How much water should your kid drink

A new born's body is 75 per cent fluids, while for an adult, it is 60 per cent fluids. Our body requires water for basic chemical reactions to take place. When we don't drink enough water, our bodies can't function at their best. That is why, as dehydration sets in, you start feeling fatigued. Be it the winter season or summer, it's of paramount importance to keep your body hydrated for its optimal functioning.

When we feel hot, the brain alerts the sweat glands to produce sweat. That is how the body cools down itself. If dehydrated, the body cannot sweat enough to stay cool.

Water helps regulate the bowel movements, maintain the body temperature, maintain the blood volume, lubricate the joints, prevent UTI, kidney stones and more.

We often take care of our water intake and know when to have it. But with small kids who cannot express themselves, it's tough to know if they are properly hydrated.

The amount of water kids need depends on their sex and age. Other factors on which the water intake depends is the temperature, humidity, activity level and the overall health of the person.

Here is a simple chart to guide you on how much water your kid should have, these recommendations are set of generally healthy kids who live in a moderate climate, thus might not be exact for everyone:

Boys 4-8 years - 1.1 to 1.3 litres per day

Girls 4-8 years - 1.1 to 1.3 litres per day

Girls 9 -13 years - 1.3 to 1.5 litres per day.

Boys 9 - 13 years - 1.5 to 1.7 litres per day.

The above data is from The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on how much fluid children need.

from LifeStyle