My baby is 9 months old and he has just had a bad tummy bug and now wont drink his milk????

Question

he was ill with sickness and dioriah on Wednesday, he is still not 100%.

We have been told to ensure he has plenty of fluids but it seems impossible to get him to drink anything - including his milk which he used to love and we had screaming fits when it was all gone, now he is screaming when he sees it! He wont even drink water which he usually does and i have tried adding juice to make it nicer for him but he just refuses to take any!

We had to give him dioralyte prescribed by doctor, I am worried that this has put him off drinking as he thinks it is the nasty medicine!

Also he is teething and I wonder if this could be why he is refusing his bottle as it may hurt or irritate the sore area?

Any suggestions on how to get him to drink his fluids!?

Thanks for your help!

x

Answer 1

If he is teething you can give him acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc) or ibuprofen (Motrin, etc) drops.  

Check with your doctor about the dose.  Ibuprofen has pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects.  So it may help a little more than just the pain relief from acetaminophen.  

You can try the teething drops or teething rings too.

Once the pain goes away he should be more interested in drinking.  Don't force him.  He will just fight it.  

I am a RN.

Answer 2

When my little one isnt feeling good, or throat or tummy hurts, she wont drink anything unless it has ICE in it. Try it!!! Or Ill smash ice up and give her little pieces and it melts in her mouth and she will swallow it after it melts. Its worth a try, does wonders for us. I hope it helps!

Answer 3

First, don't try to give him his milk for a couple of days.  I know that sounds awful for a baby, but the milk is hard on a sensitive stomach and it won't hurt him.  Juice is not very good either.  Try giving him watered down gingerale or sprite, that will help ease his stomach and give him saltine crackers to eat.  He'll be back to normal soon, so try not to worry.

Answer 4

You shouldn't be giving a 9 month old milk in the first place.  They should still be on formula or breast milk.  Even if you decide to give him milk you should never be giving more than 16oz in a day.  Try water if you think he needs more fluids.

Answer 5

Peppermint tea with honey, banana baby food things that are naturally binding.  Try gatorade, and flat gingerale.

Answer 6

Listen....my baby had that and within 12 hours she was dangerously dehydrated....it happens FAST....I had to shoot little amounts of water and diorlayte down her throat with one of those medicine dispensers....I think you need to try this...every ten minutes....call the NHS direct (or doc) for advice.

Answer 7

It sounds like a combination of things. I def agree with the two answers before me. Lay off the milk for a couple days. It might make it worse. I read that white grape juice is the best for little, sick tummies and that it can actually help with the diarrhea. Teething is from the devil! My son is always "not my baby" when his teeth are coming. I'd offer all the comforts that come with teething, wet rag, whatever helps him deal. My son always needs a little Tylenol. Maybe some pedialyte for your son. I would just constantly watch him and offer diluted juice and mellow snacks. If you get a weird/bad/nagging feeling bring him back or call the doc. A mother always knows! Good luck! I hope he feels better soon.

Answer 8

Whatever you do don't force him to drink the bottle or you will put him off even more-it is quite common when they are sick to refuse the bottle-if he is thirsty he will drink!He must be getting enough fluid in his food-my 11 month old is really bad at taking her bottle-at the moment she might take 3/4 ounces in a.m and barely takes the one before bed-but she gets lots milk in cereal,yoghurts,cheese etc so I am not worried-and she would never really take any water/orange up until recently-i find she is more thirsty now as she has less pureed food and more proper food .this is my 2nd child so I am alot more relaxed. now!it takes time to get over tummy bugs so just give him what he wants while he is sick..

Also my 2 year old boy used to go off his bottle when teething so it may be that too-if so it is just a phase and will pass!p.s just saw that he took 14 oz today that is more than enough so don't worry!good luck -jackie

Answer 9

hiya

my daughter was the same when she was ill  any milk she did take came back up  i used a medicine syringe u can get them at the chemist he might not like it but if he starts to dehydrate they will keep him in hospital so they can put fluid in2 him

gd luck x