If your child is unwell and develops dry lips, strong-smelling urine, dizziness, sunken eyes, lethargy and/or a reduction in tears, he may be dehydrated. Dehydration in children can occur for a variety of reasons, but it is most often a result of vomiting or diarrhea. Any time your child takes in less fluid than he loses, he is at risk for becoming dehydrated. Treating mild dehydration in children is urgent to prevent potentially serious complications. Severe dehydration requires emergency medical attention.
Step 1
Give your child a rehydration solution to treat mild dehydration at home, MayoClinic.com recommends. These products contain a mix of water, sugar, potassium and sodium to replenish fluids lost due to vomiting, diarrhea or excessive sweating. Follow the package directions.
Step 2
Increase the amount of rehydration solution your child takes in over several hours. Start gradually to prevent triggering vomiting.
Step 3
Avoid giving your child liquids that contain a lot of sugar, such as soda, sports drinks and fruit juice, as these may worsen diarrhea.
Step 4
Keep your child calm and cool. Overheating can cause sweating and worsen dehydration. Moreover, activity may worsen vomiting in children.
Step 5
Control your child's fever by giving him over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as necessary. Uncontrolled or high fever can contribute to dehydration. If your child's fever does not respond to over-the-counter medications, consult her pediatrician for advice.
Step 6
Call your child's pediatrician if his symptoms do not improve after 12 hours, if he does not improve after using the rehydration solution, or if he has blood in his stool or pain in his abdomen.
Things You'll Need
- Oral rehydration solution
- Over-the-counter fever reducer
