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.

Dehydration in children

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.”

Watch out for these symptoms of dehydration in children

• Feeling thirsty
• Dark yellow and strong-smelling pee
• Decreased urination
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Feeling tired
• A dry mouth, lips, eyes, and skin
• Peeing little, and fewer than 4 times a day
• Sunken eyes
• Rapid breathing

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.

Health risks that dehydration can cause include:

Depending on how severe the condition is, dehydration can cause a number of health issues for your child.

• Mild dehydration: Dry skin, lips, and mouth and increased thirst are typical symptoms of mild dehydration. Your child might have less frequent urination as well.
• Moderate dehydration: This might make your child less fun or engaged, as well as produce dry mouth, lips, and skin.
• Severe dehydration: Dehydration that is severe can make your child feel dizzy and have a fast heartbeat.

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

What are the causes of dehydration in children:

• When it comes to children, excessive diarrhea or vomiting can lead to dehydration in their body.
• They can get dehydrated due to hot weather or when they are excessively active.
• If they do not drink enough water due to sore throat or mouth sores or when they are having high fever.

Follow these 7 tips to help your child stay hydrated:

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.