Contents:
- Medical Video: Balanced Diet | #aumsum #kids #education #balance #diet
- For babies and toddlers:
- For children:
- The importance of water
Medical Video: Balanced Diet | #aumsum #kids #education #balance #diet
The balance between intake and discharge is important for health and to prevent dehydration. Children up to the age of 2 years are very dependent on the person who treats them for fluid intake. They may not be able to tell you when they are thirsty, so offering routine fluids is important.
In the first six months, your baby does not need drinks other than breast milk or formula milk. These two types of drinks contain enough liquid to stop dehydration, even in hot weather.
When your child reaches six months of age, you can give him small amounts of boiled water or bottled water (pure water, not mineral water), if needed.
Below are some facts about liquids.
For babies and toddlers:
- If your baby is under one year old, he can only be given breast milk, formula milk or water. Other liquids are not needed or recommended.
- From the age of six months you can give your baby boiled water when he looks thirsty.
- Babies and toddlers do not need fruit juice or carbonated drinks, including mineral water or soda water. Give it drink pure water, not mineral water.
- Soft drinks and herbal teas are not good for babies and toddlers.
- At the age of 12 months you can give your child pasteurized cow's milk.
- Low-fat milk is not recommended for toddlers and children
For children:
- Your child needs more and more drinks.
- Offer a drink for each meal or snack.
- As a general guide: your child needs about 1 to 1.5 liters of fluid per day. This is equal to four to six glasses of water.
- Water is the best liquid your child must drink. Water is very important for fluid balance and he must be supported to get used to drinking water early.
The importance of water
Water is the best choice because water has many health benefits and eliminates thirst without added sugar and other additives. If you are used to giving sugary drinks, your child will not want to drink plain water because they are used to drinking sweet drinks.
The following tips can help to make water the preferred liquid for your child:
- Make sure water is available and easily taken by your child. Make sure your child has an attractive drinking bottle.
- Offer water every time you eat or snack.
- Provide water at the dinner table at meal times and snacks.
- Store cold water in a water container in the refrigerator and add lemon or orange slices or a sprig of mint.
- If you offer fruit juice, offer it in a glass, not in a bottle that can be drunk throughout the day.
- When the weather is hot, freeze a few pieces of fruit in the ice mold and add this to the water at mealtime.
- Bring a bottle of drinking water while traveling with your child.
