Does Pedialyte Need To Be Refrigerated?

Pedialyte is every parent’s go-to solution when their child is experiencing dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea. However, when it comes to storing Pedialyte correctly, a lot of people are uncertain of what to do. 

It is important to know exactly how to store your Pedialyte, or else you risk further illness. Luckily, we are here to help!

In this article, we will discuss the correct storage procedures of Pedialyte – if it needs to be refrigerated, how you can tell if it has expired, and more!

What Is Pedialyte?

Pedialyte is a liquid that contains electrolytes, minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients to help replenish the body with fluids lost through these illnesses.

When your child is unwell, they may experience a loss of bay water in excess. It is absolutely necessary that our bodies have the required amount of water that they need. If not, it can lead to dehydration. 

Drinking water goes a long way to help replenish any lost fluids in the body, but Pedialyte goes that little extra step further with its inclusion of electrolytes. Electrolytes help to balance the components once they are in the body. 

Pedialyte may also be easier for your child to drink. While feeling unwell, a lot of children do not want to drink anything and it may be challenging to get them to drink water.

Additionally, most children hate taking medicine because of how awful it can taste.

However, Pedialyte has different flavors that make consuming it not too difficult. Your children may not protest taking it as much as they might with other types of medicine.

Does Pedialyte Expire?

Yes, Pedialyte does have an expiration date! It is advised that you only use Pedialyte up to its expiration date.

Bacteria can multiply in open packets of Pedialyte, and this can be dangerous to consume. The reason bacteria grows so fast in Pedialyte is that it does not contain any preservatives!

However, if your Pedialyte is left unopened at room temperature, then Pedialyte can last for as long as it says on the packaging, which is usually about two years. 

Read More: Guide To Pedialyte Expiring

Does Pedialyte Need To Be Refrigerated?

Yes, it is vital that you refrigerate your Pedialyte! You can refrigerate an open packet, or you can refrigerate Pedialyte that has been mixed into water. 

Whatever way you choose to do it, it is important that you drink it within 48 hours after refrigeration. This is because while refrigerating your Pedialyte slows down the growth of bacteria, it does not stop it altogether.

This means that by the time your 48 hours have passed, there will be too many bacteria in the Pedialyte, and it will become unsafe to consume. 

How Can You Tell When Pedialyte Has Expired?

Most of the time, you cannot see, smell, or taste harmful bacteria in your food or drink. Consequently, you will not be able to tell when your Pedialyte has gone bad. This is why it has a time limit of when you need to drink it before throwing it away.

If 48 hours have passed, then you should throw your refrigerated Pedialyte away. If you left your Pedialyte out on the counter and some time has passed, then it is not safe to drink and you need to dispose of it.

Unopened Pedialyte is fine to keep at room temperature until the date shown on the packaging. 

Can I Leave Pedialyte In A Sippy Cup Out For My Sick Child?

While it may seem like a good idea to put Pedialyte in a sippy cup and let them drink it when they’re thirsty, it is not recommended.

Bacteria will grow very quickly in the sippy cup because it has been left out of the refrigerator, which means that if your child drinks it, then they may end up feeling worse, suffering from gastrointestinal issues, or, ironically, more vomiting and diarrhea. 

To give Pedialyte to your child, it is best to sit with them as they drink it, and then put it back into the refrigerator once they are done drinking. 

What Are The Different Flavors Of Pedialyte?

There are many different types of Pedialyte flavors! Some of these include:

• vanilla
• strawberry
• orange
• lemon
• grapefruit 
• apple 
• pineapple 
• mango 
• cherry 
• chocolate
• root beer.

These flavors are great for kids who dislike the taste of plain Pedialyte. 

Is Pedialyte Good For When You Are Hungover?

Fun fact: Pedialyte is not just great for sick children, it is also great for adults who have had a bit too much to drink at a party, too!

It works in exactly the same way as a child takes it when they’re sick. The electrolytes help to balance the components in the body and will help you to recover faster! 

Final Thoughts 

Pedialyte is great medicine for when your child has lost a lot of fluids due to illness. It contains the necessary vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes to help your child restore the necessary fluids in their body.

It also comes in a variety of flavors that make it easier for them to consume than normal medicine. 

However, Pedialyte does not contain any preservatives, so it is important that you store it correctly, or else you risk an unhealthy level of bacteria that can make your child sick.

Unopened Pedialyte should be used within two years, and once opened, Pedialyte should be stored in the refrigerator for 48 hours. After 48 hours, the Pedialyte should be disposed of. 

We hope this article helped you to understand if Pedialyte should be refrigerated!