Has anyone given PediaSure to their child?

[rugrat]

My son lately hasn't been eating too well, he only eats 1/5 of what he use to eat.  It's been going on for about 11 days and now he's sick with bronchitis.  I don't know whether he lost his appetite because he was getting sick or vice versa.  He's lost so much weight from not eating that his shorts now just slides down between his knees. 

I spoke to his pediatrician yesterday and she recommended that I give him PediaSure, but I'm reluctant to as I'm concerned that he may enjoy the taste and continue wanting it, also the the fact that it's artificially flavored.  From when my son started on solids, I have only fed him organic home made food (until recently, the occasional pieces that was not home cook/organic), he has never had a piece of cake, cookie or tasted anything artificially sweetened, the only things he's eaten that is sweet is fruits, or fruit puree which I make.

I can't decided whether I should give him the PediaSure, so we can put some weight back on him or wait for a few days to see if he'll start eating again.  Is it very sweet?  I find that a lot of food here in the States for children are very sweet...

[nhockaday]

I gave it to my son for some time b/c the ped. was concerned that he had fallen off the growth curve. It definitely helps gain weight and has a lot of nutrients and calories. It is pretty sweet. I think it has to be or it would taste horrible with all the vitamins in it. If you have ever drank a slim fast or ensure shake, it probably taste like that. My son loved drinking them, but when I stopped, he had no problem with not getting them.

[Niniedney]

It is sweet tasting, but not very much. Ive tasted it. But you may think it is super sweet because he has never had anything artificially sweetened. If he is loosing weight then I would definatly give it to him. His body needs the nutrition to help fight off the illness. Hope your son gets well soon

[nhockaday]

I wouldn't say artificially sweetened. It is sweetened with sugar....artificially flavored, yes. The sugar is one of the things that adds calories, which is what makes it a meal replacement or substitute.

[rugrat]

Nhockaday and Niniedney,

Thank you for your advise, I think I will get some today and try them out with son (hopefully he won't miss it when the time comes to stop giving it to him).  Any ideas on how many bottles I should give a day and for how long?  Should I give it to him until he starts eating regularly again or until he puts his weight back on?

[nhockaday]

I would probably just stick with one a day until he is eating better. You can always ask the doctor for advise. He may recommend 2, which is what my son was on, but this is a more temporary situation than mine, so I don't know.

[Niniedney]

My friend has her daughter on it because she is pretty under weight for her age. The doctor said she should be drinking 4 a day!! But her mom is not forcing her to drink it or it she wouldn't even be drinking enough water. So I guess ask your doctor how much he should be drinking, but make sure he has still water of course. Probably give it to him until he starts to put on more weight. Just in case he starts eating again but then gets sick some more. Really do whatever you feel is best : )

[nhockaday]

4 a day! That's outrageous! 2 was a lot. They are full of sugar and calories. I can't imagine anyone recommending 4 a day unless the kid was not eating anything else. Plus, that's pretty much all the liquid a little one would drink in a day.

[Niniedney]

We both thought it was crazy. Because she still eats. I guess not as much as she is supposed to because she is pretty under weight. And she's tall too, so she looks very thin.

[nhockaday]

My son's appetite dropped dramatically when he was drinking 2 a day. I still wanted him to eat food b/c nothing can replace the nutrients in food. I can't imagine how his appetite would have been if he drank more pediasure. Anyways, it worked great. He caught up and has stayed a good size ever since.

[khatty]

In Canada we have Pedailyte - it comes unflavoured.  It almost tastes like water but a little thicker and a little stanger.  When my dd was sick for a few days I mixed the Pedialyte with juice and gave it to her.  She never really knew she was drinking it because I gave it with juice.  It takes a little more liquid overall to get the correct amount of Pedialyte into a child, but this way I didn't have to worry about her thinking about taking 'medicine'.

Hope all is well soon.

[rugrat]

Yeah, 4 a day that does sound like a lot even though I don't know much about it!  I think I'll be sticking to one a day and like Nhockaday I want my son to continue eating as well.

[waterdreamer]

In Canada we have Pedailyte - it comes unflavoured.  It almost tastes like water but a little thicker and a little stanger.  When my dd was sick for a few days I mixed the Pedialyte with juice and gave it to her.  She never really knew she was drinking it because I gave it with juice.  It takes a little more liquid overall to get the correct amount of Pedialyte into a child, but this way I didn't have to worry about her thinking about taking 'medicine'.

Hope all is well soon.

Pedailyte and Pedisure are too different things. We have both in Canada. Pedailyte is for kids that have lost alot of fluids from vomiting and loose stools. Its like an electrolyte drink for kids. Pediasure is a milk substance used to help kids get the vitamins and minerals, kind of like Boost for adults.

[rugrat]

Hi Khatty,

We have Pedialyte here in the US too, but I believe that's to help replace lost fluid and electrolytes from when they're have diarrhea and vomiting.  Where as PediSure is to help put on the calories and bulk up the child's weight.  I think they might both be made from the same company.  

Which reminds me I have to get a new bottle of Pedialyte, my DH finished the first bottle I ever bought... haha,he was quite sick that day... he told me afterwards that it really did help.

[waterdreamer]

Hi Khatty,
We have Pedialyte here in the US too, but I believe that's to help replace lost fluid and electrolytes from when they're have diarrhea and vomiting.  Where as PediSure is to help put on the calories and bulk up the child's weight.  I think they might both be made from the same company.  
Which reminds me I have to get a new bottle of Pedialyte, my DH finished the first bottle I ever bought... haha,he was quite sick that day... he told me afterwards that it really did help.

My son use to LIVE on Pedialyte when he was a kid. He was always sick. It ticked me off it was only good for 72 hours after opening. So if he only needed half a bottle I had to throw out the rest then 1 week later he would get sick again and I'd need to go out and buy another.

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