Homemade DIY Pedialyte (Electrolyte Drink)

I’ve got two sick kiddos at the moment. It looks like our youngest two have the stomach flu. It has been really hard to get either of them to hold down any fluids.

homemade Pedialyte
homemade Pedialyte

Elias did much better today, and has actually held down some toast and fluids. Xia has been throwing up since about 2:30am, but just this evening has finally been able to hold down some fluids, in small amounts.

Neither of them did very well holding plain water, but raspberry and ginger tea was more agreeable to their systems. Still, I was worried that their bodies weren’t getting enough. Thank goodness neither showed signs of dehydration, but I wanted to make sure it stayed that way.

I was tempted to have my husband bring home some pedialyte, but I really hated the idea of giving them so many artificial ingredients, especially when their bodies are already compromised. So I did a little research, and learned how to make my own pedialyte alternative at home!

The best part- it’s all natural! And, it’s much cheaper than that store-bought stuff. Here’s my recipe…

Homemade Pedialyte Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 quart warm water
  • 2 tablespoons unrefined sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon black lava salt
  • juice from 2 lemons

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients together in a glass jar.
  • Stir until dissolved.

Notes

Store in fridge.

Homemade Pedialyte Recipe

  • 1 qt. warm water
  • 2 Tbsp unrefined sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. Black Lava Salt
  • Juice from 2 lemons

Mix all ingredients together in a glass jar, stirring till dissolved. Store in fridge.

I started by giving them 1 Tbsp of the drink about 30 min. after vomiting.

As long as they were able to hold that amount down without vomiting again for at least another half an hour, I increased the dose by another tablespoon. I continued to allow them to sip more fluids, slowly increasing the amount.

Since giving them this electrolyte drink to replenish their bodies, they’ve both improved significantly. I’m really hoping they’ll be better by the morning. And that the other two don’t get it. It’s SO pitiful when little ones are sick.

The flavor of this homemade Pedialyte is actually quite good (despite it’s yummy grayish color). My three year old loved it.

My 1 1/2 yr old, however, who was probably expecting water or raspberry tea when I gave him a sip, wasn’t as fond of the flavor. The lemons may have made it a little tart for him. Personally, I liked the addition of the lemon juice.

Ingredients Explained

Here’s why this mix works so well…

Water

Water is obviously needed to rehydrate a body which has been losing liquids faster than they’ve been taken in.

Filtered water is best. You definitely want to avoid offering anything with added chemicals, as are found in treated city water.

Unrefined Sugar

You can also substitute honey for children over 1 yr. of age; sugars help for better absorption of minerals.

Black Lava Salt

You need salt to replenish electrolytes lost when vomiting or experiencing diarrhea. I love using this particular kind of salt in broths when my kids are sick.

It’s made from sea salt, which is full of trace minerals which are not found in regular table salt, as well as antioxidants, and is infused with activated charcoal which absorbs toxins and flushes them from your system.

If you don’t have Black Lava Salt, use sea salt instead. (I got my Black Lava Salt from Mountain Rose Herbs).

Lemons

Lemons are a great boost of vitamin C and electrolytes, naturally quench thirst, and can even help to bring a fever down. Plus, they add a really nice flavor to the mix. You can use fresh orange juice as well.

The next time you think about running to the store to get a sick little one a pack of Pedialyte, try this recipe or a similar one instead. You’ll save time, money, and your little one from ingesting unnecessary artificial ingredients.

Do you have a favorite electrolyte replacement drink or homemade Pedialyte recipe to share?

15 thoughts on “Homemade DIY Pedialyte (Electrolyte Drink)”

  1. Thanks for the recipe,I just added it to my list of go to recipes!! You can use plain gelatin and chicken broth to make a savory treat when their sick it’s great. Cut them up in little cubes. Using plan grass fed gelatin also with fresh juice and fruit is so yummy.For cough I have used 1/4 tsp cayenne 1/4tsp ginger ground1Tbsp honey1Tbspacv, 2Tbsp water stir well before each use 1tsp for little ones 3tsp for big ones:)

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  2. You could also use organic maple syrup in place of the cane sugar for younger children (as opposed to the honey). It adds additional minerals to the mix. BTW…your recipe is very similar to the “Master Clease” except for the addition of the salt.

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  3. 3 yr old up at 3:30 am vomiting …thought maybe drainage but then 1 bite of banana this am and it came back up…about to make this for him….wish I had black lava salt but sea salt will work I hope….also wondering about adding a big of diluted tea for flavor or apple juice or even kombucha?

    Reply
    • Jaci,

      Maybe a little apple juice, but I wouldn’t add tea or Kombucha for flavor to this drink. I don’t think it would taste right. Make sure to wait about half an hour after your child has thrown up, and then offer 1 Tbsp of the drink. If he/she can hold it down for another half an hour, give 2 Tbsp. And so on until they can drink freely w/out getting sick. Hold off on solids until your child can keep fluids down. You might also offer chicken broth sips, which will help a lot as well. Hope your child gets over it quickly!! My guys had the virus for about 5 days 🙁

      Reply
  4. I try to keep a few cans of coconut water on hand for the kids (and grownups) when they’re sick, as a natural electrolyte drink. This is a great alternative for when I’m out. I always have lemons, and I even have that exact same black lava salt!

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  5. I love it! The more we eat naturally the harder it is to use what the doctor recommends. I will have to keep this in mind for the next time my family needs a boost.

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  6. I used a recipe similar, but it used honey instead of sugar. My daughter didn’t like it and we had to force it down. I froze the remainder of the liquid.

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  7. Hi Kendra, I also found a couple of DIY Home Remedies for when the wee ones are down with a bug. These recipes include a splash of flavor that makes the liquid easier to get down. Remember, when facing dehydration, it is important to sip, not gulp. I encourage plenty of fluids taken as frequently as can be tolerated. Because of the acidic quality of fruit juice, it is more difficult to keep down. Beware of any dairy as well. If the bug is persistent, try some soda with the bubbles stirred out. Soda pop is not a great alternative, but it beats a trip to the emergency room. Hope your children feel better soon!

    http://www.babysavers.com/how-to-make-homemade-pedialyte-recipes-and-instructions/

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