Does Pedialyte expire? Just like all other oral products, Pedialyte expires. But, there are significant differences in expiration time in the case of different Pedialyte forms.
The Pedialyte shelf life is similar for all forms, but the options to use and store Pedialyte are different. Let’s answer more questions about it, such as should Pedialyte be refrigerated, can babies drink Pedialyte and more.
What Is Pedialyte?
In simple words, Pedialyte is a drink, packed up with minerals and nutrients. People drink Pedialyte or give it to their babies to prevent or treat dehydration when a child vomits and/or has diarrhea.
If you wonder what’s Pedialyte used for, the answer is for recouping what has been lost fluids! Parents use it in case of the flu, when on trips, during extremely hot temperatures, after food poisoning, and after exhaustion. Therefore, Pedialyte is safe for the whole family, including adults, toddlers and babies. But, the recommended dosages are different.
Just like every other oral solution, Pedialyte can have side effects. Those are short-term and may include dizziness and nausea. In rare cases, allergic reactions are also possible.
Despite all the benefits Pedialyte has, keep in mind that it isn’t formed for everyday use. It cannot be a substitute for water, but it is more hydrating than water. [1]
What’s in the Pedialyte Ingredients?
There are several forms of Pedialyte with slightly different ingredients. However, the basic set of ingredients designed to rehydrate is the same in all forms. Compared to sugary sports drinks, Pedialyte contains less sugar and is better suited for kids.
It includes nutrients, such as sodium, potassium and chloride. The additional ingredients are water, citric acid, and dextrose.
Also, the flavored variants include artificial fruit aromas and colors.
How to Use Pedialyte?
Pedialyte is an oral solution, designed for drinking. There are premixed options and powder, form, which is supposed to be diluted in water.
Why Use Pedialyte?
Before we move on to the Pedialyte storage, and answer the questions that bother most parents, such as can you warm up Pedialyte and can Pedialyte go bad, let’s talk about why you should use the product in the first place.
Pedialyte is great for dehydration and it happens when your baby loses fluids more than intake.
If you don’t react on time, you’ll probably notice the following signs as symptoms of dehydration in babies:
- Dry and sticky mouth
- Tearless crying
- Sunken eyes and a soft spot
- Less pee
- Dark-colored urine
- Dizziness
- Dry skin
- Less energy
Kids lose body fluids through normal body functions, such as poop, pee and sweat, but like adults, they overcompensate for it with nutrition and water. In case of vomiting and diarrhea, the nutrition and water intake in babies aren’t enough to bring the body in balance.
That’s where Pedialyte comes in. As one of the most popular oral rehydration solutions, it helps to replace fluids lost from the body and is a great liquid to resolve mild to moderate dehydration in kids.
You may be interested in: Baby Poop Color Chart
What Are The Different Forms of Pedialyte?
You can find different forms of Pedialyte, so let’s have a quick overview of every form and talk about when can babies have Pedialyte, what form and the recommended dose.
Pedialyte Powder Packs
Pedialyte is available in powder form, which is convenient to prepare a rehydration drink. The powder is packed in sticks, which is very convenient for traveling. Remove the cap, pour the powder into the cup, add water, stir vigorously, and your fluid replenishing drink is ready!
Pedialyte powder packets are also available in different flavors and are suitable for both kids and adults, which you can purchase here. You can prepare the drink and administer it using a syringe to the baby, if your pediatrician approves it.
Pedialyte Juice Boxes
Next, you can get a pack of Pedialyte Juice boxes. It usually contains four or eight boxes of Pedialyte juices, packed up with all fluid replenishing nutrients. Each box contains 6.8 ounces of product, which is enough for one serving. You can give these juices to your kid even if the vomiting and diarrhea aren’t severe. It will prevent dehydration.
Ready-to-use Pedialyte Solution
The ready-to-use Pedialyte solutions come in a bottle, premixed with all necessary ingredients. You can find them in bottles of 500 ml and 1 liter. You can get it here.
Pedialyte ready-to-drink solution is available without added sugar and in kids’ favorite tastes, such as strawberry and orange.
Pedialyte Popsicles
Pedialyte Pops are another way to help your kids rehydrate. You can freeze the pops and give them to the kids as a frozen treat, or cut the sleeve and pour the drink into a cup. You can buy these popsicles here.
Frozen pops are my kids’ favorite way to rehydrate after stomach flu!
How Much Pedialyte Should You Give Baby?
First, let’s answer: is Pedialyte safe for newborns? According to Healthline.com, you shouldn’t give Pedialyte to babies under the age of 1 before discussing it with your pediatrician.
If the pediatrician approves it or your baby is older, it is safe to give the electrolyte drink to the baby. Start by giving one tablespoon of product to the baby and slowly increase the amount, as suggested by the Pediatric Group.
How much Pedialyte for 6-month-old baby is suitable depends on the baby’s weight. On average, the dose is 0.1 ounces or 0.15 ounces per 2 pounds. [2] However, use the abovementioned dosage only as a guideline, and discuss the correct dose with your pediatrician if the baby is younger than 12 months.
For children between 1 to 2 years old, give them about 1.5 to 3 ounces (equivalent to 50-100ml) for every vomiting or diarrhea episode, to a maximum amount of 33.8 ounces (or 1L) over 24 hours period. The dosage is increased to 3.38 to 6.76 ounces (equivalent to 100-200ml) for children in the 2 years to 9 years range, to a maximum of 33.8 ounces (or 1L) over a period of 8 to 24 hours. [3]
Does Pedialyte Expire Actually?
We all have some expired products on our shelves. I usually toss them the moment we need them and find out that they expired months ago!
Pedialyte expiration date is printed on the back of the product. Popsicles expire six or eight months after the manufacturing date, and powders have an expiration time of two years.
We cannot answer definitely does Pedialyte go bad after the expiration date. But, it is better not to risk your and your baby’s health. It may not do any harm to your baby, but it won’t be effective.
Therefore, because no one can calculate how long does Pedialyte lasts unopened after the expiration date, toss it away and buy new products.
How Long Does the Pedialyte Last After Opening?
If you wonder how long is Pedialyte good for after opening or preparation, the answer depends on the form and Pedialyte storage.
How long can Pedialyte stay in the fridge depends on the product. Powder mixes are only good for 24 hours after being prepared and stored in the fridge. Other liquids are good for 48 hours in the fridge. Why do you have to drink Pedialyte within 48 hours? The answer is simple.
After you open Pedialyte, the product is prone to contamination with bacteria and other microorganisms in your environment.
What happens if you drink Pedialyte after 48 hours? A baby may have stomach pain, diarrhea, and fever when exposed to bacteria from contaminated drinks.
Next, logically, you probably wonder does Pedialyte need to be refrigerated. Keeping Pedialyte in the fridge slows down the bacteria development to some point.
You may be able to extend the lifespan of an open juice bottle of Pedialyte to several hours. However, once you take your opened liquid from the fridge, use it and never put it back in the fridge.
Here is a quick overview of the expiration times for different Pedialyte forms.
How long does Pedialyte last:
How to Store Pedialyte?
Now it is time to talk about the storage of Pedialyte. Do you have to refrigerate Pedialyte? Can Pedialyte be frozen? Where to keep the powders?
All Pedialyte products before opening may be stored in a dark place, at room temperature. After opening or preparing the powder drink, it is best to keep the product in the fridge. But, if you plan to finish the drink soon, you can keep it at room temperature.
Next, can you heat Pedialyte? Don’t heat Pedialyte, unless the product advises you to do it.
Freezing Pedialyte isn’t recommended, except for pops. These were created specifically to be served as a cold replenishing treat, and they contain special ingredients to keep them stable in low temperatures. Other types, liquids, and powders should never be frozen.
Pedialyte freezer pops are only Pedialyte suitable and recommended for freezing. If you want to use them as a quick drink, keep them in the fridge instead.
Proper storage is especially important for popsicles and explains why do Pedialyte freezer pops expire sooner than other forms. It is because of the different manufacturing processes and slightly different ingredients.
Tips and Precaution When Using Pedialyte on Babies and Toddlers
Pedialyte is a safe product to use, but you have to keep in mind several precautions, especially when you are using it on babies and toddlers. As mentioned, if your baby hasn’t reached one yet, ask your pediatrician to confirm if it is safe to use and the dose.
Liquid Pedialyte contains sugar. If your kid is on a balanced diet and you monitor the sugar intake closely, you might have to adjust other meals to ensure balanced nutrition. More importantly, if your baby has been diagnosed with neonatal diabetes, giving Pedialyte isn’t safe.
Also, always follow the instructions on the box on how to use and prepare the drink.
Keep in mind that Pedialyte isn’t suitable for severe dehydration, only mild dehydration. It can be a home remedy for moderate dehydration. Also, if the symptoms of dehydration in your baby don’t disappear in the 24 hours, or they get worse, seek medical attention.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pedialyte
Here is more information on Pedialyte expiration dates and uses! If you don’t find the answer you are looking for, please ask in the comments!
Can you warm up Pedialyte?
Only warm up Pedialyte if the packaging states that it is okay to do it.
Can drinking too much Pedialyte be harmful?
You can experience dizziness, cramps and increased heartbeats if you intake too much Pedialyte.
Is it OK to mix Pedialyte with water or formula before giving it to babies?
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for preparing Pedialyte. Don’t mix it with juice, formula, or dilute premixed drinks with water. It can make the product less effective.
Does Pedialyte help with acid reflux, gassiness or diarrhea in kids?
No, Pedialyte is created to help the kids rehydrate, and it cannot treat diarrhea, vomiting, acid reflux, and gassiness. It only eases the discomfort and dehydration that occurs. You may try gripe water for babies for gassiness and cramps.
What is a substitute for Pedialyte?
Coconut water is a natural substitute for Pedialyte. Gatorade, also known as a sports drink, is another rehydration drink, suitable for kids.
Conclusion
Pedialyte is inexpensive and readily available in pharmacies and supermarkets. Therefore, there is no need to pile up products because you can always get them in the local store before the product expires!
Use the unopened products within two years of the manufacturing date, and ensure your baby drinks the prepared liquid within one or two days. If not, toss the leftover product!
I hope the article was useful for you! If you have more questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! You can also follow our Pinterest account, @babyjourney0183 for more ideas, tips, and inspiration!
Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
