The symptoms of mild dehydration include: dry mouth; thirst, drinks eagerly; few or no tears when crying; fussy behavior; or fewer than four wet diapers per day or no wet diaper over 4-6 hours for infants; no urination for 6-8 hours for children; the soft spot on infant's head appears flatter than usual or somewhat sunken.

Do not dilute Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte or mix it with other fluids. Children who have abnormal fluid and electrolyte losses from diarrhea and/or vomiting need to ingest a balanced oral electrolyte solution which contains the appropriate amounts of electrolytes and carbohydrates to prevent dehydration. If water or other fluids are added to Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte, the balance of electrolytes and carbohydrates per volume is altered. This can make the solution less effective. Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte has been formulated to contain the appropriate balance of electrolytes and carbohydrates and it should not be mixed with any additional water or other liquids unless directed by the baby’s healthcare professional.

Sodium, potassium, and chloride are electrolytes. Sodium in combination with carbohydrate (sugar) aids the absorption of water from the intestinal tract into the body and helps to retain fluids in the body to prevent dehydration. Potassium works with sodium to help regulate fluid balance in the body. Chloride helps to maintain the acid-base balance of the body fluids and prevent acidosis. It is important that oral electrolyte solution is properly balanced with the various electrolytes to replace fluid losses and keep the body hydrated.

The carbohydrate in the solution must also be in the proper amount. The carbohydrate and sodium work together to move water out of the intestinal tract and into the body, thus promoting hydration. Too much carbohydrate can cause diarrhea to worsen by moving water from the body into the intestinal tract.

This movement of water, electrolytes and sugar across the intestinal tract and into the body is known as osmosis. Solutions with an osmolality lower than serum make effective oral rehydration solutions. Serum has an osmolality of 310 mOsm/l. Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte has an osmolality of 270. This is the reason why liquids such as apple juice, carbonated sodas, or sports drinks are not recommended as rehydration solutions for infants and children with diarrhea. Their osmolality is way too high and may worsen the diarrhea.

Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte should be offered at the first signs of diarrhea to maintain electrolyte balance and normal hydration. It should be continued until after the last soft stool. A child should consume enough electrolyte solution to cover normal fluid intake plus replenish fluids lost during diarrhea and/or vomiting. Thus, the actual daily amount to be given will vary from child to child depending on the child’s age, weight, number of stools, and severity of the illness. Always consult with your child’s healthcare professional to determine the amount and frequency of Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte to be given. Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte can be given every 1-4 hours. A child can consume up to 64 fluid ounces per day to replenish fluids while diarrhea continues.

Breast milk is always best for a baby with any intestinal upset. Breastfeeding actually helps a baby's intestines to recuperate from viral illnesses causing diarrhea. There are very few medical reasons to stop breastfeeding.

If your baby doesn't want to nurse as frequently during an illness and is beginning to show signs of dehydration, immediately consult with your healthcare professional before using Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte or any other liquid.

Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte is currently the only oral electrolyte solution made with organic and natural ingredients; nothing is artificial. There are no genetically modified ingredients. Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte is made with natural flavors and is free of preservatives and alcohol.

No, the purified water used in Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte has not been fluoridated.

No, the apple flavoring in Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte is derived from Nature’s One’s unique recipe combining organic white grape juice and a special mix of natural flavors. This proprietary combination of natural ingredients gives Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte its pleasant apple flavor.

After opening Baby’s Only Essentials^® Oral Electrolyte, replace the cap, refrigerate and use within 48 hours. Discarding unused electrolyte solution beyond 48 hours is important due to bacterial contamination that occurs once the product is exposed to air. Since diarrhea is often caused by bacterial or viral exposure, this extra precaution may be important to a quick recovery. Please be sure the bottle is tightly resealed before storing in the refrigerator.

Do not heat Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte. Heating the electrolyte solution could result in the evaporation of needed water, thereby increasing the concentration of minerals and other ingredients, which could be dangerous. Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte tastes best when chilled. You can also freeze into popsicles, ice cubes or blend into a slushy.

To ensure the highest quality over an extended period of time, Baby’s Only Essentials^® Electrolyte should be stored in a cool place. Avoid extreme heat.

The raw material used in Baby’s Only Essentials® Oral Electrolyte bottles consists of only Polyethylene Terephathalate (PET) and does not contain Bisphenol-A (BPA), Phthalates nor Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Below is a brief explanation for each of these materials.

PET bottles are most commonly used for beverages or liquid products, such as Baby’s Only Essentials® Oral Electrolyte. This bottle type is recognized as a safe material to drink from and contains no dioxins. You can identify these bottles by the small number “1” or “PETE” found on the bottom of the containers. BPA is used in the epoxy resin that coats the inside of some metal cans. BPA is not used in plastic materials like PET, nor is it used to make any of the component materials used to make PET.

PVC is a completely different plastic than PET and not a component of PET. PVC is used to soften plastics and is commonly referred to as vinyl. PVC is also used for products such as food wrap, vegetable oil bottles and blister packaging.

Phthalates are not used in PET materials. Though part of the PET chemical name contains “phthalate,” it is not the one that is of concern. The type of “phthalate” that has raised concern is used to make various plastics more flexible, and in that role is called a “plasticizer.” PET does not contain plasticizers or the type of “phthalate” that is used in plasticizers.

For more information on the safety of PET bottles, please visit: http://www.napcor.com/faqs.htm