Have your child sit or lay down as long as the thermometer is in his mouth. Gently insert the thermometer under your child's tongue as far as it will comfortably go. Hold it in place (or have your child hold it) until the reading is finished. Don't let your child talk or breathe through his mouth. Be sure the thermometer stays under the tongue by watching the angle of the thermometer. A correctly-placed thermometer should point up. A thermometer that has slipped out of place will be level or point down.
Have your child sit or lie down. Place the tip of the thermometer into the middle of the armpit, against the child's bare skin. (Don't do it through your child's t-shirt or nightgown.) Hold the thermometer in place with one hand. Keep your child's arm pressed firmly against his side with your other hand until the reading is taken.
Hold the baby on his or her stomach across your lap. Let his or her legs hang down freely. Gently insert the thermometer about 1/2" into the baby's rectum. Hold the thermometer between two fingers as you lay the palm of your hand across the baby's buttocks. Don't leave the baby alone with the thermometer inserted. Leave the thermometer in for 3 minutes. Be sure to clean the thermometer well with soap and warm water after use.
Follow instructions that come with the thermometer. Remember that, to get an accurate reading, there must be a good seal around the tip of the thermometer, and the tip must be aimed straight toward the eardrum.
Vomiting (throwing up) and diarrhea (frequent, watery bowel movements) can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, foods that are hard to digest (such as too many sweets) and other things.
They can be. Vomiting and diarrhea can be harmful to children because they can cause dehydration. Dehydration occurs when too much fluid is lost from the body. Young babies can become dehydrated very quickly, but dehydration can occur in a child of any age. Signs of dehydration include:
Yes. Even though eating may cause the amount of diarrhea to increase, your child will be able to get some nutrients from the food. This may prevent your child from losing too much weight and help your child get better quicker.
If your child has had diarrhea, dairy products are best avoided for three to seven days. Sometimes bland foods are recommended for the first 24 hours. Foods that are bland include bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, and unsweetened cereals. If these foods don't bother your child, other foods can be added over the next 48 hours. Most children can return to normal eating habits in about three days after the vomiting and diarrhea stop.
This usually isn't needed. Diarrhea doesn't usually last long. If it is caused by an infection, diarrhea is a way for the body to get rid of the infection. Giving medicines that stop diarrhea may interfere with the body's efforts to get rid of the infection. Antibiotics are usually not necessary either. Talk to your family doctor if you think your child needs medicine.
If your child has had several bouts of vomiting or diarrhea, he or she will need to drink fluids to replace those lost with vomiting and diarrhea. Encourage your child older than two years to drink water and other clear fluids. Ask your doctor about giving your baby or toddler oral rehydration solution (ORS), which contains the right mix of salt, sugar, potassium and other elements to help replace lost body fluids.
Children older than two years can have drinks such as apple juice, chicken broth, sports drinks (Gatorade), ginger ale or tea. Plain water can cause problems, such as lowering the amount of salt or sugar in the blood.
If your child is younger than two years and you are worried that he or she is dehydrated, ask your doctor about using ORS. ORS comes as a powder that you mix with water, or a liquid that is already mixed and as frozen popsicles.
Brands of ORS include Pedialyte, Rice-Lyte, Rehydralyte and the World Health Organization's Oral Rehydration Solution (WHO-ORS). Ask your doctor about which one to use.
If your child weighs | Give this much | Infant drops (80 mg/0.8 ml) | Children's syrups (160 mg/5 ml) | Chewable tablets (80 mg/tablet) | Adult capsule (325 mg/caps) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6-11 pounds | 40 mg | 1/2 dropper (0.4 ml) | ¼ tsp | ------ | ------ |
12-17 pounds | 80 mg | 1 dropper (0.8 ml) | ½ tsp | ------ | ------ |
18-23 pounds | 120 mg | 1 ½ droppers (1.2 ml) | ¾ tsp | ------ | ------ |
24-35 pounds | 160 mg | 2 droppers (1.6 ml) | 1 tsp | 2 tablets | ------ |
36-47 pounds | 240 mg | ------ | 1 ½ tsp | 3 tablets | ------ |
48-59 pounds | 320 mg | ------ | 2 tsp | 4 tablets | 1 capsule |
60-71 pounds | 400 mg | ------ | 2 ½ tsp | 5 tablets | 1 capsule |
72-95 pounds | 480 mg | ------ | 3 tsp | 6 tablets | 1 capsule |
96 pounds and up | 650 mg | ------ | ------ | ------ | 2 capsule |
If your child weighs | Give this much | Infant drops 100 mg/2.5 ml | Children's syrup (100 mg/5 ml) | Children's tablets 50 mg/tablet | Jr. strength chewables 100 mg/tab |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
13-17 pounds | 50 mg | ¼ tsp | ½ tsp | ------ | ------ |
18-23 pounds | 75 mg | 1/3 tsp | ¾ tsp | ------ | ------ |
24-35 pounds | 100 mg | ½ tsp | 1 tsp | 2 tablets | ------ |
36-47 pounds | 150 mg | ¾ tsp | 1 ½ tsp | 3 tablets | ------ |
48-59 pounds | 200 mg | 1 tsp | 1 ¾ tsp | 3 tablets | 1 ½ tablets |
60-71 pounds | 250 mg | ------ | 2 ½ tsp | 5 tablets | 2 ½ tablets |
72-95 pounds | 350 mg | ------ | 3 tsp | 6 tablets | 3 tablets |
96 pounds and up | 400 mg | ------ | ------ | ------ | 4 tablets |
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