Staying Hydrated When Sick: 5 Ways to Help Your Child Get Enough Fluids.
How Does Illness Affect Hydration in Children?
Anytime there’s extra fluid loss in children (or adults, for that matter), it’s important to rehydrate to replace those lost fluids. Fluid loss may be obvious, such as when a child is vomiting or has diarrhea, or it can be more subtle. For example, when your child has a runny nose, they’re losing fluids. And when they have a fever, their increased body temperature can cause more fluid loss than usual due to water (in the form of sweat) evaporating off their skin to help cool it down.
Younger children are at higher risk of dehydration than adults because they have faster metabolisms. They also may not be able to communicate their thirst to their parents or may be less apt to drink fluids due to lethargy or a sore throat.
Signs of Dehydration in Children
Dehydration may be easier to spot than you think. Keep your eyes open for any of these tell-tale signs of mild to moderate dehydration in your child:
- Dry, parched or cracked lips
- Deep-set or sunken appearance to the eyes
- Lack of tears while crying
- Decreased amount of urine or lack of urine output
- In infants, a sunken “soft spot” on the top of the head
How to Keep Kids Hydrated
Young children typically don’t understand the concept of dehydration, and they’re not likely to be motivated to drink water just because you tell them to. Sometimes parents need to get creative in order to help sick children take in plenty of fluids. Here are some ideas that might help with staying hydrated when sick:
- An electrolyte drink is a great solution for helping children stay hydrate while sick. Plain water is good, but a key component of proper rehydration is replenishing the nutrients lost through sweating, vomiting and diarrhea. for example, has an optimal balance of glucose and sodium to restore fluid and electrolyte losses for fast, effective rehydration.
- Most kids love popsicles. If drinking liquids is becoming a challenge, Pedialyte also comes in the form of freezer pops. are a great option for sick children who aren’t interested in or able to drink fluids or who may be craving something cold. They provide both fluid and key electrolytes that can help little patients rehydrate.
- If your child hasn’t touched the เล่น UFABET ผ่านมือถือ สะดวกทุกที่ ทุกเวลา glass of water on their bedside table, try serving up a broth-based soup such as chicken noodle in a special cup. You can also give them veggie, beef or chicken broth in a fun cup and throw in a silly straw in their favorite color.