Let’s face it. Most parents have difficulty getting their kids to drink water, especially during the summer when they’re outside playing and having fun. However, it’s important that they stay hydrated since being dehydrated can lead to heat exhaustion, headaches, nausea, dizziness, and even death in extreme cases. You should also remember that keeping them well-hydrated will help them perform better at school and sports.
If you’re new parents, you may wonder how you can get your kids to drink more water. Instilling good habits early is often easier than changing bad ones later on down the line. So, when can babies start drinking water? It’s safe for most infants to begin drinking water from around four months of age. If they seem hungry after drinking breastmilk or formula, you can offer them water instead because this will satisfy their hunger without adding calories.
However, don’t give them too much water. Try giving them no more than six ounces of water per day. Also, ensure that the water you serve them isn’t too cold. The best temperature is between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit, which helps prevent bacteria growth in the water while still allowing it to be refreshing enough for your baby.
Here Are 7 Ways To Make Sure Your Child Drinks More Water:
1. Buy Them Their Cup or Bottle
When you bring your child with you to the grocery store, let them pick out their cup or bottle. They’ll be excited about using something new and different, which will keep them interested in drinking water.
2. Set a Good Example for Them
You must do the same if you want your children to drink more water. For instance, if you live in Los Angeles, you can use a water delivery service in Los Angeles to get clean, filtered water delivered right to your door every week. If you take care of yourself, then your children will follow suit.
3. Make It Fun
Kids love games and activities. Why not take advantage of this fact by making drinking water fun for them? For example, you could have them compete against each other to see who drinks the most water over the course of a certain period of time.
4. Offer Them Fruits & Vegetables That Contain High Levels of Water
You can provide your kids with plenty of fruits and vegetables with high water levels. Apples, bananas, cucumbers, celery, grapefruit, grapes, oranges, tomatoes, and watermelon all contain between 90 and 100 percent of the recommended daily amount of water.
5. Let Them Choose What They Want To Drink
One way to make sure that your children drink enough water is to allow them to choose what they want to drink. They feel more empowered and responsible when they have a say in their decisions. Plus, they will be less likely to complain about drinking water because they will find it enjoyable.
6. Encourage Them to Play Outside
Children spend a lot of time inside during the winter and spring months. As such, they don’t always understand just how important it is to stay hydrated. But once summer comes, they’ll spend plenty of time playing outdoors, which can be used as an opportunity to educate them about staying hydrated.
7. Have Them Help You Prepare Their Meals
Give your children the opportunity to learn about nutrition and healthy eating by having them help prepare their meals. You can explain why fruits and vegetables are important and help them understand why they need to drink water to remain healthy.
Final Words
Kids need to drink lots of water to keep themselves healthy. Sometimes it isn’t easy to encourage them to drink enough water since they aren’t going to drink it unless they want to. There are many ways to make drinking water fun for kids, but one of the easiest things you can do is to set up a reward system where they earn points for drinking water.
What tips do you have for encouraging your kids to drink more water? Leave a comment below!
