Giveaway: Pedialyte Powder Packs CLOSED

Last Christmas, our holiday spirit was dampened when our nearly 5-month old baby woke up with a 102 degree fever. Our poor infant son couldn't even enjoy opening his presents for his very first Christmas Day. He spent the entire afternoon alternating between screaming his head off and sleeping upright in his swing. My normal booby monster couldn't even be bothered to breastfeed. I knew something serious was going on. After several doses of Tylenol, his fever spiked to 103.5 and off to the ER we went. Nate was diagnosed with Hand Food and Mouth Disease (HFMD), which is a fancy version of a nasty virus. In the days following the diagnosis, as he recovered with the help of Motrin, he battled diarrhea and a red rash on his belly. He also had blisters on the back of his throat so it was a struggle to get him to nurse. I felt so helpless. All I could think was that my baby was starving and would wind up in the hospital with a feeding tube if I couldn't get the proper nutrients in him somehow.

But then I remembered we had Pedialyte in the pantry. Nate was never a fan of the bottle but he did drink enough of the liquid to ease my worries about dehydration. Since then, my husband and I have always had a container on hand for emergencies such as this.

If you've ever had a sick child, you can probably imagine the bottle in your head as I mention the brand. But for those who've been lucky enough to dodge the flu bullets, here are the details:

Pedialyte is the number one doctor recommended brand of oral electrolyte solution. It is specifically designed to replace fluids and minerals (electrolytes) that are lost when a child has diarrhea with or without vomiting. Pedialyte is effective because it contains only small amounts of sugars (dextrose and fructose) that are balanced with appropriate levels of electrolytes. Pedialyte is designed with this precise combination of sugars and electrolytes to promote quick fluid and electrolyte absorption. In general, other household beverages such as sports drinks, sweetened sodas and juices are too high in carbohydrates (sugar) and too low in sodium -- an important electrolyte that is lost during diarrhea and vomiting. Pedialyte Liters also contain added zinc to help replenish zinc loss due to diarrhea.

Pedialyte is available in flavored and unflavored liter bottles, single pint-sized liquid bottles, and freezer pops. All flavored varieties are sweetened with ace K (acsulfame potassium) and sucralose instead of sugar, as sugar (sucrose) may make diarrhea worse by drawing water into the intestine.

Thankfully, Nate does not suffer from intestinal troubles regularly. But the problem with the Pedialyte liter bottles is that after you open the container, you have to consume the unused portion within 48 hours. We maybe use about 1/3 of the bottle before we have to throw away the rest. I always thought it was such a waste. Not to mention the bulky container is not easy to fit in a crowded fridge or throw in the diaper bag. Carting it around with us on Christmas Day was not exactly fun.

Well, Pedialyte has addressed my gripes with their new Powder Packs. These simple packets are convenient for travel, easy to store and easy to use. Just add one pack to 8 oz. of water - that's it! Powder Packs come in four yummy flavors and are available in 4-packs including Fruit Punch and Apple or Variety 8-packs that also include Strawberry and Grape.


I have not yet had an opportunity to test out the new Powder Packs but you can bet your bottom dollar, I'll be trading in my huge, bulky bottle for these puppies. I love that I can just throw them in my purse or diaper bag and no matter where we are, we'll be prepared. 'Cause if you're anything like my family, the onset of an illness rarely occurs while we're comfortably at home.

BUY IT: You can find Pedialyte Powder Packs wherever Pedialyte is sold, or use this handy dandy store locator to find the retailer nearest you. (ARV $6/4-pk. or $9/8-pk.) You can also sign up for the Pedialyte newsletter and get a coupon for $1.50 off!

EXCITING EVENT: If you happen to live in the MD/DC/VA area, you're in luck! The “Pedialyte Healthy Holiday Event” Mobile Tour will be stopping by the Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, MD on December 11-13, 2009 from 11am-5pm (next to Santa Station) to help educate families about their medicine cabinet necessities. During the tour, families can stop by the booth to speak to local health care providers and learn more about what simple things they can do to keep healthy this holiday season. In addition, families can participate in a Pedialyte taste test and receive samples and coupons of the new Pedialyte Powder Packs.

But if you don't live nearby or if, like me, you have to devote your time this weekend to menial tasks like unpacking and last-minute Christmas shopping, have no fear...

WIN IT: Ten lucky winners are going to win a year's supply of Pedialyte Powder Packs! Yes, that's right - TEN winners will EACH win a YEAR'S SUPPLY!


MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Visit the Pedialyte website and tell me something you learned that I didn't mention in my review. Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile or if you are not a blogger!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count!

1.) Follow my blog or subscribe via reader or email. Comment telling me which method you chose. If you already follow or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry)

2.) Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this contest. Just leave me a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry)

3.) Add my blog button and/or my holiday button to your site and leave a comment with the link to where I can find it. (1 entry for each)

4.) Enter any of my other current giveaways and leave a comment telling me which one(s) you entered. (1 entry each)

Giveaway will end on December 26, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. Contest open to U.S. only. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received an invitation to attend the above event and test this product from Liv at DeVries P.R. I was not compensated in any way for this post. The opinions expressed in this review are purely my own. Your experience may differ. Always consult a physician for a proper evaluation and treatment plan before administering Pedialyte, especially for infants under 1 year of age.