There is often so much pressure on us to get our kids to drink enough water (and on us to drink it too!) that I wanted to share some hydrating foods that you might already be serving regularly. Which means, you probably don’t have to worry so much about actual water intake!
Hydration for Kids
Did you know that most produce is over 90% water content? I didn’t either! But it’s so reassuring to know this because it can greatly reduce the pressure we feel to push cups of water.
Our bodies do need water to function well—and I definitely recommend making it available so the kids can easily access it when they’re thirsty and while they’re eating.
But honestly, I don’t think that we need to be counting cups unless we’re noticing issues (particularly on hot days) such as sluggishness or very dark colored urine. By simply making water available in a sippy cup or water bottle throughout the day and at meals and snacks, the kids will usually hit the recommended amounts.
(Plus, drinking enough water and staying hydrated can often help reduce issues such as constipation.
Speaking of which, here are the actual recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
- “At around 6 months, babies can be introduced to water. They only need about 4-8 ounces per day until they are a year old because the rest of their liquids are coming from breastmilk or formula.”
- “To stay well hydrated, children ages 1-3 years need approximately 4 cups of beverages per day, including water or milk. This increases for older kids to around 5 cups for 4-8 year olds, and 7-8 cups for older children.”
- “It should be noted that these amounts vary by individual and may need to be adjusted depending on levels of activity and environmental conditions like heat and humidity.”
TIP: Note that they include milk in their liquid recommendations, so count the milk your child drinks.
Hydrating Foods
Here are some examples of foods that contain high water content. Many of these probably already show up in your shopping cart!
- Bell Pepper
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Cantaloupe
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Grapes
- Flavored water (like Hint)
- Honeydew
- Infused water (like adding crushed fruit or cucumber slices)
- Juice (or water with a splash of juice for flavor)
- Lettuce
- Milk
- Oranges (or other citrus)
- Peaches
- Pear
- Pineapple
- Popsicles
- Sorbet
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Yogurt
- Watermelon
- Zucchini
Signs of Dehydration in Kids
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, these are the signs of dehydration to keep an eye out for in little kids:
- Fewer than normal wet diapers
- Less urination or dark urine (urine should be very light yellow, almost clear)
- No tears when crying
- Dry lips or mouth
- Sleepy and irritable
- Flushed skin
TIP: Always call your pediatrician with medical concerns.
How to Help Kids Drink More Water
If you find that the kids really don’t like drinking water, you can try:
- Flavored waters (such as Hint).
- Adding a splash of juice to their water.
- Adding crushed up fruit, or slices of cucumber, or a squeeze of lemon to it.
- Letting them pick out a special cup or fun straw.
- Put water in a reusable pouch for a novel way to serve it.
- Letting them play with water in the sink (they’ll often drink some!).
- Keep their bottle or cup nearby so they can drink as they’re thirsty.
TIP: Of course I should mention that my kids often prefer to drink out of my water bottle, so that may help too if you get super stuck!
Frequently Asked Questions
Kids aged 1-4 need about 4 cups of liquids a day, whether that’s breastmilk, water, milk, or other drinks. (Hydrating foods can go towards that goal too, and generally speaking, this is not something you need to track carefully unless there’s a medical issue.)
Keeping their water bottle in reach can be a simple way. And if they don’t like plain water, consider adding some crushed fruit, a splash of juice, and offering some of the other hydrating foods and drinks listed above.
The easiest symptoms of dehydration to recognize in kids include fewer than normal wet diapers, less urination or urine that is very dark in color (it should be very light yellow), no tears when crying, dry lips or mouth, sleepy and irritable, and/or flushed skin.
Hydrating Recipes to Try
If you want a few other ideas to add more hydration into the mix, these are delicious options.
Best Tips for Hydration
- Keep water accessible in a sippy cup or bottle throughout the day and at meals and snacks. Take it with you when you go to the playground or out to play.
- Don’t worry about counting cups, unless there’s a medical issue at play, but aim to serve and offer drinks regularly.
- Keep some of the hydrating foods listed above in the mix.
- If the color of the kids urine is darker than usual, offer additional liquids throughout the day.
- Remember that hydration is key for lessening any struggles with constipation.
- If you struggle with helping the kids do any of the above, try offering a popsicle in the bathtub or buying fun paper straws. Novelty can often help!
- You may also like my favorite Drinks for Kids, the Best Sippy Cups, and my full explainer on When Babies Can Have Water.
