Kids Health Watch is Sponsored by Children’s Medical Group
Playing outside is a way of life for children. Living in the Mobile area means there are lots of places to enjoy the outdoors, but staying hydrated can be tricky. Let’s discuss the best ways to keep your child hydrated.
Hydration looks very different depending on the age of your child. Children less than 6 months of age get plenty of fluid from either breastmilk or formula, which should keep them well hydrated. Infants less than 6 months of age should never receive water for hydration. In fact, giving a child that young plain water can actually make them sick with severe consequences. If you have a small baby enjoying the sunshine this summer, in addition to offering them their regular bottles or breastfeeding, it’s best to avoid the hottest parts of the day, and to find shade when available.
Children older than 6 months of age still drinking formula or breastmilk will probably maintain hydration from those sources, but they can also drink water if needed.
All other children older than 1 year of age benefit most from water to stay hydrated. Fluids that have extra sugar or caffeine can actually have counterproductive effects and can lead to dehydration. This is because childrens’ bodies do not process those fluids very well to stay hydrated.
Sports drinks are very popular. However, there are some things to think about when deciding on which drink works best for your child. You basically want to pick something that is as close to water as possible. Choose drinks that have low amounts of sugar, carbohydrates and no caffeine. Generally, we do not like for our patients to ‘drink’ their calories. We’d rather you eat calories. So if your child is thirsty but also hungry – try some water plus a protein snack. That will probably help the most with simultaneously hydrating and providing energy. Added electrolytes are also probably not needed unless there are extreme circumstances; these include intense prolonged athletic type activity in hot weather (think marathon – type activities).
Your best ways to help avoid dehydration are preparation and simplicity. If you or your children are planning on any outdoor activities in the heat – try to get ahead by drinking water before, during and after the activities.
Dr. Savannah Browning grew up in Fayette, AL. She moved to Mobile to attend Medical School at the University of South Alabama in 2009, and has been a proud Mobilian ever since. She joined Children’s Medical Group in 2016, and her office is at the Airport Boulevard location. She lives in Mobile with her husband, Andrew, and their three children: Jude, Luke, and Annie.