Advice needed for my sick son...

[Martoch]

My 6 yr old, Tyler, seemingly has the flu...he's been coughing for the past week, running a slight fever, and he vomited a few times last night/a little this morning. Every so often he'll run to the bathroom, but there's nothing left in his tummy to throw up.

He hasn't been sick in a while, so I don't quite recall the "do's" and "don'ts" of what to give him. He keeps asking for his normal breakfast (waffles with lots of syrup), but I don't think all that sugary syrup will do him much good right now. So...any advice on what I can give the little guy? I just had him sip some gatorade to keep him hydrated, but I recall drinking ginger ale as a kid when I was sick. What do you suggest?

Thanks a ton!!!
Mike

[Epidemic]

pedialite is the recommended stuff. (tastes less than great but not aweful)

Sort of like gatorade but there is too much sugar in gatorade.

Pedialite is more balanced for electrolytes. At least that is what my doctor said.

my Moms favorites:
Gingerale
clear chicken broth

No milk, OJ or harsh thing like those.

if you need some solids you might try saltines broken up
in the soup.

Personally I usually would have a light soup with
little solids in it. I used to like chicken noodle cup o soups.

I do not know if they are best but I like em and they did not hurt me too much.

[Knothead]

Originally posted by Martoch
I just had him sip some gatorade to keep him hydrated, but I recall drinking ginger ale as a kid when I was sick. What do you suggest?

That's right! Ginger Ale or 7-Up, because for some reason, it stays down...if he'll take Gatorade, so much the better...keeping him hydrated is the key.

Let him eat whatever, (as far as I know,) and if it comes back up, give him some more liquids, and wait...

I would not give him anything fried, or cooked in oil (like waffles) or butter (hard on his tummy). Can he manage a cheese sandwich?

Good luck, Mike!

[Pexster]

I agree with Epi -- chicken soup. It didn't get the name "Jewish penicillin" for nothing!

Hope he gets better soon.

[Detritus]

You also may want to try to make popsicles out of the pedialyte, my daughter is more likely to drink the stuff that way and it sooths the throat if it is a little sore...

Too many electrolytes in Gatorade, you may also want to try clear pops (for obvious reasons) they will provide some sugar and hydration.

Hope he gets better, I hate it when my daughter is sick. Oh yeah, cheerios are also easy on the tummy.

[Martoch]

Thanks guys...he just keeps asking me for waffles/poptarts/etc...I know he's gotta be starving, he hasn't eaten anything since around 3pm yesterday. I'll have to run him to the store real quick to get some ginger ale (I know the gatorade is sugary, but it's all I have for the moment). Have to pick up some crackers (good idea) while I'm there...just have to make sure he eats a little bit at a time.

Hopefully he'll try some soup...not sure that he's ready to sit up yet, he's been lying down since we got home around 5pm yesterday.

Thanks for your concern guys, very much appreciated from this Daddy!


EDIT: Pedialyte popsicles...have to give that a try! Another good idea with the cheerios, all we have right now is all the yummy sugar loaded cereals.

[Knothead]

Originally posted by Detritus
Oh yeah, cheerios are also easy on the tummy.

THAT's it!! I was trying to remember, yeah, Cheerios are great! No fat, not much sugar, serve with low-fat milk, the kid'll plug right up.

[Epidemic]

An experiment might include chinese food.

I have found that that always goes through the digestive tract at an accellerated rate. I am not sure you could throw up chinese food because it slips into the small intestine quicker then the vomit reflex

10 minutes for me and I am on the can.

Just kidding

pedialyte is supposed to be perfectly balanced for rehydration. I am not sure it there is an off brand of the stuff. Until doc told me not to use gatorade I figured it was the correct fluid. Cheap and loaded with salt and other good stuff needed to keep those nerves firing and cells hydrated.

[Prison Kids]

My little 9 year old girl (Abby), just got over this. It took about 2 weeks to get completely over it. Three days of sleeping, with hot oatmeal, between rests. I just gave her water and vitamins.

The next week and a half she was better, but coughing and sniffling. Started back on small amouts of regular food (softer).

Lots of love and rest, he'll be fine. Run to the store and get some childrens vitamins and apple cinnamon oatmeal.

Robert

PS. Her lips and nose got really chapped too, so you might want to get some chap stick.

[Martoch]

Originally posted by Prison Kids
Lots of love and rest, he'll be fine. Run to the store and get some childrens vitamins and apple cinnamon oatmeal.

Robert

PS. Her lips and nose got really chapped too, so you might want to get some chap stick.

He's getting more love than he can handle!


He takes vitamins daily...darn kid only eats McDonald's and pizza!
Funny thing is, he already uses my chapstick (that carmel stuff) every time he sees me do it, so that shouldn't be a problem. We've got the maple & brown sugar oatmeal, but he never wants to try it...probably looks too healthy.

Thanks again guys, I'm ordering Chinese now.