Baby fluid needs and tips for getting enough

Meeting the needs of fluids or drinking every day is not only necessary for adults, but also for babies. Yes, apart from fulfilling the nutritional intake of various foods, your little one's daily nutritional needs are also incomplete without the fulfillment of fluid intake. In fact, why should the baby's fluid needs be met properly and what is the ideal amount?

What is the importance of getting enough fluids for babies?

Most of the composition of the human body consists of water. That is why just like other nutrients including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, to minerals, the need for fluids or drinking for babies must also be fulfilled.

What's more, fluids are actually responsible for carrying out various body functions. These functions include the work of the digestive system, metabolism, cells, temperature regulation, and regulation of electrolyte composition.

Broadly speaking, the need for fluids or drinking in babies is considered important because it contributes to supporting the growth and development of their bodies.

Based on the page of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), children, including babies, are more prone to dehydration than adults.

This is because the sensitivity of the body of children, including babies, to thirst tends to be lower than that of adults.

Children are not even able to show properly when he is feeling thirsty. The need for fluids or drinking in the baby's body can also increase in certain conditions.

Conditions that make the baby's need to drink increase, for example when traveling far and in very hot or very cold weather conditions.

How much fluid does the baby need?

Babies born to six months of age do not need any fluids except breast milk. During this time, mothers are strongly encouraged to provide exclusive breastfeeding to babies without additional food or other drinks.

Meanwhile, for babies aged seven months to two years, the following are the daily fluid requirements based on the Nutrition Adequacy Rate (RDA) from the Indonesian Ministry of Health:

• Infants aged 7-11 months: 800 milliliters (ml)
• Infants aged 1-2 years: 1200 ml

Babies under six months of age do not have a standard daily fluid or drinking requirement. However, babies who are still in the exclusive breastfeeding period have their own breastfeeding time or schedule.

Implementing a breastfeeding time or schedule for babies who are still in the exclusive breastfeeding period is important to ensure that their breast milk needs are well fulfilled.

According to the World Health Organization or WHO, giving water to a baby who is not yet six months old puts him at risk of diarrhea and malnutrition.

This is because the water may not be completely clean, which can cause the baby to develop an infection. Not only that, providing water intake for babies who are in exclusive breastfeeding makes them stop breastfeeding sooner.

Do not rule out, this will increase the chances of babies experiencing malnutrition. However, you don't need to worry because actually more than 80% of breast milk is made up of water.

That is why breast milk is called the best food and drink for babies who are not yet six months old.

Even when they are in a very hot climate, babies who are still exclusively breastfed are still not allowed to receive water.

What are the consequences if your little one's fluid needs are not met?

If babies who are not yet six months old are not allowed to receive other than breast milk, including water, babies over six months are just the opposite.

After your little one has entered the period of introduction to complementary foods (solids), this is the time for you to meet your baby's needs for fluids or drink.

Just like adults, babies who are dehydrated can experience mild, moderate, and severe dehydration.

Pay attention if your child continues to feel thirsty, urinate infrequently or decreases in urine production, and a thick urine color can indicate he is dehydrated.

Your little one may not be able to complain directly, but they will usually seem more cranky and often thirsty.

In these conditions, do not delay to immediately bring the baby to the doctor to see the doctor so that it can be quickly treated.

Because if it is not treated immediately, the baby's body can become weaker and not enthusiastic about doing activities. Even worse, dehydration conditions that get worse without treatment can be fatal.

How do you meet the baby's fluid needs?

Meeting the needs of fluids or drinking babies actually does not always have to give him water.

Every now and then, you can try a variety of other drinks that stay healthy or provide foods with a high water content.

So, don't give up quickly if your little one seems reluctant to drink water, here are some easy tips you can try:

1. Give water a little but regularly

It's not that the enthusiasm consumes it, giving large amounts of water at once can actually make babies feel lazy to spend it.

In fact, drinking too much water at one time can also make babies feel bloated and show signs of being full so they are reluctant to eat other foods.

So, rather than handing him a bottle of teat or sippy cup full of water, you should give a little at a time.

Take, for example, provide water after eating, while he is playing, after waking up, and various other times that allow the baby to drink.

2. Make drinking sessions an enjoyable time

Children, like babies today, are very happy to see a variety of attractive colors and shapes. You can use this to steal your little one's attention so that they want to drink more water.

Try placing water in a container sippy cup or teat bottles with unique shapes and attractive colors. If necessary, add a variety of straws that are safe for babies.

Other options can also be made infused water alone at home with a variety of fruit that your little one likes.

Attractive appearance and good taste of infused water usually preferred by babies. This is because when drunk, infused water it will taste fresh, sweet, to sour depending on the fruit, vegetable, or spices used.

That way, it is hoped that this method can help attract the attention of the baby to want to drink more water than you give it in a container or an ordinary form.

3. Expand water-rich foods

In addition to plain water, help meet the baby's fluid or drinking needs by giving him a variety of foods that contain lots of water.

Some water-rich food choices that you can give your baby include:

• Watermelon, contains 92 ml of water
• Strawberries, containing 91 ml of water
• Orange, containing 87 ml of water
• Cucumber, contains 97 ml of water
• Lettuce, containing 94 ml of water
• Spinach, contains 94 ml of water
• Tomatoes, containing 92 ml of water
• Broccoli, contains 89 ml of water
• Lemon, contains 92 ml of water
• Pineapple, contains 88 ml of water
• Apples, contains 84 ml of water

You can make these vegetables and fruits into interesting dishes or mix them into plain water to make them infused water .

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