Dehydration can happen to everyone, but the unfortunate truth is kids are more prone to dehydration. Why is that?

1. Children have a higher body water to body weight percentage than adults

2. Have faster metabolisms

3. Higher body surface area to body mass ratio

4. Depending on age, they may rely on adults for access

More than 50% of children and teenagers in the U.S. are not properly hydrated. According to a nationwide study from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 54.5% of participants in the study had urine concentrations that indicated they were below the minimum threshold for their daily water intake. 

Children are more likely to become dehydrated than adults because they lose more fluid quickly. It doesn’t help that children don’t have a developed thirst mechanism and, in most cases, can’t identify the issue and subsequently are unable to communicate that they are in need of water.

In order to support growth and child development, it is imperative that kids are adequately hydrated. While mild dehydration isn’t life threatening, it can result in cognitive impairment, headaches, and nausea due to the loss of key fluids, electrolytes, salts, and vitamins that support bodily functions. Severe cases of dehydration can lead to kidney damage, brain damage, and even death. 

In addition to dehydration, children, as well as pregnant women and the elderly, are also more susceptible to illnesses from contaminated water. They can have weaker immune systems and are more vulnerable to the effects that contamination can cause to their development.

Recognizing signs of dehydration early is key; by the time kids register that they are thirsty, their bodies may already be dehydrated. There can be many signs of dehydration, but here are a few common signs that you may be able to spot:

• Dry tongue, mouth, and/or lips

• Fatigue and/or irritability 

• Headaches

• No tears when crying

• Sunken eyes, cheeks, and/or soft spot on top of an infant's head

• Low urine output and/or dark urine 

• Heightened heart rate, shortness of breath, and/or dizziness 

• Excess lethargy 

Research shows that even mild dehydration can have an impact on children’s mood, energy levels, and concentration. A study on children 7-9 years old in a school setting found that poor hydration was linked with a variety of physical and mental struggles, including:

• Anxiety

• Depressed mood

• Difficulty concentrating and staying on task

• Fatigue

• Headaches

• Poor short-term memory

• Short attention span

You can learn about more symptoms as well as the benefits of hydration here.

Water is the best drink to give babies and children; however, it is essential that the water they are drinking is reliably free from harmful contaminants. 

This is especially true for those who source their drinking water from a well. Private wells are not federally regulated, therefore it is imperative that well owners regularly test their water for contaminants. Studies have shown that children drinking water sourced from private wells tend to have a 25% increased risk of high concentrations of lead in their blood compared to those who drink municipal water.

Some contaminants that are ingested from drinking contaminated water may pass from mother to baby during pregnancy and result in low birth weight or birth defects. Formula-fed babies are at a higher risk of exposure to contaminants, which is why it is important to test the water that you use when preparing baby formula. 

At any given point, there could be hundreds of contaminants hidden in your tap water – contaminants that can have adverse effects on the health and safety of the babies and children drinking it. Examples of a few contaminants and the associated health risks are listed below: 

• Nitrates: Low levels of nitrate exposure results in potential increased risk of respiratory infections, thyroid dysfunction, reproductive issues, and certain cancers. In severe cases, it can lead to methemoglobinemia (also known as blue baby syndrome), which is a condition that reduces the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen resulting in a blue discoloration of the skin. Bottle-fed infants under six months old are at the highest risk of blue baby syndrome. 

• Lead: Any level of lead exposure is harmful. Lead exposure can lead to damage to the brain, kidneys, and nervous system. It can also slow development or result in learning, behavior, and hearing problems for children. 

• Arsenic: High levels of arsenic may lead to reduced intelligence in children and increased risk of cancers in the bladder, lungs, and liver. Arsenic can potentially cause diabetes, heart disease, and skin problems. 

Ultimately, it is key that the water you are giving your children (and drinking yourself!) is clean and safe to drink. Rest assured, Clearly Filtered offers advanced filtration systems powered by our breakthrough Affinity® Filtration Technology that is proven to protect you from up to 73x more dangers than typical store-bought filters. Our unique approach stands out as a simple point-of-use solution adept at removing up to 99.96% of the aforementioned contaminants, as well as hundreds more. 

To learn more about the contaminants hiding in your water, head to our Common Contaminants page. To ensure that you and your loved ones are protected from those same contaminants, shop our premium line of water filtration systems for clean and safe drinking water you can count on.

While access to clean and safe drinking water is of the utmost importance, ensuring that kids are consistently drinking water is key. 

Here are some healthy hydration habits that you can teach your kids to combat dehydration:

1. Teach the importance of water. Instilling the value and need of water at a young age will help the child to understand how essential water is for their health.

2. Children learn by watching. Its critical that from an early age you not only teach your child the importance of water, but also set a good example yourself. Children naturally mimic and imitate adult's behavior.

3. Encourage hydration. Verbally encouraging your child to drink more water guides children into healthy hydration habits.

4. Make sure water is always available. Filtered tap water and filtered water bottles are easy ways you can make sure your children always have clean and safe water on hand.