With summer creeping to its hottest temperatures, how do you keep your little one hydrated? From tag to tree-climbing to swimming to running on hot days, it can be difficult to get children to stop a minute and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Children are more susceptible to the effects of dehydration than adults. According to the Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness, “even though children have a lower capacity for sweating, their hydration needs are not that different than adults. As a result, they overheat more frequently.”
Kids’ bodies don’t cool down as well as adults’. You need to encourage any active child to drink often and make sure to be aware of the signs of dehydration. Infants and toddlers are also at risk during hot weather. Here are some fun ways to keep kids hydrated without water and by offering these “cool” foods and recipes:
Offer these foods:
1) Fruits and veggies
They contain 70 to 95 percent water. Try watermelon, strawberries, lettuce, and cucumbers.
Recipe for fun: Freeze applesauce ice pops for a cool and refreshing treat.
2) Yogurt
Whether plain or fruity, it’s 80 percent water.
Recipe for Fun: Blend frozen berries with plain yogurt in a blender or hand blender to create smoothie shots on the go.
3) Oatmeal, beans, couscous, & pasta
These foods absorb more than 50 percent of their weight in water as they cook.
Recipe for Fun: Serve fun and cute pasta shapes — bow ties, wagon wheels, shells, letters, etc.
Lastly, know the signs of dehydration of a child: no tears, dry mouth and tongue, sunken eyes, grayish skin, sunken soft spot on infant’s head, and decreased urination. If your child is experiences any of these symptoms, please contact your doctor immediately.
shop Le Top’s fall 2010 collection here
http://www.letop-usa.com/
enjoy free ground shipping*
Le Top blog 