Health in Review Now: How to Hydrate Your Active Child

Drink water or sports drinks. Water is fine, but a flavored beverage may be preferable for preventing dehydration because children may drink more of it, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Fruit juice may be fine for kids participating in lighter activity, but sports drinks are better for the more active child, says Steven Parker, MD, co-author of the 1998 edition of Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care.
Be prepared. Before training and competitions, children should be well-hydrated.
Get on schedule. Active or athletic children should drink fluids on a regular basis. Create a "fluid schedule" in which your child drinks a certain amount of fluids before, during, and after practices, games, and competitions. Children should drink more if they are working out in hot, humid, sunny conditions, or if they sweat heavily.

Drink early. By the time a child is thirsty, he or she may already be dehydrated.
Drink enough. The AAP suggests that a child weighing about 88 pounds drink 5 ounces of cold tap water or a flavored beverage every 20 minutes. Children and teens weighing 132 pounds should drink 9 ounces of cold tap water or a flavored beverage like a sports drink every 20 minutes. One ounce typically equals two kid-size gulps.
What to avoid: dehydrating beverages such as caffeinated beverages (sodas, iced tea). The caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it causes the child to lose more fluid.

Health in Review Now