Tips for Keeping Children Hydrated

Tips for Keeping Children Hydrated (It’s Easier Than You Think)

Kids need to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated—especially if they play sports, games, or run around, and especially in hot weather. Much like adults, by the time kids actually feel thirsty, their bodies are already dehydrated. Kids aren’t always vocal about needing water (because they are busy being kids). That’s why having convenient access to water is so important for kids. Plus, it makes getting them to drink that much easier.

Increasing water intake can drastically improve wellness and well-being. Perhaps most importantly for parents, water helps your kid regulate energy and mood throughout the day. It also aids in digestion, blood circulation, cognitive function, healthy weight maintenance and more.

How Much Water Should Your Child Be Drinking?

If you have a kid or you care for children, you’ve probably wondered how much water they should be drinking every day.

HealthyChildren.org, from The American Academy of Pediatrics, says babies need only about 4-8 ounces per day until they are a year old, since most of their liquids come from breastmilk or formula. For a child’s daily water intake on a “normal” day, they recommend the following:

Kids 1-3 years old: approximately 4 cups of beverages per day, including water or milk
4-8-year-olds: around 5 cups
Kids over 8 years: 7-8 cups

If their day is more active, increase their water intake.

4 Tips for Getting Kids to Drink More Water

Looking for a few simple ways to make daily hydration a habit for kids? See our 4 helpful hydration tips for kids below:

Make it a Habit

Making water the go-to beverage for the entire family is an easy way to incorporate hydration into a child’s daily routine. Serve water at mealtimes instead of juice or soda. Dilute sugary drinks with water and ice. And get kids in the habit of drinking water before, during, and after physical activity.

Mix it Up

If plain water is too bland for your little one’s taste buds, shake things up by adding slices of their favorite fruit. Sliced strawberries, oranges, fresh cucumber and even mint can add a fun and flavorful spin on plain water. You can even let them select their favorite fruits to add.

Make it Easy

From their nightstand and gym bag to their school backpacks and in your car, having easily accessible drinking water wherever you go makes hydration a constant, rather than an afterthought. Reusable water bottles make it easy for kids to bring water to school and play dates, while hydration backpacks (like the CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. 50oz Hydration Pack) can go with them on bigger adventures.

Make it Fun

Colorful kids water bottles in fun and animated designs? Yes, please! Getting the kiddos to drink water is easier with kid-friendly hydration gear, like water bottles and hydration packs. With so many bottle styles, colors, and sizes available, every kid can find the perfect hydration gear to fit their style.

Reusable Stainless Steel and BPA Free Plastic Kids’ Water Bottles

Kids hydration gear has come a long way since your ET lunchbox thermos.

Vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottles are popular with wellness enthusiasts, athletes, and anyone passionate about reducing single-use plastics. Featuring double-walled construction, stainless steel water bottles are designed to retain the temperature of whatever you’re drinking—cold drinks stay cold and hot drinks stay hot for hours. Other benefits of stainless-steel bottles and drinkware include durability and affordability.

BPA-free plastic water bottles are another popular option when looking for easy-to-clean and lightweight hydration gear for kids.

Just like stainless steel bottles, BPA-free water bottles are durable and reusable, so they’re better for the environment. They may not have the same temperature retention capabilities as stainless-steel water bottles, but their lightweight design makes plastic bottles great for travel, sports, and more. Plus, bottles in CamelBak’s Tritan™ Renew hydration collection are made of 50% recycled material.

When habits, mindset, and gear align, hydration can be an easy thing to incorporate into your children’s health and wellness routine. We aim to make hydration fun and easy, with water bottles and hydration gear for the whole family.

Explore bottles in cool designs with all the bold pops of color kids love—along with the solid durability (to withstand the multiple drops and spills) and functionality they need in a water bottle. Shop kids bottles now!