It is the healthiest drink to keep the body hydrated, at any age. However, when they are young we have doubts: How much water should my child drink? Well, as it is such an important element in food and for the health of people, there are official guidelines regarding the amount of water recommended in childhood.
It is important to know that children, unlike adults, do not have the facility to listen to the alarms our bodies give us when we need more hydration. It is easy for us to identify the sensation of thirst, dry mouth, which leads us to drink fluids as soon as possible. But children don't let us know and, when they grow up, they often take a long time to realize thirst.
Therefore, the chances of dehydration in children are higher and that is why parents have to be attentive to the signs and calm if we offer them enough water (and they drink it).
Water needs in children are different from those of adults. According to the recommendations of the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), children and babies should drink these amounts of water, taking into account the water included in other foods (such as breast milk in the case of babies):
- From zero to six months: babies have enough of the water in breast milk (or artificial milk). Water is the main part of the composition of breast milk and therefore it is not necessary to offer it to babies who breastfeed, until after six months, with the introduction of complementary feeding. Babies need approximately 700 ml of water for the first half year of life, an amount that comes from breast milk on demand or bottles of artificial milk.
- From six months to a year: between 800 ml and 1000 ml every day. Recall that much of the water can continue to come perfectly from breastfeeding, although as foods that are more thirsty are introduced, we can start offering water.
- Children from one to two years: between 1100 ml and 1200 ml every day. Water needs increase and the most recommended sources apart from the water itself, are still milk, fruits and vegetables.
- Children from two to three years: about 1300 ml every day.
- Children from four to eight years: about 1600 ml every day.
If we take the measurements in glasses, these amounts represent approximately four or five glasses of water daily between the first year and three years, increasing that amount from four years and as the child grows. Keep in mind that fruit and vegetables (natural juices ...), as well as milk, are good sources of hydration. On the other hand, among the liquids that we must avoid to quench our thirst are sugary juices, soft drinks, energy drinks ...
These amounts established by the European Food Safety Agency are indicative when it comes to establishing how much water children and babies should drink, since "they only apply to conditions of moderate ambient temperature and moderate levels of physical activity."
In other words, variables such as heat or exercise should be taken into account when increasing water intake. When the baby or child sees their body temperature increased, they sweat and need to hydrate more often (babies breastfeeding). The same happens if the child plays sports, or if he suffers from sporadic illness such as fever or diarrhea, when he also loses more fluids that need to be replaced.
Remember, do not force children to drink water (If they do not take it, they will not need it), but do offer it often to avoid dehydration, always have water "on hand" and especially not to forget it on hot days, when we go on excursions or a physical effort is made.
)
