It can be difficult to figure out if your child is getting enough water or not, because the signs aren't as obvious as feeling hot when they have a fever, or the sound of a whopping cough. But even if dehydration isn't easily obvious, it's still something to think about, especially since it can affect your child's health.
Dehydration is when the body loses an amount of water, making it hard for the body to function properly. Spotting these symptoms early on may help prevent dehydration in your child.
Here are the signs to look out for:
He lacks focus
The body needs water to produce oxygen, and since the body needs oxygen to breathe, the lack of water might make your child feel lightheaded. When your child feels dizzy, it could mean not enough oxygen is getting to his brain. He may not be able to focus on simple tasks, he may find it difficult to perform in school as well. Lack of oxygen can also lead to lack of concentration and decreased attention span.
His skin is dry
Body lotion can only do so much when it comes to making your child's skin soft and moisturized. If your child's skin has visible scratch marks from where he has touched it, your child could be dehydrated. Your child's lips can also be a tell-tale sign that he is dehydrated. Make sure your child drinks enough water during the day.
He often feels hungry
Remember that thirst is already an indication of dehydration and so is hunger. Don't wait until your child is thirsty before giving him a glass of water. When your child constantly complains that he's hungry, he could actually just be thirsty. The human body's indication of thirst and hunger are incredibly the same, so it can be difficult to tell which is which. But if you make sure your child eats on time all the time, yet he still feels hungry, it could be a sign that he's not getting enough water.
He doesn't go to the bathroom regularly
Another way of telling if your child is dehydrated or not is the amount of time he spends going to the bathroom. Water cleanses the body of harmful toxins, and if your child does not go regularly, he could be dehydrated. Your child's bowel movement will not be normal too if he does not get enough water in his system regularly. Apart from giving your child a high-fiber diet, encouraging him to drink enough water would help improve his tummy health.
Of course, to avoid dehydration, you need to make sure you give your child enough water everyday. But apart from making sure drinking water is a regular part of your child's routine, giving him clean water is essential as well. Otherwise, dirty water could give you other things to worry about other than dehydration.
The best way to make sure you're giving him clean water? Choose water that has undergone reliable distillation process like Wilkins Distilled Drinking Water. In fact, Wilkins water goes through 8 stages of purification, it's been internationally tested and certified and is even recommended by doctors – all of which will help you make sure your family drinks only safe water.
Do you know any more signs of dehydration? Share them here!
