Found a baby field mouse

Question
Yesterday my eldest DD (4) found a baby field mouse in my
bedroom. It's eyes are closed but it has soft brown fur and
looks like it's going to have white feet. I put it on the
floor in a small tin w/ no lid so that momma could come get
it if she choose to w/ a little piece of bread for
encouragement but she didn't. So last night I ran to the
store and picked up KMR kitten formula and a plastic
aquarium (have cats and dogs so couldn't leave it over night
on the floor). I set it up with a cloth baby cloth folded on
the bottom and a baby washcloth to cover it up. So far it
only take a drop of formula at a time but I try to give it
every hour or so. I've tried to get it to go to the bathroom
with a soft cloth but all it does is start to squeak and
wiggle (strong little guy). I just want to make sure I am
doing everything I can to help this little guy survive and
looking for any suggestions about anything else I could be
doing. I know the chances are low but for my daughter's sake
I want to give it my best shot (and I'm not a big mouse fan
they tend to spook me)  

Answer
Hi Lea,

You're doing a good job of everything so far!  Look for tiny little poops or pee spots that might show he's already going to the bathroom on his own.  If he's already furred, and especially if he's accepting milk, he might already be able to use the bathroom.  Until you know for sure keep trying, though, and you can use a warm, moist cutip to simulate momma's grooming of his private area.

If you happen to have a gram scale, food scale, or something to weigh something that small, it would be a great idea to keep a log of his weight every time you try to feed him.  Losing weight means something is wrong, and you'll have to do everything you can to get him to eat more KMR and stay warm.  If his weight stays the same, or ideally, increases, it means you're doing it right.  :)

The only other thing I can think of to help you out is using a heating pad after feeding him or if your house gets chilly at night.  Only put it under half of his cage and never put it higher than its very lowest setting ("warm" is the best).  This way, if it's too hot for him, he can crawl out of it.  You can also try feeding him different ways and positions to see if he'll eat more.  You could leave little pellets of mouse food around in the cage as well, in case he starts trying to investigate solid foods (though you'll have to keep giving him KMR if he does to keep him hydrated).  Just listen to him, and let him eat as much as you can convince him to.

It sounds like you're doing a really good job.  If you notice him slowing down or losing weight, try calling local vets or pet shops to see if anyone who has helped orphan pups before can give you a hand.

Best of luck!
-Tam