when I read the ingredients. Similac's first ingredient is CORN SUGAR. In formula - what?
Hi Kim. Look into powdered goats milk. I read that powdered goats milk is a great formula alternative. Check it out and let us know what you find out. Hope this is your answer!
tamperedwater. if youd bothered to read the story, you would have seen this part: "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." yes, there are fewer infant mortalities due to medical advances, but can you really consider pedialyte a MEDICAL ADVANCE? look at the ingredients. add a couple more sugars and you've got Gatorade. except oddly, Gatorade uses natural flavours. do your OWN research and see for yourself the effect all this stuff has on the body. HOWEVER, the refined sugar thing is just as detrimental to health as all the artificial stuff. Tessas got the right idea, all natural, the way things were meant to be.
I used and taught this recipe extensively while living in Bolivia as a nurse. It saved many children's lives, as diarrhea and vomiting are a leading cause of death among children under 8 years old in developing countries. There really is no need for all of the "extras" in our commercial blend. That said, if your child is very very ill, and you don't have access to clean water and the ingredients to make your own ORS, then it is completely worth it to use the commercial product. The health benefits of using it in an emergency far outweigh whatever minimal damage can be done by artificial ingredients used short-term. The solutions are only to provide essential electrolytes, while the body itself fights infection. So, homemade works wonderfully, but commercial is also better than nothing if homemade is not an option.
Coconut Water! It is the best re-hydrating drink. My kids love it and it is 100% natural, which I love. Whether you buy it at the store (Coco Libre is my favorite) or drink it right from the coconut it is all natural and delicous!!!!
Hi, completely surprised to read your post. In Holland, pre-packaged ORS is sold at the pharmacy, and it's considered an important recipe for when travelling abroad (especially for tropic destinations). So not only is this recipe considered safe, it's standard practice for situations with bad dehydration. That being said, I haven't used this for my daughter (2 years old) yet, as there has been no need. And I would probably start wit some homemade broth and watered down apple juice which is just pressed apples. ORS is really good for having something to fall back on, which will medically speaking do the trick if nature fails to get back on it's own feet.
Tessa, do your children always keep the watermelon juice down? I'd love to use it because I waste lots of money on Pedialyte only to have my children refuse to drink it. Also, do many of your friends use watermelon juice for their kids? I'd like to try and convince my wife to let me try it for our son. Thanks.
They don't get sick very often so I've only had to do it a few times, but it seemed to do the trick. It was recommended to me by a friend who is very health conscious. I have a juicer and it seemed to me that something so fresh and hydrating would be worth a shot. I don't think many of my friends would do something like that, but mostly because I'm pretty natural in my treatments when it comes to my kids, most of my friends rely on store bought options. But I think juiced anything is definitely better than water alone. I tried pedialyte in the past and my kids didn't like it.
Good luck!
Tamperedwatersays
I posted this as a reply to another comment, but feel the need to be heard independently as well. As a nurse, I think the suggestion to concoct a recipe to rehydrate a sick child is ludicrous and arrogant when, like you said above, pediatricians...experts in their field of medicine...suggest pedialyte. Get educated people. Go to peer-reviewed journals of medicine, not the internet, to find what you need to know about the health of your child. Do what you want for yourselves, but don't pretend you know more than you do when your child's health is at stake. If you had done your research properly, you would see clearly that the survival rate of children has increased dramatically in the last fifty years due to our medical advances. This is not some big-brother conspiracy to secretly make children ill with additives. Pedialyte is formulated to be convenient and safe so that even idiots will use it properly, and fewer children are hospitalized with dehydration being the main issue, further exposing them to illness while hospitalized! This was a very poor choice in products to challenge in this way. Because of the risk you have put the children of any parent who listens to you without the education to know better, I will no longer support or follow your site.
To Tamperwater, Please DO stop following this site. I also am a health professional, [30 years an RN, and mother and grandmother] and feel it tragic when you are so threatened as to respond in such a negative and demeaning fashion.
If a parent is told to give Pedialyte to their child, a home brewed solution is quite acceptable. You sound like you are severely under-educated as you show no understanding or awareness of the serious dangers in the artificial additives in many commercial preparations.
Consumers, particularly non-health professionals will benefit from support and sometimes re-education. You tone will push anyone away and slam shut any door for the opportunity of increasing the parent's information and education.
Thank you for your post. Who would want to give their kid artificial anything? The artificial world is KILLING US. If you dont know what they do to your body, ask someone like me, who has suffered my entire 53 years with chronic inflammatory disease. I stopped all artificial sweeteners (and Wheat) and I am now free of all inflammation. Again, why would you give this poison to your kids?
Natural mom of 4says
Wow, Tampered Water... Not to be rude, but I think someone tampered with your own water. Homemade is what has been done throughout HISTORY, & history is proving itself over & over again. There are miracles in the medical industry (mainly trauma/emergency), but when it comes to the rest, it's sick care, not health care. Why would someone choose chemicals & artificial ingredients proven to be detrimental to health, when they can make something that is natural the way God made things in the first place? Modern pharmaceutical people decided to play God & mess with natural ingredients, & all its done is make people worse & worse. Extremely sad, as TRPate said above, that you are so threatened that you feel the need to crush this website, millions of people who have figured out natural living is a great thing, & good information without being informed (which you are not). DO start researching peer reviewed medical journals YOURSELF, please! You'll be shocked at what you find! Geez.....
Tamperedwater, thank goodness you will no longer follow this site, because you clearly are a part of the problem -- trusting doctors and the big food companies blindly when they have a huge profit motive no to do the right thing. Many doctors receive no nutrition education at all in medical school, or at best a few hours' worth. They do not always know best. It is clearly stated in this post to ask your doctor, but many do not have the access to doctors to do this. The additives do not have to be tested for safety -- do you know how easy it is to get an ingredient approved? See: http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/12/ingredients-many-routes-to-the-nutrition-label/#.UkHp6IasiSo
I think you missed the part where the recipe came from the WHO and was given to her by a doctor. Maybe a little reading comprehension practice would do you good, since you obviously don't have the patience to read through an entire article instead of immediately becoming outraged at the idea that someone could actually make something on their own. There is absolutely no need to have artificial dyes or sweeteners in a rehydration solution. They do nothing except get the child used to drinking brightly colored, overly sweet drinks.
Wow talk about arrogant. Only docs & nurses know what's good for my child? My child suffered from severe eczema while taking NINE prescription &over the counter meds recommended by his dr. When I took him off the meds & went to the library to look up hollistic methods of healing him, the doc was very surprised how well he healed until I told him what I did. Then he was angry & degrading. Docs don't want to see results if they learned it in med school.
I bet you when you didn't read the entire post that you also forgot to take into account the families out there that when aren't going to leave the house when their child is throwing up or having diarrhea unless it turns into an emergency case and they're forced to go to the emergency room. Millions of families out there might be able to squeeze out money for a basic internet connection but not be able to afford shelling out $20 plus for an unexpected bout of rehydration drinks for an unexpected illness. Almost every household will have water, sugar and salt on hand to make this. As others have stated, we don't need those additives that only make us more sick. If the flavor isn't appealing, add some fruit juice (preferably fresh squeezed).
My daughter and I were sick earlier this week and now my husband (he's a BSN, RN) is sick and needing rehydration. I'm not going to go blow a bunch of money on some hyped up as the only choice drink when I can whip it up in my kitchen in 5 minutes. I squeezed a couple oranges, measured out the other ingredients and the drink helped a lot. It was pretty much the only thing my daughter ingested for two days. My husband is now grateful for the drink himself so he can feel better sooner.
WOW Tamperedwater! Did Pedialyte threaten to stop giving you a kickback if you didn't post this? Are they threatened that the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION might cause them to take a loss if word gets out we don't need Pedialyte? It is sad and scary that you are in a position to be offering health advice to the general public on a daily basis.
Ah yes, this brings back Peace Corps memories. And have you seen Skratch drink mix? It's all natural with real fruit for flavor. (Imagine.) Here's a link: Skratch Labs
I used to give my kids some stock (organic cubes or homemade, as long as it is a bit salty) and tea with a little sugar. Drinking a little sip of each until the stomach calms down. Works just fine.
As a burgeoning student of science, I worked in the food service industry whilst completing my degree. Servers and bartenders call this concoction "ghetto gatorade". A hard partying staple that gets most "industry" folks through their shift...
OMG people! Pedialyte does make an unflavoured, dye free option, in 1L bottles:
Ingredients: Water, Dextrose. Less than 2% of the Following: Potassium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, and Zinc Gluconate.
For starters, dextrose IS natural sugar, it's just not labelled as "sugar" because then you'd be all like, "ewwww, sugar!". Potassium in balance with sodium is important and necessary for proper nerve impulse transport. Messing with that can be life-threating and lead to heart failure. Nerve impulses cannot travel without the right ratio of sodium:potassium, and the little heart. Stops. Beating. I challenge anyone with so-called "homeopathic water" or making their own coconut water ORS to get the mEq of the ions right to maximize uptake without increasing stomach upset. But you know- it's only your dehydrated kid's life you're messing with... not mine.
I agree entirely. As a nurse, I think the suggestion to concoct a recipe to rehydrate a sick child is ludicrous and arrogant, when like you said above, pediatricians...experts in their field of medicine...suggest pedialyte. Get educated people. Go to peer-reviewed journals of medicine, not the internet, to find what you need to know about the health of your child. Do what you want for yourselves, but don't pretend you know more than you do when your child's health is at stake.
You should check out the product Organic B.R.A.T. It's free of the top 8 allergens and is like an organic/healthy version of Pedialyte but tastes WAY better!!! It has additional electrolytes like the gatorades of the world... but no artificial coloring. It's based on the old school bananas, rice, applesauce and toast (but no toast used...) It's made to slow absorption/digestion and ease an upset stomach. I'd love to know what you think of it. It's made by a friend and I think it's a brilliant idea!
This post makes me really nervous. You need to be incredible careful when dispensing medical advice and some of the comments readers are making are just plain wrong and could be potentially harmful if followed. The measurements are incredibly important because when electrolyte levels get off some drinks can make things worse. Breast-milk is best for anyone still nursing. Anyone not nursing you can use this recipe, but a careful eye should be kept on your child. My hubby is a pediatrician and our three year old ended up in the hospital last winter because a nasty stomach bug had her puking so bad she could keep nothing down. In less than 24 hours she had become unresponsive and my husband rushed her to the emergency room. It doesn't take much to get seriously messed up when you only weigh 28lbs. Be careful folks and if at all in doubt please contact your health care provider.
Hi Jaclyn. I am not sure off hand. Since coconut sugar is a lower glycemic sugar, it will hit the blood stream a little slower. I guess it would depend on the circumstance. ~Amy
I travel through developing countries quite often, and this is an essential recipe. I actually learned to make it a few years ago from a WHO handout. It's come in useful numerous times. It's great for helping keep hydrated when suffering from intestinal infections, dengue, malaria or just a common parasite.
This is funny! For years I thought this was the only recipe to rehydrate! I'm from brazil and this is what my mom used to make since there was no pedialyte back then, I'm sure they have it now, just amazes me how we are so dependent on doctors that we forget how our grandparents used to do it without all the convenience...
I know it is not natural but I feel that it is better than other products out there. Our products are created and used by some of the best doctors in the world. They are also tested for any impurities.
Laceysays
Do you sell AdvoCare??? Advertising for this product on a real food blog that is providing a chemical, preservative & dye free alternative to commercial rehdrater is sketchy, especially when you don't disclose it.
Melissasays
I use and sell advocare to my friends and family. I am not here to advertise on this site. I added it as an alternative for others because I use it and it has worked for us and others I know. I also trust the doctors that create the products, especially Dr. Stanley Dudrick.
Rachelsays
The same ingredients work in a cup of herbal tea. My kids have been enjoying this "get-well tea" for years. We like peppermint or chamomile tea, but any tea will work... even black tea. To make one cup, put in a pinch of salt and 1-2 teaspoons of sugar. Yummy!
Hi thank you so much for posting this recipe, my 93 year old mother has been very ill and I am afraid she might be getting dehydrated. I was just getting ready to send my son-in-law to 24 hour Walmart to buy some Pedialyte. I remembered seeing/reading somewhere about this drink being used. I am so glad I found your post tonight a 12:30 AM
Found your website when I googled pedialight. I have several Min. Schnauzers my youngest (3 years old)was extremely sick 2 months ago. She would not eat anything and threw up her meds, took her to the vet- $375 later, 2 xrays, blood work & antibiotics brought her home. She just lay there occasionaly moaning a bit. Called vet who said she probably wouldn'tmake it, now 6days no food just sips water. I gave her orange pedialight by bulb syringe oraly tep. at a time as she kept it down. I woke early & she indicated need to go out- flooded the grass in her spot! As soon as I brought her inside she went to her food bowl and woofed- like WHERE is my BREAKFAST. WIthin 2 days back to normal. I cook Dr. Michael Fox's home made stew for all 3 dogs they never leave a bit. Will make my own w/o.j. and freese it in tiny ice cubes for all of us. Thank you for a great site.
I have used this recipe when I was sick and felt so much better. My ds (10 years old) says it tastes good with a splash of oj. Thanks for the recipe. I never have pedialyte when we really need it and I always end up throwing most of it away.
And great idea to use as a sports drink instead of gatorade.
This was a great recipe - thank you for publishing it. I did talk to my pediatrician and she said the WHO has updated their recipe to add zinc as it helps the body absorb the sodium and sugars it needs for hydration. She recommended adding a zinc tab to each batch. You can get the over-the-counter tablets, which will dissolve in water, at any pharmacy or superstore.
Thanks so much! Every once in a while when I'm dehydrated I drink pedialite but this is so much easier and better. I had some hibiscus tea that I made into unsweetened iced tea and used that instead of water. It turned out really well!
Jon says
My wife has been pretty ill lately and can't keep much down (or in). Our midwife suggested Pedialyte to get her hydration up and keep the baby growing healthy.
The CVS generic unflavored version (same active ingredients as Pedialyte) has no artificial ingredients (no color or flavoring) and is cheaper than Pedialyte, which I believe also makes a "plain" version with no unnatural ingredients.
So it seems not all Pedialyte is bad. Tastes just fine plain too.
nurseandmomof3 says
I am a registered nurse and also a mother of three and have been through the stomach bug more times than I would have liked. I have two concerns about this recipe- the first is sugar will worsen diarrhea, that is precisely why the docs recommend pedialyte or g2 gatorade in the first place- fruit juice, and any other sugar is not recommended. Try getting a kid to drink electrolyte replacement fluid without anything sweet to make it palatable. Secondly- this recipe does not replace potassium, which is extremely important for heart and muscle function- this is lost rapidly during episodes of vomitting and diarrhea and can lead to heart dysrythmias. That being said, the only time my children receive anything with artificial sweetener is when they have the stomach bug. Also, pedialyte makes a dye free version- just fyi.
Mitch says
Does the type of sugar used matter? I hate to give my 1 year old white refined sugar as she has never had a taste of it yet! Would some raw can sugar or other sugar like maple syrup work? Thank you! She had a febrile seizure tonight and I'm a lot paranoid at this point!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Mitch. This is the recipe as is it stands from the World Health Organization. They state "common sugar" (sucrose). Here are some alternative electrolyte replenishers that the Food Babe posted but they were intended to replace sports drinks and not intended as a pediatric dehydration solution: http://foodbabe.com/2012/07/10/the-secret-behind-gatorade-how-to-replenish-electrolytes-naturally/. ~Amy
Stephanie says
Hi, I made some of this actually about 5 minutes ago and I've been sipping on it, I did add the orange juice to it also. My question is being someone who regularly drank pedialyte when sick because I like the taste how can I make the homemade pedialyte taste better? It has sort of a fizz to it and I don't really like it. Was I supposed to use hot water, or is cold water fine, etc. I also found a couple other recipes for this ( here is the link;http://www.babysavers.com/how-to-make-homemade-pedialyte-recipes-and-instructions/ ) and wanted to know if anyone has tried them or is willing to and give me some feedback? My main goal with making pedialyte instead of buying it is my husband drinks it like crazy and for 3-6$ a bottle it gets expensive so I was hoping to save money but I know he won't drink anything unless it taste good. If anyone can help me I would appreciate it, thanks everyone!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Stephanie. It is really just meant to be used to rehydrate in situations where rehydration is needed because of illness. Is your husband using it as an everyday drink? ~Amy
corinne says
This is also a common recipe to replace gatorade or powerade after/during a workout, therefore it could easily be consumed daily, with no problems.
Water, sugar (though raw honey is better), and salt (I usually add some lemon, too) are all parts of a normal diet & make quite a healthy beverage.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hello Sue. We cannot dispense any kind of medical advice, however, this is a hydration technique/recipe used by the World Health Organization. Here is a bit of info on the importance of electrolytes: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153188.php. ~Amy
Sue Brooks says
Can this be used for a 96 year old who get dehydrated quickly? Please explain what electrolytes are? Trying to replace those also.
Mary says
I'm sure this works for any age. I worked as a nursing aid in geriatrics for about 8 years and we frequently had to work on rehydrating patients. Something like this probably would have helped them much better on a regular basis and helped them lead a more comfortable last few years. Unfortunately, I didn't know about all this then and I had no intention of continuing in the medical profession beyond that. Now I know to balance the natural medicines and helps with the modern medicines when needed. My husband, as a nurse, is still slightly skeptical but I remind him that modern medicine is only a few decades old where as most of the remedies I am willing to turn to first have been used for centuries with few problems. I would also suggest finding a good recipe for bone broth and give to the 96 year old in your care. Many additional minerals and nutrients in that. Take some for yourself as well =)
Pat says
One danger of promoting something you have to purchase(as well as the junk it contains)is that if you need the product quickly and either cannot really afford it or cannot get to a place to buy it your child becomes even more ill! Far better to just "know" what to mix up at home-unadulterated-does the job and hardly costs anything!
Sharon says
Tamperedwater...that is just the trolls name, get the pun - needing to promote the unnatural chemical version of pedialyte, that is what trolls get paid to do and "tameredwater" is a fitting name because their products are just that "tampered with chemicals". Trolls are becoming more obnoxious, as they are supposed to be, trying to deter people from healthier natural alernatives. Keep up the good work Lisa. We are grateful for your hard work.
christy says
Thank you for this! I'm home with a sick little one and this will hopefully help her. I added a little honey for flavor.
Kim says
Have you looked a baby formula!?! I need to supplement while I'm at work and I was shocked when I read the ingredients. Similac's first ingredient is CORN SUGAR. In formula - what?
Catherine says
Hi Kim. Look into powdered goats milk. I read that powdered goats milk is a great formula alternative. Check it out and let us know what you find out. Hope this is your answer!
Shawn says
tamperedwater. if youd bothered to read the story, you would have seen this part: "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." yes, there are fewer infant mortalities due to medical advances, but can you really consider pedialyte a MEDICAL ADVANCE? look at the ingredients. add a couple more sugars and you've got Gatorade. except oddly, Gatorade uses natural flavours. do your OWN research and see for yourself the effect all this stuff has on the body. HOWEVER, the refined sugar thing is just as detrimental to health as all the artificial stuff. Tessas got the right idea, all natural, the way things were meant to be.
Tama says
I used and taught this recipe extensively while living in Bolivia as a nurse. It saved many children's lives, as diarrhea and vomiting are a leading cause of death among children under 8 years old in developing countries. There really is no need for all of the "extras" in our commercial blend. That said, if your child is very very ill, and you don't have access to clean water and the ingredients to make your own ORS, then it is completely worth it to use the commercial product. The health benefits of using it in an emergency far outweigh whatever minimal damage can be done by artificial ingredients used short-term. The solutions are only to provide essential electrolytes, while the body itself fights infection. So, homemade works wonderfully, but commercial is also better than nothing if homemade is not an option.
Caitlyn says
Coconut Water! It is the best re-hydrating drink. My kids love it and it is 100% natural, which I love. Whether you buy it at the store (Coco Libre is my favorite) or drink it right from the coconut it is all natural and delicous!!!!
annemiek says
Hi, completely surprised to read your post. In Holland, pre-packaged ORS is sold at the pharmacy, and it's considered an important recipe for when travelling abroad (especially for tropic destinations). So not only is this recipe considered safe, it's standard practice for situations with bad dehydration. That being said, I haven't used this for my daughter (2 years old) yet, as there has been no need. And I would probably start wit some homemade broth and watered down apple juice which is just pressed apples. ORS is really good for having something to fall back on, which will medically speaking do the trick if nature fails to get back on it's own feet.
Tessa says
When my kiddos are sick I run watermelon through a juicer, they love it and it's great for re-hydrating.
Kevin says
Tessa, do your children always keep the watermelon juice down? I'd love to use it because I waste lots of money on Pedialyte only to have my children refuse to drink it. Also, do many of your friends use watermelon juice for their kids? I'd like to try and convince my wife to let me try it for our son. Thanks.
Tessa says
They don't get sick very often so I've only had to do it a few times, but it seemed to do the trick. It was recommended to me by a friend who is very health conscious. I have a juicer and it seemed to me that something so fresh and hydrating would be worth a shot. I don't think many of my friends would do something like that, but mostly because I'm pretty natural in my treatments when it comes to my kids, most of my friends rely on store bought options. But I think juiced anything is definitely better than water alone. I tried pedialyte in the past and my kids didn't like it.
Good luck!
Tamperedwater says
I posted this as a reply to another comment, but feel the need to be heard independently as well. As a nurse, I think the suggestion to concoct a recipe to rehydrate a sick child is ludicrous and arrogant when, like you said above, pediatricians...experts in their field of medicine...suggest pedialyte. Get educated people. Go to peer-reviewed journals of medicine, not the internet, to find what you need to know about the health of your child. Do what you want for yourselves, but don't pretend you know more than you do when your child's health is at stake. If you had done your research properly, you would see clearly that the survival rate of children has increased dramatically in the last fifty years due to our medical advances. This is not some big-brother conspiracy to secretly make children ill with additives. Pedialyte is formulated to be convenient and safe so that even idiots will use it properly, and fewer children are hospitalized with dehydration being the main issue, further exposing them to illness while hospitalized! This was a very poor choice in products to challenge in this way. Because of the risk you have put the children of any parent who listens to you without the education to know better, I will no longer support or follow your site.
TRPate says
To Tamperwater, Please DO stop following this site. I also am a health professional, [30 years an RN, and mother and grandmother] and feel it tragic when you are so threatened as to respond in such a negative and demeaning fashion.
If a parent is told to give Pedialyte to their child, a home brewed solution is quite acceptable. You sound like you are severely under-educated as you show no understanding or awareness of the serious dangers in the artificial additives in many commercial preparations.
Consumers, particularly non-health professionals will benefit from support and sometimes re-education. You tone will push anyone away and slam shut any door for the opportunity of increasing the parent's information and education.
Karen says
Thank you for your post. Who would want to give their kid artificial anything? The artificial world is KILLING US. If you dont know what they do to your body, ask someone like me, who has suffered my entire 53 years with chronic inflammatory disease. I stopped all artificial sweeteners (and Wheat) and I am now free of all inflammation. Again, why would you give this poison to your kids?
Natural mom of 4 says
Wow, Tampered Water... Not to be rude, but I think someone tampered with your own water. Homemade is what has been done throughout HISTORY, & history is proving itself over & over again. There are miracles in the medical industry (mainly trauma/emergency), but when it comes to the rest, it's sick care, not health care. Why would someone choose chemicals & artificial ingredients proven to be detrimental to health, when they can make something that is natural the way God made things in the first place? Modern pharmaceutical people decided to play God & mess with natural ingredients, & all its done is make people worse & worse. Extremely sad, as TRPate said above, that you are so threatened that you feel the need to crush this website, millions of people who have figured out natural living is a great thing, & good information without being informed (which you are not). DO start researching peer reviewed medical journals YOURSELF, please! You'll be shocked at what you find! Geez.....
Jennifer R says
Tamperedwater, thank goodness you will no longer follow this site, because you clearly are a part of the problem -- trusting doctors and the big food companies blindly when they have a huge profit motive no to do the right thing. Many doctors receive no nutrition education at all in medical school, or at best a few hours' worth. They do not always know best. It is clearly stated in this post to ask your doctor, but many do not have the access to doctors to do this. The additives do not have to be tested for safety -- do you know how easy it is to get an ingredient approved? See:
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/12/ingredients-many-routes-to-the-nutrition-label/#.UkHp6IasiSo
Adam says
I think you missed the part where the recipe came from the WHO and was given to her by a doctor. Maybe a little reading comprehension practice would do you good, since you obviously don't have the patience to read through an entire article instead of immediately becoming outraged at the idea that someone could actually make something on their own. There is absolutely no need to have artificial dyes or sweeteners in a rehydration solution. They do nothing except get the child used to drinking brightly colored, overly sweet drinks.
lynn says
Wow talk about arrogant. Only docs & nurses know what's good for my child? My child suffered from severe eczema while taking NINE prescription &over the counter meds recommended by his dr. When I took him off the meds & went to the library to look up hollistic methods of healing him, the doc was very surprised how well he healed until I told him what I did. Then he was angry & degrading. Docs don't want to see results if they learned it in med school.
Mary says
I bet you when you didn't read the entire post that you also forgot to take into account the families out there that when aren't going to leave the house when their child is throwing up or having diarrhea unless it turns into an emergency case and they're forced to go to the emergency room. Millions of families out there might be able to squeeze out money for a basic internet connection but not be able to afford shelling out $20 plus for an unexpected bout of rehydration drinks for an unexpected illness. Almost every household will have water, sugar and salt on hand to make this. As others have stated, we don't need those additives that only make us more sick. If the flavor isn't appealing, add some fruit juice (preferably fresh squeezed).
My daughter and I were sick earlier this week and now my husband (he's a BSN, RN) is sick and needing rehydration. I'm not going to go blow a bunch of money on some hyped up as the only choice drink when I can whip it up in my kitchen in 5 minutes. I squeezed a couple oranges, measured out the other ingredients and the drink helped a lot. It was pretty much the only thing my daughter ingested for two days. My husband is now grateful for the drink himself so he can feel better sooner.
Ericka says
Pure ignorance! I'm a nurse also and completely disagree with you!
Megan says
I would also suggest Recharge (similar to gatorade but without all the bad ingredients)
Sarah says
WOW Tamperedwater! Did Pedialyte threaten to stop giving you a kickback if you didn't post this? Are they threatened that the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION might cause them to take a loss if word gets out we don't need Pedialyte? It is sad and scary that you are in a position to be offering health advice to the general public on a daily basis.
Wendy says
Ah yes, this brings back Peace Corps memories. And have you seen Skratch drink mix? It's all natural with real fruit for flavor. (Imagine.) Here's a link: Skratch Labs
Willeke Vriend says
I used to give my kids some stock (organic cubes or homemade, as long as it is a bit salty) and tea with a little sugar. Drinking a little sip of each until the stomach calms down. Works just fine.
rachel says
what about potassium??? you need potassium when rehydrating or it can result in heart failure. baaaad post and bad medical advice....
jax says
As a burgeoning student of science, I worked in the food service industry whilst completing my degree. Servers and bartenders call this concoction "ghetto gatorade". A hard partying staple that gets most "industry" folks through their shift...
Concerned Mom! says
OMG people! Pedialyte does make an unflavoured, dye free option, in 1L bottles:
Ingredients: Water, Dextrose. Less than 2% of the Following: Potassium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, and Zinc Gluconate.
For starters, dextrose IS natural sugar, it's just not labelled as "sugar" because then you'd be all like, "ewwww, sugar!". Potassium in balance with sodium is important and necessary for proper nerve impulse transport. Messing with that can be life-threating and lead to heart failure. Nerve impulses cannot travel without the right ratio of sodium:potassium, and the little heart. Stops. Beating. I challenge anyone with so-called "homeopathic water" or making their own coconut water ORS to get the mEq of the ions right to maximize uptake without increasing stomach upset. But you know- it's only your dehydrated kid's life you're messing with... not mine.
Tamperedwater says
I agree entirely. As a nurse, I think the suggestion to concoct a recipe to rehydrate a sick child is ludicrous and arrogant, when like you said above, pediatricians...experts in their field of medicine...suggest pedialyte. Get educated people. Go to peer-reviewed journals of medicine, not the internet, to find what you need to know about the health of your child. Do what you want for yourselves, but don't pretend you know more than you do when your child's health is at stake.
Laurie DeSchryver says
You should check out the product Organic B.R.A.T. It's free of the top 8 allergens and is like an organic/healthy version of Pedialyte but tastes WAY better!!! It has additional electrolytes like the gatorades of the world... but no artificial coloring. It's based on the old school bananas, rice, applesauce and toast (but no toast used...) It's made to slow absorption/digestion and ease an upset stomach. I'd love to know what you think of it. It's made by a friend and I think it's a brilliant idea!
crys says
This post makes me really nervous. You need to be incredible careful when dispensing medical advice and some of the comments readers are making are just plain wrong and could be potentially harmful if followed. The measurements are incredibly important because when electrolyte levels get off some drinks can make things worse. Breast-milk is best for anyone still nursing. Anyone not nursing you can use this recipe, but a careful eye should be kept on your child. My hubby is a pediatrician and our three year old ended up in the hospital last winter because a nasty stomach bug had her puking so bad she could keep nothing down. In less than 24 hours she had become unresponsive and my husband rushed her to the emergency room. It doesn't take much to get seriously messed up when you only weigh 28lbs. Be careful folks and if at all in doubt please contact your health care provider.
Jaclyn Pipa says
Can you use coconut sugar instead of white refined sugar?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Jaclyn. I am not sure off hand. Since coconut sugar is a lower glycemic sugar, it will hit the blood stream a little slower. I guess it would depend on the circumstance. ~Amy
Mel says
I travel through developing countries quite often, and this is an essential recipe. I actually learned to make it a few years ago from a WHO handout. It's come in useful numerous times. It's great for helping keep hydrated when suffering from intestinal infections, dengue, malaria or just a common parasite.
Beverly says
What kind of salt?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hello Beverly. Lisa prefers Celtic Salt or Real Salt but whatever you have on hand will work. ~Amy
Lambert says
Coconut water... Diluted, depending on the age.
Aviva says
http://preventcancer.aicr.org/site/News2?id=19168 - the doctor seems to be mistaken re: the sodium content of coconut water
Patricia S says
This is funny! For years I thought this was the only recipe to rehydrate! I'm from brazil and this is what my mom used to make since there was no pedialyte back then, I'm sure they have it now, just amazes me how we are so dependent on doctors that we forget how our grandparents used to do it without all the convenience...
Melissa says
We use AdvoCare Rehydrate to keep hydrated each day, during sports, and especially when sick. Here is more info...https://www.advocare.com/1110348/Store/ItemDetail.aspx?itemCode=A2414&id=E&flavor=K&size=C
Carrie says
The advocare is still all chemically based and not natural..this is not an alternative in my opinion
Melissa says
I know it is not natural but I feel that it is better than other products out there. Our products are created and used by some of the best doctors in the world. They are also tested for any impurities.
Lacey says
Do you sell AdvoCare??? Advertising for this product on a real food blog that is providing a chemical, preservative & dye free alternative to commercial rehdrater is sketchy, especially when you don't disclose it.
Melissa says
I use and sell advocare to my friends and family. I am not here to advertise on this site. I added it as an alternative for others because I use it and it has worked for us and others I know. I also trust the doctors that create the products, especially Dr. Stanley Dudrick.
Rachel says
The same ingredients work in a cup of herbal tea. My kids have been enjoying this "get-well tea" for years. We like peppermint or chamomile tea, but any tea will work... even black tea. To make one cup, put in a pinch of salt and 1-2 teaspoons of sugar. Yummy!
Evelyn says
Hi thank you so much for posting this recipe, my 93 year old mother has been very ill and I am afraid she might be getting dehydrated. I was just getting ready to send my son-in-law to 24 hour Walmart to buy some Pedialyte. I remembered seeing/reading somewhere about this drink being used. I am so glad I found your post tonight a 12:30 AM
Shauna says
Thank you so much! Just what I was looking for!
k. koenig says
Found your website when I googled pedialight. I have several Min. Schnauzers my youngest (3 years old)was extremely sick 2 months ago. She would not eat anything and threw up her meds, took her to the vet- $375 later, 2 xrays, blood work & antibiotics brought her home. She just lay there occasionaly moaning a bit. Called vet who said she probably wouldn'tmake it, now 6days no food just sips water. I gave her orange pedialight by bulb syringe oraly tep. at a time as she kept it down. I woke early & she indicated need to go out- flooded the grass in her spot! As soon as I brought her inside she went to her food bowl and woofed- like WHERE is my BREAKFAST. WIthin 2 days back to normal. I cook Dr. Michael Fox's home made stew for all 3 dogs they never leave a bit. Will make my own w/o.j. and freese it in tiny ice cubes for all of us. Thank you for a great site.
Karin says
I have used this recipe when I was sick and felt so much better. My ds (10 years old) says it tastes good with a splash of oj. Thanks for the recipe. I never have pedialyte when we really need it and I always end up throwing most of it away.
And great idea to use as a sports drink instead of gatorade.
Megan says
I could never get my kids to drink store-bought pedialyte. I added some lemon juice to this recipe and my 3 year old likes it.
Kathleen says
This was a great recipe - thank you for publishing it. I did talk to my pediatrician and she said the WHO has updated their recipe to add zinc as it helps the body absorb the sodium and sugars it needs for hydration. She recommended adding a zinc tab to each batch. You can get the over-the-counter tablets, which will dissolve in water, at any pharmacy or superstore.
Mandie says
Thanks so much! Every once in a while when I'm dehydrated I drink pedialite but this is so much easier and better. I had some hibiscus tea that I made into unsweetened iced tea and used that instead of water. It turned out really well!
E says
Wow. We use this as sports drink instead of Gatorade.
D says
My doctor always recommended Kool-Aid with half the sugar and a tsp of salt. Always worked for me.