Any ideas on how to get my sick & teething baby to drink liquids?
She's been sick for a week now and her cough is getting worse. Yesterday and today she's refused to drink any liquids other than formula. And even then, she'll wait until she's starving. She typically drinks 7oz. every 4 hours. Now she'll refuse until 9 hours and then she'll only take 4-5 oz. of her typical 7. She's alert and seems fine besides her refusing water and juice and refusing milk until she's starving but it's also extremely hot here and she's been sweating a lot all day and night so I'm afraid she might start to get dehydrated. We are on vacation in China so it isn't very convenient to call a doctor.
Also, any advice for teething? She refuses to chew on any typical teething relievers - bagel, cold anything, water-filled toys, crackers. Yet she will chew on just about everything else that isn't for putting in her little mouth - paper anything, books, older children's plastic toys, stuffed animals, etc. She has a vulli that teething giraffe but will gnaw on it for about 2 min. before she gets bored and refuses it. I'm getting concerned because the nanny here let her bite off one of the buttons on the remote control and the paint off the older children's toys. Oh and she hates me trying to put baby orajel in her mouth and I don't think it does anything.
popcicles are great. When my kids are sick (or potty training) I freeze propel. Fluids, not much sugar, and electrolytes. Plus some flavor so they will want them.
Freezey pops were my kids best friends. I got this mesh pacifier looking things, and put bits of freezer pops in there... it's cold, feels good, hydrates them, and they aren't terrible for you (it's just glucose water), AND, it's not medication, so she can have a bunch of them in a day :)
I still go to freezer pops when the kids have sore throats and don't want to drink... gotta keep them hydrated!! You can even make your own with gatorade or something a little healthier (with more electrolytes, like pedialyte).
Hope your little one feels better :)
Will she take a popsicle? I mean you'd have to watch to be sure she doesn't choke on chunks, but if she'll take it you solve the fluid and teething problem at once!
Hope she feels better soon!
:)
Will she chew/suck on a damp washcloth? That might help both problems, too.
I used the orajel on myself, when I bit my tongue. It works, but it's a really strange sensation - she might just not like the way it feels.
My daughter doesn't like drinking anything when she has a cold, either. Sore throat. But, she thinks those little medicine spoon things are fun, so I would give her one of those full of water many times a day. It's only 2 Tsp at a time, but that's 2 Tsp more than she was getting before. (She's older now, and I just add a little apple juice to her water. So much easier!)
Frozen celery sticks. The strings stay attached to one another and the little bits are small enough to be swallowed. The celery gets VERY cold because of the water in it. Baby can hold it by herself (with supervision, of course). Funky, but it works.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation. :)
Give that child some infant tylenol. She's clearly in pain.
Also, try to get her to drink from a regular cup - one of yours - or through a short straw (cut one in half if you need to). Sippy cups and a lot of bottles require a lot of suction to get anything. That will aggravate her gums. It may be messy, but I'd be okay with that if she's getting the liquids she needs.
My 13 month old got her first ear infection and wouldn't drink - that's what finally sent me to the pediatrician. She did better from regular cups and short straws.
Hello, I would take her to a doctor. I know it may be difficult to manage, but she probably should be seen.
K. K.
Does she have a fever? If so, I would take her to a doctor as well. How many wet diapers is she having? At least 5? Is she eating solids? If so, you can dilute applesauce etc with more water. You can also try giving her an electrolyte drink or even just water or her formula by spoon or with a syringe which I am sure a pharmacy there would have. Homeopathic remedies like Belladonna or chamomilla are also very helpful. Not sure they have chamomile tea in China but that is supposed to help and my daughter who is very picky on what she drinks loved that and seemed to help too. you can even soak a wash cloth in the tea, freeze and then let her knaw on that. I'd stay away from the Orajel since that can also numb her tongue and throat (the drool carries the orajel through the whole mouth so it doesn't just stay on the tongue) and most babies don't like that. Good luck!
Being on vacation in China throws a loop in some suggestions - but if you can find the pedialite freezer pops those would be great - especially if you can get older kids to eat them around her. My 8 mo old loves drinking out of my water bottle, because it is mine and she sees me drink from it. She also loves it when I put water in a straw and drop it into her mouth. Give her a little tylenol and maybe once she feels a little better she will take the liquids better. Saline spray for her nose. Ask around - I bet you could find some great 'traditional Chinese medicine' given you are in China.
Try to find someone in Taiwan who sells DoTerra essential oils. We just lauched in that area. They are certified pure theraputic grade essential oils. She needs ginger to keep her from throwing up ....you can put it on her belly button or on her feet...she also needs Digest Zen also on her feet or belly button..maybe some clove oil, diluted with fractionated coconut oil for her gums and lavender just to make her feel better and more relaxed during this miserable time.
Don't blame her for not liking the orajel and she may not like the clove oil....but the great thing about DoTerra essential oils is if they don't work on the area....you can put them on their feet and make them feel better. Clove is a hot oil..so do not use it without using the coconut oil...same for most of them except for maybe the ginger for a child. One drop can help her get better. If you can't find anyone there....you can order from
http://www.mydoterra.com/oilsbyrae/ if you want more information go to www.oilsbyrae.idoterra.com Having these oils is like having your own Dr on hand....you are obviously a very good Mother....these would give you more control...especially to keep her from getting sick and having control when she does. I recently used peppermint oil and On Guard on my 4 year old grandson and stopped a 103 temp in it's tracks. He got up the next morning and went to school. Also...try popsicles if nothing else will work....or frozen grapes/oranges to get some nutrition in her and liquids. Good luck. My email is ____@____.com if you have any questions about the oils.....if you don't want to wait for an order and it sounds like something you want I will call the company and find someone who sells them there for you.
Updated
Try to find someone in Taiwan who sells DoTerra essential oils. We just lauched in that area. They are certified pure theraputic grade essential oils. She needs ginger to keep her from throwing up ....you can put it on her belly button or on her feet...she also needs Digest Zen also on her feet or belly button..maybe some clove oil, diluted with fractionated coconut oil for her gums and lavender just to make her feel better and more relaxed during this miserable time.
Don't blame her for not liking the orajel and she may not like the clove oil....but the great thing about DoTerra essential oils is if they don't work on the area....you can put them on their feet and make them feel better. Clove is a hot oil..so do not use it without using the coconut oil...same for most of them except for maybe the ginger for a child. One drop can help her get better. If you can't find anyone there....you can order from
http://www.mydoterra.com/oilsbyrae/ if you want more information go to www.oilsbyrae.idoterra.com Having these oils is like having your own Dr on hand....you are obviously a very good Mother....these would give you more control...especially to keep her from getting sick and having control when she does. I recently used peppermint oil and On Guard on my 4 year old grandson and stopped a 103 temp in it's tracks. He got up the next morning and went to school. Also...try popsicles if noting else will work....or frozen grapes or oranges to get some nutrition in her and liquids. Good luck. My email is ____@____.com if you have any questions about the oils.....if you don't want to wait for an order and it sounds like something you want I will call the company and find someone who sells them there for you.
