Water will always be the best option for kids to drink. But did you know more than 1 in 5 kids and teens don’t drink any water during the day?
Why water?
- Drinking water promotes the movement and absorption of important nutrients, vitamins, and minerals in the body and keeps joints healthy.
- Staying hydrated can improve memory and attention and prevent negative moods, low energy, and lack of focus in kids and teens.
- Drinking water instead of sugary drinks can help prevent cavities and conditions like type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
How much water should kids drink?
You may remember hearing “drink 8 cups of water a day” as a point of reference. While this is true, how much water you should drink in a day also depends on how active you are and environmental conditions like heat and humidity. Kids over 8 years old and adults should drink at least 8 cups a day or more. For kids under 8, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:
- Introducing water at 6 months: 4-8 ounces/day
- 1-3 years old: 4 cups/day
- 4-8 years old: 5 cups/day
How can I tell if my kids are dehydrated?
Here are some signs of dehydration. Teach your kids about these signs too so they can spot them and ask for a drink of water!
- Cramps
- Flushed skin
- Dry lips/sticky mouth
- Lightheadedness/dizziness
- Headache
- Urinating less/dark yellow urine
What are ways to help kids drink more water?
Here are a few tips:
- Make sure water is readily available and always have it as an option at meals and when kids are thirsty
- Pack a water bottle if you’re headed out for an activity or errands
- Encourage your kids pick a special cup or bottle to drink water from
- Add a little flavor by dropping in fresh fruit
- Drink water regularly yourself to model it for your kids
Water will always be the #1 drink for kids. But we also know the reality is kids are going to want something else too every once in a while, and that’s where we can come in. PLEZi is not intended to replace water – it’s intended to replace sugary drinks that don’t support kids’ health.
How do you keep yourself and your kids hydrated? We’d love to hear your tips. DM us at @plezinutrition.
Sources:
- Association of Caloric Intake From Sugar-Sweetened Beverages With Water Intake Among US Children and Young Adults in the 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
- National Academy of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Choose Water for Healthy Hydration
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Healthy Hydration for Young Athletes