How to Keep your Child Hydrated All Year Long?
Did you know dehydration is more common for babies and kids? It is mostly because kids don’t usually realize they are thirsty until they are almost dehydrated. But how much water should they drink and how do you keep them hydrated? Let’s find out together!
When and How Much?
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, no supplementary water is needed up to 6 months. As your baby starts with solid food, you can begin to offer water during meals too. Specialists from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend approximately from half a cup to a whole cup (4–8 oz.) per day up to the age of one year. From one to three years, the amount should range between one to four cups per day. But sometimes it is a difficult task, right? Try these 5 tips on how to keep your little ones hydrated!
1. Offer water regularly throughout the day
If your kids are busy discovering the world and playing all day long, they will most certainly not think about drinking water throughout the day. Offer them water regularly from the morning and throughout the day, after (or during) every meal. Kids will most likely not realize they are thirsty until they are nearly dehydrated.
2. Be a role model and drink water along with your child
Show your child that drinking water is fun! Let them know clear clean water is the best option, along with the milk. You can infuse it with lemons, oranges or berries for some extra taste. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, plain pasteurized milk is recommended from the age of one year old. Milk is not only another good source of hydration but also a great source of calcium for healthy bones. Other drinks such as sodas or juices are usually full of sugars and should be avoided. From one year old you can offer half a cup of 100% juice but whole fruit is preferred.
3. Mark lines on the cup or on the bottle
While using cute and funny stickers, you can mark a spot on the bottle or cup to show them which amount they should drink by a certain time. They are going to love the decorated cup or bottle! It’s a great trick for (pre)school days when you are not able to offer water once in a while.
4. The Perfect Cup or Bottle is a must
Of course, it will be more fun to drink from a perfect bottle or cup. Not only for the kids but also for you when you won’t have to clean messy spills all the time! The spoutless 360 WOW CUP Mini is a great starting point. The smaller 360 valve provides and age and skills suitable function for little mouths. Its baby familiar shape makes it super easy for little hands to grab. We also included a travel lid to keep the drinking surface clean during storage in lunch boxes and backpacks.
5. Offer water-rich snacks
Not all the water we take in our bodies comes from drinking. Approximately 10 to 20 percent of the total water intake is from food. Offer your little ones some water-rich snacks such as fruit – watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, cucumbers and other vegetables or yogurt. In the summer you can make healthy homemade popsicles. Just blend the fruit, mix it with a little bit of water or 100% juice a let it freeze in a mold with a popsticle stick. It is as simple as that!
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