How to prevent dehydration in your baby
As a mother one issue I constantly struggled with was keeping my baby well hydrated. My baby getting dehydrated was one of my worst nightmares. From her infancy to pre-schooling age, she faced this problem a couple of times. Fortunately, as she continues to grow, this problem has become less intense. I will share the experience of the hardships both me and my daughter had to go through over the time. Before anything, I’d like to clarify, I am not a doctor, so I will share some general remedies – basically what really worked for me. I would urge you to consult your pediatrician if you feel your baby is feeling more discomfort due to dehydration.
First of all, I would like to remind all mothers reading this that dehydration is not a summer-related problem. As winter is looming, babies are more prone to diseases for weather change. Among these, dehydration can be a problem as well. When the air is dry, your baby’s skin’s level of moisture tends to reduce faster. So you have to stay alert and constantly check if your baby is getting an adequate amount of hydration or not.
When my baby was under 6 months, she had faced issues related to dehydration. She was not playful and started to cry frequently. At one point, I noted that she was not urinating timely. That’s when I realized she was not feeling well. I can remember the particular transition time of summer and winter when she faced this problem. I would advise you to dress your baby in cotton and soft clothes at that time. Don’t overdress your baby and don’t cover him/her with blankets if the temperature is not that low. Try to understand from her body language how she is feeling. And of course, don’t stop breastfeeding your baby. My baby was quite used to breastfeeding and I did not stop it. Another thing is of course, you should keep an eye on how many diapers your baby requires. If he/she has fewer wet diapers than before, this is maybe a sign that your baby needs more fluids.
As your baby grows up and gets used to eating solids, you can think of making your baby drink more water. If your baby likes fruit, regularly provide them with juicy fruits like oranges, lychees, strawberries. Try to offer the whole fruits and not just juice. Many fruits are naturally enriched with water and fibers and these are very good for your baby’s balanced diet. Another thing that is helpful for your baby especially in winter is hot or cold soup. It keeps the baby hydrated and at the same time adds to their daily intake of nutrients.
When my baby started preschool I had newer problems. My baby did not depend on breastfeeding anymore and started to eat like adults. Like my baby, all babies are more active and playful as they grow up. Try to actively feed them more water and fresh fruits. Try to develop a habit where they independently drink water at regular intervals. Normally kids at this age drink as much as their bodies need, so just keep a check that everything is under control.
Last, but not the least, make sure that your baby has no dizziness, headache, weakness, dryness on the skin or any kind of irregularities. If any of these happen, consult your pediatrician immediately. Dehydration needs treatment and you should not take it lightly.
