Dehydration Facts

 

When people’s bodies lose too much fluid through exercise, sweating, diarrhea, vomiting or simply not drinking enough water, it’s possible for them to become dehydrated. The chances of dehydration go up in babies and toddlers because, among other reasons, a larger portion of their bodies is made of water, their metabolism causes them to use more water and their kidneys don’t conserve as much. Should you be concerned about dehydration and your baby? You bet. Severe dehydration, when there’s not enough fluid to get blood to the organs, can be life-threatening.¹

Prevention, of course, is often the best cure. Here are a few ways to help prevent dehydration:

• Encourage your child to drink fluids if she’s going to be active, especially in hot weather.²
• Offer your child a Popsicle to suck on.²
• Avoid colas or other drinks with caffeine. They can increase urine output and cause dehydration faster.²

If your baby does become dehydrated, there are steps you can take at home to try to correct it. Don’t hesitate to call your pediatrician if her symptoms don’t improve or get worse.

• If you’re breastfeeding your baby, nurse her more frequently. If she’s on a bottle, the fluid in the formula should be enough, but ask your doctor if you should feed her more often.³
• Replace lost fluid with cereal, strained bananas or mashed potatoes if she’s had these foods before.³
• Give her an oral rehydration solution (ORS) using a dropper, a spoon or a bottle. Read the directions to find out if the product is appropriate for her and how much she might need.³

Sources:
¹ “Dehydration - Topic Overview,” http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/tc/dehydration-topic-overview;

² “Dehydration - Prevention,” http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/tc/dehydration-prevention;

³ “Dehydration - Home Treatment,” http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/tc/dehydration-home-treatment;