Sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on the baby's headĪs children get older, they are better able to tell you how they are feeling. The most noticeable symptoms of dehydration in this age are:įewer wet diapers, with the typical range being from 6 to 8 If you are worried that your infant is not getting enough to drink, call your pediatrician immediately. Around 6 months, complementary foods and small amounts of water can be added. Additional water is not recommended at this age. Infants 0-6 months should only be drinking breast milk or formula. It is important to know the signs ofĭehydration so you can address them quickly. Instead, make water readily available to encourage healthy hydration.Įven with the best habits and intentions, trouble can arise. Stevia- or artificially-sweetened drinks: Because health risks for children from stevia andĪrtificial sweeteners are not well understood, it is best to avoid these drinks. These added sugars should be avoided to discourage a preference for sweet flavors, which can make it difficult to have success when offering regular milk. Children ages 4–6 years, no more than 4–6 oz per day, and for children ages 7–18, no more than 8 oz per day.įlavored milk: Even though you get the benefits of the calcium and vitamins found in milk, flavored milk can be much higher in sugar. Keep these amounts in mind:Ĭhildren less than a year should not drink any juice at all.Ĭhildren 1-3 years of age should have no more than 4 oz per day.įor older children, juice is only recommended if whole fruits are not available. Because of its sweet taste, once children are offered juice, it can be difficult to get them to drink plain water. While it can contain some vitamins, these drinks are high in sugar and calories and low in the healthy fiber found in whole fruit. Added sugars can lead to excess weight gain, dental cavities, diabetes, and more. They can also leave your kids less hungry for the nutritious foods they really need. These drinks discourage a habit of drinking plain water, and can add extra “empty calories" to the diet. This includes sports drinks, juice cocktails, sodas, lemonade, and sweetened water. And try to limit them for your older children as much as possible. Sugar-sweetened beverages for your children who are less than 2 years of age. These usually contain way more sugar than children need in a day and can contribute to poor health. So don't believe all the hype surrounding many of the other drinks marketed to kids. Water and milk are all the drinks kids need. Let your kids decorate them before filling or look for popsicle molds in fun shapes and colors. Make it a fun family activity by using small paper cups. Make your own popsicles with pureed fruit for an afternoon cool-down. Whether it is a personalized sports bottle or a fancy cup with an umbrella or swirly straw, adding a festive touch can go a long way. It dresses up the drinks at any table, and young children can help fill the trays.ĭelight kids with special water bottles or cups. Top fruits include watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, and grapefruit.įreeze fruit inside ice cubes. Some of the best vegetables to choose from are cucumber, zucchini, iceberg lettuce, celery, and tomato. Keep fruits and vegetables that are high in water content handy - and there are plenty of them. This is an easy way to keep the whole family coming back for refills. Infuse water with lemons, berries, cucumber or mint for some added flavor. Being a good role model yourself is a great way to help make water part of your children's routine and gets them in the habit of drinking water before they're thirsty. Water doesn't have to be boring! There are plenty of ways to entice everyone in the family to drink healthy and stay hydrated throughout the day. This increases for older kids to around 5 cups for 4-8 year olds, and 7-8 cups for older children.Īmounts vary by individual and may need to be adjusted depending on levels of activity and environmental conditions like heat and humidity. To stay well hydrated, children ages 1-3 years need approximately 4 cups of beverages per day, including water or milk. They only need about 4-8 ounces per day until they are a year old because the rest of their liquids are coming from breastmilk or formula. How much water do children need?Īt around 6 months, babies can be introduced to water. Here are some tips on how to help your family choose water. And it's economical – tap water is much less expensive than sports drinks, sodas and juice. Being well hydrated improves mood, memory and attention in children. It good for the body - keeps joints, bones and teeth healthy, helps the blood circulate, and can help kids maintain a healthy weight into adulthood. Why? It's super healthy with zero calories & no added sugar. Along with milk, plain water is the best drink choice for kids. All living things need water to survive.
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