Medical Questions » Children Questions » Question No. 1153
| Question: | What should my daughter drink and how much water should I give her a day? |
| Answer: | Our bodies are made largely of water, so ensuring a regular supply is essential for cells, organs and tissues to function. The brain too is also dependent on water even mild dehydration can interfere with concen- tration and cause headaches. Up until the age of two, pure water is the best thing you can give your child aim to give between 1 to 2 pints of boiled or filtered water each day. But•don' t wait for your child to ask by the time she registers she is thirsty, she is already dehydrated.
A diet rich in fruit and vegetables will also pro- vide water in a very available form, so make sure your child eats five or more servings each day. But don' t be tempted to give juice - fruit juice is rich in natural sugars but low in fibre (as the flesh and skin have been removed), so can cause a sudden energy surge as well as harming developing teeth. Your child only needs to drink water or milk for the first few years, then can also have juice diluted with 50 per cent water. By this stage, she will also be used to drinking water and so should continue the habit through life. |
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