What to do if a child does not drink water?

For your child’s health and wellbeing, it’s important to keep them hydrated, but encouraging them to drink enough water can occasionally be difficult. Any parent may become concerned if they see that their child isn’t drinking as much water as they ought to. It can make a big difference to understand why your child might be avoiding water and to find strategies that work for them.

There are numerous reasons why a youngster might not enjoy drinking water. It’s possible that they just forget to drink throughout the day, or they may find it boring in comparison to more flavorful beverages. It could be more difficult for certain kids to change their tastes in sugary drinks because of this. Finding the underlying cause of the problem can aid in more efficient problem solving.

This post will discuss useful advice and original ideas to help you encourage your child to drink more water. These techniques, which range from making water more enticing to introducing it into their daily routine, are meant to help your child develop and stick to a healthy drinking habit.

If your child won’t drink water, try to make it fun and interesting for them to hydrate by providing water in a vibrant, kid-friendly bottle or flavoring it with a splash of real fruit juice. Make sure they follow a schedule where they sip water at particular times of the day, and set an example by sipping water yourself. In order to make sure your child is getting enough fluids, try adding foods high in water, such as fruits and vegetables, to their diet if they still refuse.

Should I give it to a baby?

A baby who is breastfed and receiving mother’s milk typically doesn’t require extra water. The rationale is that during the first four months of life, a baby receives both sustenance and water from their mother’s milk.

Extra water given to the baby can exacerbate lactation and possibly result in the infant refusing to breastfeed.

But if a healthy breastfed infant should only start receiving it when supplementary foods are introduced between the ages of 6-7 months, then with artificial feeding, babies need water from birth because the milk formula strains their intestines.

Additionally, they start giving water at the same time when the baby is switched to formula because the mother isn’t producing enough milk.

Even if the infant drinks mom’s milk, it may occasionally need to be given to a baby younger than four to five months old. These circumstances include loose stools or vomiting on a regular basis, intestinal infections accompanied by fever, and other infectious diseases. Additionally, if the baby spends a lot of time in a hot environment, he might require it more.

To avoid dehydration, the child should be given more fluids in any of these circumstances. This is what all pediatricians, including well-known physician Komarovsky, insist upon:

How much does a child need?

A child"s need for water is influenced by various factors, including age norms, weather conditions, dry air in the room, consumption of fatty foods, and others. A 1-2 month old child on artificial or mixed feeding needs 100-200 ml of water per day in addition to the liquid in the mixture. One serving for such a baby is up to 30-40 ml. For children over two months old, the volume is calculated based on their weight – For each kilogram you need 100 ml of liquid. For example, an 8-month-old child weighing 9 kg should receive about 900 ml of water per day. A child aged 1-3 years should receive about 1300-1500 ml of liquid daily in drinks and liquid dishes, such as soup.

What to do if a child refuses to drink

A child’s body requires water on a daily basis, so not drinking can be harmful and lead to dehydration. Giving a child something to drink is especially crucial if they are severely perspiring, have a high body temperature, or are losing a lot of water due to diarrhea or vomiting. If you ignore the need to stay hydrated in such circumstances, the child’s condition will only get worse and could even become fatal.

The child is given drinks if there is a chance of dehydration so that the liquid enters their body. Rendering solutions, which contain salts that the child’s body loses along with water, is the best beverage for intestinal infections.

• If the child usually drinks water willingly, but suddenly refuses it, you don"t need to insist. Most likely, the baby will just drink later.
• When playing with the baby, put a mug or bottle nearby. It can be easier to give a child a drink when he is engrossed in the game.
• Be sure to take it with you on walks, after all, on the street during active games, many children are very thirsty and they do not refuse it.
• Offer your daughter or son to drink it from a glass through beautiful straws, for example, color-changing or with fancy bends.
• Experiment with the temperature. Some children do not like warm water, and some refuse cold.
• Also keep in mind that there are different. If the baby refuses water from one manufacturer, offer another brand.
• Tell children over 3 years old about its benefits and effects on the human body. Let the child know that its use is important for strengthening the body and maintaining health.
• Show the child the importance of consumption by your example. Drink together to form healthy habits for the whole family.

It can be difficult to get a child to drink enough water, but you can come up with creative and patient solutions. To start, present water in visually appealing, vibrant cups or bottles. To give the water a subtle taste, you could also try adding a few fruit slices or a splash of organic fruit juice.

Maintaining consistency is essential. Throughout the day, schedule regular water breaks and set an example for your child by expressing your own enjoyment of drinking water. Include it in regular routines, such as before meals or after playtime.

To rule out any underlying problems, see a pediatrician if your child is still resistant. Recall that the key is to make staying hydrated a pleasant and simple aspect of their day.

Video on the topic

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