How Can You Ensure Your Child Gets Enough Fluid Intake During Winters?

As a parent we sometimes are struggling to make our child drink enough water. But do we really know how much water should a child drink during winters or how much juice is ok for a toddler? How much milk should a 1 year old drink or how much juice is ok for a toddler to keep them healthy? Read on to know details…

Importance Of Water In Winters

Water is an important component of diet. Water is a critical nutrient of your child’s diet, absence of which can be dangerous within days. Though the child may not feel that thirsty due to colder climate, but keeping the child hydrated with sufficient water is important in winters as well. Children play a lot and lose water during exercise or play even in winters. Mild levels of dehydration may affect your child’s concentration, alertness and short term memory. Low intake of water in winters can also lead to constipation.

1. Milk Intake

   From one year of age the dependency on milk should be reduced and focus should be on solids. However, milk as a food provides a substantial amount of fluid to child around 400-500 ml per day is sufficient

2. Juice

   It is not important to give juice to your child above one years of age and you should prefer giving the whole fruit with the goodness of fiber. Though at times you may give fresh fruit juice, especially if the child is sick and it may contribute both to fluid and calories intake

3. Adequate Water For Your Toddlers

   Water intake is not only dependent on metabolism and environment conditions (hotter climates require more water) but also on body size, gender and activity level of your child. Though there is no exact recommendations on this but an average intake of 1200-1400 ml 5-6 glasses for 2-3 years old and 1600-1800 ml 6-7 glasses for 4-5 years old should suffice. Around for toddlers (2-3 years ) an intake of 1200-1400 ml per day and for 4-5 years old, the intake can be around 1600-1800 ml per day

How To Ensure Enough Fluids?

Well, now that you know how much water is to be given to your toddler each day,you may now start pouring the amount in a bottle. Aim to finish that amount by the end of the day. There are times when the child might refuse to drink the recommended or desired amount of water in a day. Then what should you do?

Few Tips To Help Your Child Drink Enough Water And Fluids

• Attractive cups/glasses-

  you can always buy some attractive cups or glasses in different colours, shapes or with your child’s favourite cartoon character on it. The visual appeal of the container helps in making the child drink water

• Bottles-

  some children might like to sip their water directly from bottle. In that case do get them some attractive bottle

• Set intervals or time at which water is to be given-

  you can give water first thing in morning to your toddler. After that you may give water after every one to two hours, depending on how warm the climate is
• In winters the child may not be too keen to take cold water, so it is always better to offer lukewarm or warm water to the child
• Use fruits to infuse flavor. You may add slice of fruits like lemon, strawberry or any other fruit to infuse a flavor to make it more appealing for your child
• Give water between two meals and not with meals. Ideally water should not be given with meals as it dilutes the gastric juices that aid in digestion. You can give water after half an hour of a meal
• Fluid intake of your child can increased with vegetable soup, buttermilk, coconut water, or broth etc.

So it is important to keep your child hydrated even in winters and ensure that the child is taking enough water.

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