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COMMUNITY
Wet Their Whistles
One Drinking Problem You'll Want Your Kids to Have
By Alice Cary
Bottoms up! |
It's a steamy hot day and you're planning a family hike. Once you've slathered on the sunscreen and hit the trail, you're all set. Right?
As long as everyone keeps drinking, you've got your bases covered. In fact, it's even more essential that your kids drink than it is that they eat. The body cannot properly function without fluids.
And"everyone" means especially your children.
Numerous medical problems tend to affect children more severely than adults, and dehydration is one of them. Call it the double-whammy effect.
Be especially mindful of your littlest ones — the smaller they are, the faster they dehydrate |
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The problem with kids and hydration is twofold. First, their bodies are smaller than adults, which means they become dehydrated more quickly. What's more, they often sweat less, which means they get hotter.
Be especially careful with children under four, which of course includes babies. Be sure to supplement infant's breast milk or formula feedings with water. The younger a child is, the less margin of error you have, and the more difficult it is to rehydrate once dehydration begins.
Watch for signs of dehydration in everyone (see below).
Is Your Child Dehydrated?
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When it comes to sun exposure, think of clothes as a big band-aid to protect your family from the sun. Is your child drinking enough? Probably not if you notice:
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 | cracked lips, dry mouth or tongue
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| darker than normal urine, urine containing crystals, or decreased urine output
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| dizziness
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| headache
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| irritability
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| lethargy
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| nausea
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| pale skin
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| sunken eyes, sunken fontanel
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| sweating
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| tearless crying
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If your child exhibits some of the above symptoms, try the"tent test." Gently pinch his or her skin. If your child is sufficiently hydrated, the skin immediately returns back into place. If not, the skin remains pinched, in a "tent" shape.
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The treatment for dehydration: drink, drink, drink. For severe cases, seek medical assistance. IV fluids will be administered, and sometimes hospitalization is necessary. Remember, always seek medical assistance with dehydrated infants, who often need help with rehydration.
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