Can You Make Pedialyte at Home? Yes, Here’s How to Do it Safely

Pedialyte is the brand name for a type of oral rehydration solution that first hit the market in 1964. Pedialyte is made up of water, sugar, electrolytes, and sometimes flavoring. Though usually found in the children’s aisle, Pedialyte is suitable for both adults and children. 

Pedialyte and other oral rehydration solutions are important therapies that can help treat and prevent dehydration caused by infections and certain medical conditions. Oral rehydration solutions save countless lives each year. 

Since its debut, Pedialyte has been the go-to oral rehydration solution for parents and healthcare providers. But some people prefer to make their own oral rehydration solutions. Seeking a more “natural” version of Pedialyte, people have started making their own versions at home that are dye- and preservative-free. Whether you’re looking to make your own postworkout drink or trying to keep your sick child from getting dehydrated, here’s what you need to know about homemade Pedialyte. 

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When should you drink Pedialyte?

There are several reasons why a child or adult might drink Pedialyte.

You have gastroenteritis

Also known as the stomach flu, a stomach bug, or food poisoning, gastroenteritis is an infection that causes diarrhea and vomiting. People with gastroenteritis lose a lot of fluid because of vomiting and diarrhea. And they often have a hard time eating and drinking. This puts them at risk for developing dehydration. Oral rehydration solutions, like Pedialyte, can replace the fluids and minerals you lose when you have gastroenteritis.

You need to rehydrate after working out

Your body loses fluids and electrolytes whenever you’re active. The longer and harder you exercise, the more fluids and electrolytes you lose. After a workout, you need to rehydrate. Pedialyte and other sports drinks that have electrolytes can replace both fluid and electrolytes. But sports and other electrolyte-containing drinks can be high in sugar. Pedialyte and other oral rehydration solutions do contain sugar but not as much as sports drinks. There are 9 g of sugar in a 12-oz bottle of Pedialyte. That’s less than half of the amount of sugar in regular Gatorade or Powerade. If you exercise less than an hour, you may be fine with a sugar-free sports drink or electrolyte solution. 

You have certain medical conditions

People with certain medical conditions or those who have an ostomy can get dehydrated quickly, especially when they're sick with a virus. People often need to rely on oral rehydration solutions to stay hydrated if their medical condition is flaring or if they’re sick with a cold or another type of virus. In these cases, people need a very specific combination of fluid, electrolytes, and minerals. Oral rehydration solutions, like Pedialyte, contain all of these things in just the right amounts. 

Keep in mind that people with kidney conditions may need to limit how much fluids and electrolytes they get each day. If you have a chronic kidney condition, talk with your healthcare provider about whether you should make your own Pedialyte. 

Should you make your own Pedialyte at home?

It depends. If you can get to a local pharmacy or grocery store, then you can simply purchase Pedialyte. But if you can’t get access to Pedialyte and you need an oral rehydration solution, you can make your own at home. 

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There’s no evidence that homemade Pedialyte is any more effective than the kind you buy at the store. But if you prefer to make your own oral rehydration solution at home, you can do it safely by following a set recipe. 

How do you make your own Pedialyte? 

There are several ways to make Pedialyte at home. It’s important to point out that what you make at home won’t be exactly like Pedialyte. Pedialyte contains a proprietary blend of ingredients that makes it unique to other oral rehydration solutions. But you can replicate the main ingredients: fluid, electrolytes, and sugar. To make sure you’re using the right amount of each, always follow a recipe that’s gotten the stamp of approval from a healthcare provider. Here are some recipes to try at home.

Oral rehydration packets

This one is a shortcut. You can buy oral rehydration packets that contain the exact amount of sugar, electrolytes, and minerals you need. You mix 1 packet with clean water, shake to mix, and drink. The instructions will let you know how much water to use for 1 packet. 

Oral rehydration packets are available at local pharmacies without a prescription. They’re convenient because you can take the packets anywhere and only make as much as you need.

World Health Organization recipe

The World Health Organization has two recipes for oral rehydration solutions: a simple version and a reduced osmolarity version. A reduced osmolarity oral rehydration solution is recommended for children at risk for dehydration from gastroenteritis. 

To make reduced osmolarity oral rehydration solution, mix together:

• ⅜ teaspoon of table salt

• ¼ teaspoon of sodium-free salt substitute (like Morton Salt Substitute)

• ½ teaspoon of baking soda

• 2 tablespoons of table sugar

• 2 teaspoon of table sugar

• 4¼ cups (1 L) of water

Oral rehydration solutions with a broth or miso paste base

You can also make your own oral rehydration solution using broth (chicken, beef, or vegetable) or miso paste. 

To make a broth-based oral rehydration solution, mix together:

• 2 cups of liquid broth (don’t use reduced-sodium broth)

• 2 cups of water

• 2 tablespoons of table sugar

For a miso paste version mix together:

• 7 teaspoons of miso paste

• 1 tablespoon of table sugar

• 4 cups of water

These recipes make 1 L (4¼ cups) of oral rehydration solution. 

Basic oral rehydration solution recipe

Here’s a simple recipe for oral rehydration solution. Mix:

• 32 oz (4 cups) of water

• ½ teaspoon of table salt

• 2 tablespoons of table sugar

Is it safe to make Pedialyte at home?

It’s safe to make your own oral rehydration solution at home. Just make sure to follow a couple of rules:

• Use a clean water source. If you’re not sure about your water source, you can use bottled or distilled water.

• Follow the recipe. Adding too much or too little sugar or electrolytes can worsen dehydration.

• Store appropriately. You should make fresh oral rehydration solutions throughout the day. Try to make only as much as you need in a single sitting. You can put any leftovers in the refrigerator but throw it away after 4 to 6 hours.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Brian Clista, MD

Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

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