During the summer months, children spend a lot of time outdoors. Also, before sending your little ones out to play, here are some simple tips to follow to prevent dehydration.
Dehydration occurs when the body loses too much fluid and can happen at any age, but it is more dangerous in babies and children than in adults. Since children have a greater surface area relative to their body mass, they often pick up heat faster than adults when air temperature is higher than body temperature.
Here are some simple tips to follow this summer to avoid dehydration in your children:
- Acclimatize children slowly to the summer heat and humidity: at first, avoid long hours in the sun, take cool breaks out of the sun to rest and hydrate.
- Make them wear light, light-colored clothes.
- When you go out on hot days, remember to bring enough liquids and foods with high water content, such as fruits, vegetables or yogurt, as well asice to keep them cool.
- Get the child used to carrying a water bottle.
Warning
When the feeling of thirst comes, the body is already slightly dehydrated. Offer children water and drinks, in small amounts, throughout the day.
Water needs
The daily water requirement per kilogram of body weight for a child aged 7-10 years is 70-85 ml and for a child aged 1-6 years 90-100 ml. Requirements increase by 30ml/kg of body weight for each 1°C increase in ambient temperature from 30°C.
In case of fever, water needs increase by 10% per degree above 38°C.
It is particularly important to monitor the volumes and frequency of drinks taken by the child: their feeling of thirst is not as well developed as that of adults. Children should drink about 125 ml (4 oz) of cold liquids every 15 to 20 minutes.
Finally, this summer go for smoothies and frozen refreshments, so grab your blender, some fruit, milk and ice!
