Our bodies are made of approximately 70% water, and it is very critical that we maintain the balance of body fluids, as water is important to each and every cell in the body and without it certain functions cannot be carried out.
If one does not drink water as often as one should, it could lead to dehydration, which could lead to headaches, a dry mouth, dry mucous membranes in the eyes and nose, sore joints, dizziness, heart problems, kidney problems and various other health hazards.
Water is also key to growth, which means that staying hydrated is even more important in children; getting dehydrated could lead to growth problems and even abnormal growth of bones. It is therefore crucial to ensure that your children drink water often and that they drink clean, pure toxin-free water to aid in their growth.
Preventing Dehydration in Children
Preventing your child from getting dehydrated is preferable and also easier than having to deal with a sick child that is dehydrated. Preventing dehydration is easy and comprises of:
- Drinking Water: Drinking water often is a healthy and natural way for a child to stay hydrated. Drinking water is also good for weight maintenance as it doesn’t add potentially harmful stimulants or excess calories often found in sports and energy drinks. Ensure that your children drink water throughout the day, even if they are not doing sports.
- Set a Schedule: Setting a schedule for your children to ensure that they drink water on a regular basis is important and will get them in the habit. Set a schedule for them that has them drinking water before, during, and after all sport practices, games and competitions.
- Watch the Weather: If it is extremely hot and children are active, they need to drink more water, especially if they are outside in the heat or if they are sweating excessively
Hydrating your Child during Sports Activities
Taking the following steps during sports activities will ensure that your active little one remains hydrated and does not suffer dehydration or heatstroke:
Drink Water Early: Teach your child to drink before the scheduled event; by the time they feel thirsty they are already about 2-5% dehydrated
Drink Sufficient Water: According to the American Academy of Paediatrics, children should drink water according to their weight:
- 150ml of cold tap water every 20 minutes if they weigh around 35kg
- 250ml of cold tap water every 20 minutes if they weigh around 50kg
30 ml is around 2 child-size gulps of water
How to Tell if your Child is Dehydrated
Watch out for complaints of the following symptoms which could indicate that your child is dehydrated:
- Dark yellow urine
- Decreased urine output
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nausea
Investing in a home water cooler will ensure that your child never gets dehydrated. Children are notoriously lazy, so getting a jug of water out of the fridge, pouring a glass, refilling the jug and putting it back into the fridge is too much like work, which is why they will rather grab a soft drink every time.
A home water cooler will encourage them to drink more water more often as the water tastes good, is permanently chilled, and they will get a thrill out of acting like an adult and dispensing water directly into their and their friends’ glasses. Even the smallest and youngest of your children will be able to get themselves a lovely cool drink of water from a home water cooler.
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