Why do Kids get dehydrated so much faster than adults in summer?

What we know best is to give them lots of water, while that is important, what we miss out is that by the time the child says “I’m thirsty”. They might already be dehydrated.

Children differ from parents in many ways. Their surface area to body weight is high, which means they lose water rapidly. When you add the high temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, the fact that kids play outside, and the fact that kids forget to take water because they are having fun, you get the picture.

What parents might be doing wrong:

1. They might be eating less, not drinking less.

A majority of the water consumed by kids comes from the food they eat. They might be eating fruits, dal, and curd rice. But when the heat is high, kids might end up eating less, which means they might be dehydrated.

2. "But they must have drunk water!"

However, gulping water down quickly when one feels thirsty does not get absorbed in the body. It is essential to teach children to sip, not gulp.

3. The urine test that no one tells you about.

If your urine is light yellow, then everything is fine. If not, let's take action. This is the most reliable test that parents can perform, but most do not.

4. Fever and summer heat:

For every single degree of fever, the body loses a lot of fluids. If your child has a fever during the peak summer months, then it's essential to ensure that they drink a lot of water.

If you're ever in doubt, then the most reliable thing to do is to consult a pediatrician. If you're looking for pediatric care near you, you can look up Lotus Hospitals

Summer should be fun. Drinking water should get you half the way there.