4 Methods to Get Children to Drink Extra Water
Kidney stone disease in youngsters is a serious well being concern. Childhood charges of stone illness have elevated dramatically within the final 20 years.
There are a number of causes of kidney stones, together with genetic circumstances, environmental elements, and dietary habits. Kidney stones can result in many well being issues corresponding to elevated ache, decrease high quality of life, and the necessity for surgical interventions. Subsequently, it is extremely essential to successfully deal with youngsters who’ve kidney stones.
Consuming Water Is an Essential Step in Stopping Kidney Stones
Happily, there are lots of methods to forestall the development of kidney stone illness. Probably the most essential remedies, whatever the particular reason behind kidney stones, is to drink a big quantity to fluid every day. And water is usually all it takes. Fancy sports activities drinks aren’t wanted and sweetened drinks, corresponding to cola and punch, can truly be detrimental.
Dad and mom typically ask me how a lot their youngsters needs to be ingesting every day to forestall kidney stones from forming. It’s completely different for each child, and it could change for a similar child primarily based the exercise degree and surroundings. One of the simplest ways to guage in case your youngsters are ingesting sufficient is to have a look at their urine. If it’s darkish yellow, they’re not getting an enough quantity to forestall kidney stones.
Calculating How A lot Water Kids Want
Basically, right here’s a fast, straightforward approach to determine the minimal each day quantity for teenagers. I multiply six ounces by the kid’s age in years. I normally max them out at 13 years, or 78 ounces. Nonetheless, this needs to be thought of as a place to begin for enough fluid consumption, and better portions could also be wanted. In my expertise, youngsters usually aren’t ingesting sufficient every day, and oldsters are sometimes challenged to search out methods to extend fluid consumption. So how are you going to assist them drink extra? Listed below are a couple of ideas I relay to my sufferers and households:
4 EASY WAYS TO GET YOUR KIDS TO DRINK MORE WATER
1. HAVE IT READILY AVAILABLE
Kids love independence. Enable them to get it themselves – both by a water dispenser in your fridge or in easy-to-reach dispense jugs in your counter. Children who’re too younger to get the water themselves might get pleasure from having their very own water bottle that they’ll seize off the desk. It’s possible you’ll simply want to assist them fill it up.
2. BE A GOOD EXAMPLE
In the event that they see you ingesting water, they’ll be extra probably to take action as nicely. Everybody within the household can have their very own water bottle to refill all through the day. In the event you’ll be out through the summer time – freeze them in a single day and also you’ll have ice water prepared, which is able to keep cooler outdoors.
3. LIMIT THEIR CHOICES
In an excellent situation, youngsters will drink water as a result of it’s the one factor they’re used to ingesting apart from milk. Attempt to keep away from giving them punch, soda, different sweetened drinks, or solely as a deal with on particular events. In truth, these kinds of drinks can result in a better threat kidney stone formation.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) just lately up to date their suggestions associated to juice. Kids underneath one 12 months of age mustn’t drink any juice. For older youngsters, the utmost each day consumption of 100% juice merchandise needs to be 4 ounces for kids ages 1-3 years, 4-6 ounces for kids ages 4-6 years and eight ounces for these 7 years and older. There may be additionally a really robust case for watering down the juice that youngsters obtain as nicely.
4. MAKE IT FUN
Consuming it doesn’t need to be boring and it doesn’t need to be flavorless. What we’re attempting to forestall is added sugar, not added style. Add contemporary fruit to their water! Lemons, oranges, strawberries, kiwi, blackberries, blueberries, are all good selections. In truth, pure lemon juice may very well assist forestall kidney stones from forming. You may add them straight to the water for style, or freeze them in ice cubes for a splash of shade and a delayed burst of taste!
The multidisciplinary Stone Center at Cincinnati Kids’s makes use of a collaborative method for kids and adolescents with stones within the urinary tract. Our pediatric urologists supply all types of state-of-the artwork minimally invasive kidney and bladder stone remedies.
To study extra about our Kidney Stone Center, or to schedule an appointment, please name 513-803-ROCK (7625).
