How Do You Keep Your Child Hydrated?

A small child drinking a glass of water in Oak Lawn.

No matter what time of year, it is essential to ensure your child is hydrated and ready to take on every day. Children can become dehydrated for several reasons. Whatever the reason, you can take several actions to get your child to drink enough water and stay hydrated all the time. 

If you need assistance keeping your child hydrated, Pediatrics on Demand in Oak Lawn can help. Contact us online or call (708) 424-0900 to learn more about our services, including IV Hydration.

Make Water Easily Accessible

We all know that the best way to keep your child hydrated is to ensure they drink adequate water. But to ensure this, your child needs to have easy access to water. For example, when you send your little one off to school, they should be able to have water on them at all times. Consider investing in a reusable water bottle or flask to keep water fresh and available to them! 

Eat Plenty of Fruits and Veggies 

Hydration also stems from the food we eat. Besides water, you can feed your child water with fluid-rich foods such as: 

  • Berries
  • Watermelon
  • Oranges 
  • Apples
  • Grapes
  • Celery 
  • Cucumber 
  • Pineapple 
  • Pears
  • Grapefruit 

Therefore, whenever your child is hungry, you can provide them with a snack that is both rich in nutrients and contains plenty of fluids to keep them hydrated! Doing so will lessen the chance that your child will require IV hydration.

Make Homemade Popsicles 

While some kids don’t mind, it can be more challenging for other parents to encourage their little ones to drink water throughout the day. Well, the good thing is that you can make it fun! 

You can mix fruit juice and water together and freeze the concoction in a tray with popsicle sticks. All kids love popsicles, especially when they get tired after playing for hours on end.

Set Up a Schedule or Reminder System 

You can create a schedule or reminder system to ensure your child is drinking the amount of water necessary to keep them hydrated. For example, you can create a chart and post it on your fridge. Your children can mark off whenever they have had a serving of water. 

You can also set timers or alarms on your phone if you and your little ones are out and about most of the time. This will reduce the need for IV hydration.

Avoid Sugary Drinks 

People are often fooled into thinking sugary drinks are enough to keep them hydrated. In fact, sugary drinks can cause dehydration. Some drinks to avoid include: 

  • Sports drinks 
  • Soft drinks 
  • Drinks with artificial flavoring 

Sports drinks are only okay to consume if your child participates in athletics or physical activity that causes sweating. Overall, it is recommended to avoid them. 

Be Aware of the Signs of Dehydration

There are many signs that can say your child needs more water in their system. Symptoms of dehydration include: 

  • Dry, sticky mouth 
  • Sunken eyes 
  • Lack of urine or dark urine 
  • Lethargy
  • Irritability
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Rapid, deep breathing 

While some of these symptoms are more severe, it is always good to know in case your child ever experiences any or most of these signs. 

Consider IV Hydration When Your Child Is In Need 

IV hydration is best when your child is experiencing the following: 

  • Fever 
  • Stomach irritability
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting 
  • Other illnesses

When you take your child to be seen by a pediatrician, they will determine if IV hydration will help subside their symptoms and treat their condition. You can learn more about when your child needs IV hydration by speaking with a professional from our clinic

Learn More About How to Keep Your Child In Good Health With Our Professionals 

Hydration is an important goal for your and your child’s health. There are much more health and wellness goals to set in addition to staying hydrated. Learn more about what you can do to keep your child in good health by reaching out to us. Contact us online or call (708) 424-0900 today.