I worry about my daughter not drinking enough all the time. Not too long ago, she got a nasty stomach bug, and we almost had to give her an IV for dehydration. She does not drink a lot at meals either. She will take a tiny sip, and then put it back down on the table. I worry all the time about it.
I am the opposite. I always have a drink in my hand. I drink my full 8 glasses of water a day, and then some. I am a chronically thirsty person. While I accept that she may not need fluids as much as I do, I wonder how much does she actually need? What is essential for her at this age in her development?
I asked my pediatrician at her last sick visit, and he said that children ages 2-11 should be drinking 16 oz/day of milk to get the calcium they need. Unless, they are good at eating vegetables high in calcium, and getting it from plenty of other sources. However, he said most of the time, they aren’t. My daughter just doesn’t drink that much! However, if I give her 1 tiny scoop of ovaltine in her milk, she will drink it with no problems.
I also try to limit the juice intake of my children. Juice is a special treat. I do not let them have it everyday, and I’m picky about what kinds of juice I give them. We all know that kids love juice, but how do you get them to drink more water? And, how much do they really need?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there is no specified amount of water a child should drink each day. But, it is easy for them to become dehydrated. It is stated that usually by the time a child asks for water, they are already showing signs of dehydration. So, the best bet? Offer it to them on a regular basis throughout the day. If they are outside, or involved in a rigorous activity, they need more fluids. The AAP also states that 16 oz is the recommended amount of milk for a child age 2-8 years old.
Many times, kids do not ask for a drink until they really need one. I know my child doesn’t. So, keep a drink ready for them in the fridge. Make sure they know it’s there, and suggest it to them often.
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