Spot the Signs
These two mouth-and-eye clues can suggest dehydration: a dry mouth and crying with fewer of these.
What are tears?
A drop in these is a key hydration clue in infants.
What are wet diapers?
This store-bought drink is designed to replace both fluid and electrolytes during vomiting or diarrhea.
What is an oral rehydration solution?
A vomiting child is awake and able to drink. Offer oral rehydration solution this way instead of giving a large amount at once.
What are small, frequent sips?
Dry mouth, fewer tears, and less urine mean it is time to contact this professional promptly.
Who is the child’s pediatrician or healthcare professional?
A mildly or moderately dehydrated child may do less of this usual activity.
What is playing?
In an older child, this urine color can be a dehydration clue.
What is dark yellow?
These highly caffeinated drinks are not appropriate for rehydrating a sick child.
What are energy drinks?
A child with mild illness is awake and can sip fluids. This is the safest hydration approach.
What is offering small, frequent sips of oral rehydration solution?
A child who refuses fluids and shows dehydration signs needs this prompt action.
What is contacting the pediatrician or seeking urgent medical care?
In an infant or toddler, this area on the head may appear sunken with dehydration.
What is the soft spot, or fontanelle?
In an older child, fewer trips to this room may reveal decreased urination.
What is the bathroom?
Because its high sugar content may worsen diarrhea, this drink is not the best first choice for rehydration.
What is a sugary sports drink or soda?
After fluids are offered, the child becomes more active and urinates more often. This is the likely change.
What is improving hydration?
A child who is very sleepy and too weak to drink needs this level of care.
What is emergency medical evaluation?
With severe dehydration, these parts of the face may appear sunken.
What are the eyes?
Going more than this many hours without urinating is an urgent dehydration warning sign in an older child.
What is eight hours?
For an infant younger than six months, these remain the main drinks unless the pediatrician gives different instructions.
What are breast milk or formula?
A child is alert, has a moist mouth, and is urinating normally after an illness. This is the appropriate next step.
What is continuing fluids and monitoring the child?
A child who is unresponsive or has severe trouble breathing needs this immediate action.
What is calling 911?
Severe dehydration may make an older child too weak or dizzy to do this.
What is stand?
After rehydration, this bathroom change is a reassuring sign.
What is more frequent urination?
A child has been drinking very little for more than eight hours. This is the appropriate action.
What is seeking prompt medical care?
Unusual sleepiness or extreme fussiness with poor drinking means a caregiver should do this.
What is contact the pediatrician or seek urgent care?
Prolonged vomiting or diarrhea has left a child too weak or drowsy to drink. This is the appropriate destination.
What is the emergency department?