Is your kid getting enough water? If not, it could lead to dehydration, which could harm your child’s health. However, you can assist them, dear mommies, by keeping these tips in mind.
Health Shots reached out to Dr Nitin M, Consultant – Paediatrician and Neonatologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Electronic City, Bengaluru, to understand the symptoms of dehydration among children and ways to cope with it.
Dr Nitin says, “Caring for children, especially toddlers, has never been an easy job as you have to constantly keep a check on their needs and health conditions. Dehydration is one of the most common problems that children face. It is a condition in which the body has very less volume of water than it needs to function properly. In babies, the condition is essentially caused due to diarrhea or vomiting.”
Muscle soreness and cramps in the body might result from the loss of electrolytes and water in perspiration. It may also have an effect on the physical and emotional well-being of your child, including their mood and attention span.
Depending on how severe the condition is, dehydration can cause a number of health issues for your child.
As we all know, water is an essential component of our body. It is needed to maintain basic bodily functions. Not having enough water in your body can also affect the most basic and crucial internal body functions.
Also read: Can drinking water that has been sitting overnight make you sick? An expert answers
1. Feed them water-rich foods: Depending on your child’s age, you can give them adequate fluids and foods that are high in water content to prevent dehydration. Fruits and vegetables that are high in water content will help to balance the water level and supply vital nutrients to your kid.
2. Set reminders: During summer, take extra precautions, especially if your child plays sports or is very active. Reminders for drinking water can also be established.
3. ORS: You can also administer oral rehydration solutions (ORS) to them as soon as an illness develops. Don’t wait until things get serious. While minor dehydration can be treated with enough fluid intake, dehydration with severe symptoms needs immediate medical intervention.
4. Beware of the sun: Limit your child’s outdoor activities when the sun is at its peak. Your children are more prone to dehydration the more exposure they have to the sun, especially in the summer. When one is exposed to the sun, the body often loses more water. The body’s glucose level tends to drop, and a person begins to feel tired and worn out. So, restrict your kid’s time in the sun.
5. Lemon water: Lemon water is the best beverage to stay hydrated. Vitamin C is abundant in citrus fruits like lemon. It keeps the body moisturized and energized.
6. Soups: Children can frequently be given warm broths or soups made with vegetables or chicken or mutton bones since they are hydrating and packed with nutrients.
7. Yogurt: To prevent dehydration, season your yogurt with a bit of salt and give it to your kids every day. Due to its high electrolyte content, yogurt can help prevent dehydration.
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