Stay Refreshed: Top Tips for Keeping Your Child Hydrated

Stay Refreshed: Top Tips for Keeping Your Child Hydrated

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Keep your child hydrated with these top tips:

Ensure they always carry a water bottle.
Remind them to hydrate before sports games and encourage water breaks during the game.
Encourage a substantial drink afterward to replace lost fluids.
Keep a jug of fresh tap water close by, chilling it in the fridge on warm days.
Send a labeled, clear water bottle to school daily.
Choose water over sugary drinks or juice when heading to the shops or the park.
Demonstrate proper hydration—adults should drink plenty of water too.

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Hydration tips for children

Hydration is more than just sipping water; it's a fundamental aspect of a child's well-being. Children require a continuous intake of water to regulate their body temperature and facilitate essential bodily functions. The risk of dehydration is highest among young children and infants. Keep a close eye on signs of thirst, as they could indicate early dehydration. Combat mild cases by administering oral rehydration fluids or water at home, steering clear of sugary beverages.

Why do children need to stay hydrated?

Discover the harmony of hydration and its symbiotic relationship with children's bodies by understanding their composition. A significant portion of a child's body is comprised of water, acting as a vital element in regulating body temperature, producing bodily fluids, and supporting daily functions. Overlooking hydration can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to issues such as compromised sports performance, fatigue, headaches, and irritability, with potential consequences for serious health problems. Achieving a harmonious fluid balance is crucial for the body's optimal functioning, and children, especially during warm weather or physical activity, are susceptible to dehydration. Parents and caregivers play a key role in maintaining this symbiotic relationship by ensuring children consistently receive adequate water intake, acknowledging that waiting for signs of thirst may signal a delayed response to dehydration.

What causes dehydration?

Take a proactive stance in guarding against dehydration by unraveling the key culprits impacting children. Whether it's the aftermath of physical activity, severe vomiting, diarrhea, fever, certain medications like diuretics, inadequate fluid intake during illness, or age below six months, each factor heightens the risk. Hot weather exacerbates these challenges. Awareness of these culprits empowers parents and caregivers to institute preventive measures and prioritize their children's hydration.

What and how much should my child drink?

Exercise hydration wisdom by making informed choices about your child's daily drinks. Opt for water over sugary and acidic alternatives like sports drinks, fruit juices, soft drinks, and flavored mineral waters to protect against tooth decay. Water is the ideal beverage for children, with recommended daily intake varying by age: 4 to 8 years old – 5 cups; 9 to 13 years old – 5 to 6 cups; and 14 to 18 years old – 6 to 8 cups. Acknowledge the increased need for water during exercise or in hot climates. Regardless of the weather, instill the habit of regular hydration, prompting your child to drink before, during, and after physical activity to ward off dehydration.

Signs and symptoms of mild dehydration

Sharpen your ability to spot the signs of mild dehydration in your child, such as:

Thirstiness (an early warning of dehydration).
Dizziness or lightheadedness.
Nausea.
Headache.
Dark yellow or brown urine.
Dry tongue, mouth, throat, or lips.
Infrequent toilet visits or reduced urine output.

Signs and symptoms of severe dehydration

Ensure you are alert to the authorities by recognizing signs of severe dehydration in your child. If they exhibit extreme thirst, lethargy, confusion, or drowsiness, take immediate action by seeking medical attention. Observe for paleness, cold extremities, rapid breathing, and an increased heart rate. Dark and sunken eyes provide additional cues of severe dehydration. In the event of these symptoms, consult your GP promptly or head to the nearest hospital emergency department for urgent medical care.

Dehydration treatment

The optimal treatment for child dehydration involves providing additional fluids, such as water or oral rehydration solutions like Gastrolyte, HYDRAlyte, Pedialyte, and Repalyte, readily available at local pharmacies or supermarkets. Avoiding high-sugar drinks like flat lemonade or sports drinks is crucial, as they can exacerbate dehydration. Babies and young children, being more vulnerable to severe dehydration, require careful management. Breastfeeding mothers should offer more frequent feeds, and for bottle-fed babies older than 6 months, replacing formula feeds with oral rehydration solution or water for the first 12 hours is recommended, followed by regular formula in smaller, more frequent amounts. If infants under 6 months display signs of dehydration, immediate medical attention is advised.

Reading next

Hydration Hacks: Simple Strategies for Keeping Kids Refreshed
Thirst Quenchers: Strategies to Keep Your Child Hydrated

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