Hello,

I would like to ask whether it might help to let the children drink according to their needs for a few days, so they become thirsty and start drinking more plain water? I have children aged 5 and 2, and if I didn't keep urging them, they wouldn't even drink 200ml in a day. It's a different story when I give them juice or squash; they will drink a glass in one sitting. Or when they have a feverish illness or in the summer, I buy them flavored children's water (kubík, hello). I'm sure they drink 700ml a day then. But I assume consuming those isn't a complete win either.

Due to their sweet taste, children always drink more sweetened beverages than unsweetened ones. This is conditioned by a relatively strong emotional relationship to the sweet taste and, simultaneously, physiological reactions to blood sugar levels, which affect brain chemistry. A child goes through various developmental phases where they gather experiences, which is absolutely crucial for their future life. Therefore, it makes no sense to completely isolate them from sweets, but, on the other hand, it is necessary to systematically control their intake. As parents, we hold both moral and legal responsibility for their upbringing and education, which includes an approach to nutrition. This implies that it is simply necessary to monitor at least the basic aspects, but always in a way that does not cause unnecessary stress for the child. Measuring the exact volume of consumed liquids is not necessary. If sweetened drinks are to be part of the hydration regimen, always prefer diluted pressed juices, as you can be sure they do not contain additives and there is no risk of added sweeteners. However, overall, plain water should always dominate.

Considering that a child's sweat glands are not developed to the same level as adults', they do not have the same sensitivity to thirst as an adult does, and there are also no significant fluid losses. Allow children to drink the amount of fluids they demand, and occasionally encourage them to drink more if necessary. However, never turn it into a "mechanical" system, as any form of pressure on the child may backfire in the future (noting the continuously growing number of adolescents affected by eating disorders).

Themes:  Weight loss   Water