16 Sep What Are The Warning Signs Of Dehydration In Children?

Dehydration in children often go unnoticed and can be very serious. Discover the warning signs of dehydration in children so that you can recognize it before it gets too serious.

Did you know that children are more likely to become dehydrated than adults? Since their bodies are smaller, they have smaller reserves of water. Even though summer is almost over and fall is on the horizon, children can still easily become dehydrated. Discover the warning signs of dehydration in children so that you can recognize it before it gets too serious!

While there are certainly some instances that can cause dehydration in children, such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea and chronic illness, dehydration can easily happen on a daily basis if children are not getting the proper amount of water for their weight. For instance, if your child heads off to school for the day without any liquid at breakfast and doesn’t drink much at school, by the time they get home, they could show signs of dehydration. Just think if they head straight to after school activities such as football or baseball practice.

Luckily, there are a few warning signs that you can look for to avoid serious dehydration.
 

Warning signs of dehydration in children:

• Dry or cracked lips
• Dark-colored urine (ideally, you want pretty clear with a hint of yellow)
• Little or no urine for eight hours
• Cold or dry skin
• Sunken eyes or sunken soft spot on the head (for babies)
• Excessive sleepiness
• Low energy levels
• No tears when crying
• Extreme fussiness or irritability
• Fast breathing or heart rate

Though it is rare, in serious cases, your child can become delirious or unconscious.

How much water does your child need to stay hydrated?

As mentioned above, there are different factors that determine how much liquid children need in order to stay hydrated: age, weight, gender and other factors such as activity level, humidity and their overall health are all taken into account.

But, according to a study led by researchers at Queens College of the City University of New York and published in the October 2010 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition”, children need between five and eight cups of water each day, But some children may be fine with less water, and children who are very active may need more. Your child may need more water during the day when it's hot outside or when they’re sick or recovering from an illness.

How can you get your child to drink more water?

• Use frozen fruit in place of ice cubes
• Buy silly straws
• Infuse their water with flavor by adding fruits like berries, cucumbers, lemons and limes
• Set a good example- if you have kids, you know they watch your every move. The more your children see you carrying out healthy habits, the more likely they are to do the same
• Make it fun, perhaps offer an incentive or a reward if they hit their limit...or perhaps it can help their pet grow and evolve :)

About Gululu

We are on a mission to develop good habits by helping kids stay healthy and build great habits that will last a lifetime. Our interactive bottle does both of these things by measuring and rewarding healthy hydration habits. Learn more about us today!

>> Image taken from Fun Money Mom Blog