With the recent heatwave (what happened to spring?) in Joburg, I’m not surprised people are issuing health warnings about the dehydration, and how to prevent it. As adults, it’s fairly easy to ensure we get enough water, and most of the time our bodies will give us a cue that we do. But for babies and toddlers, it’s harder to know, plus it’s tricky to get them to drink more when they don’t want to.

Babies and toddlers are prone to dehydration as they’re smaller and more sensitive to fluid loss. When there’s not enough fluid in the body, it upsets their mineral balance, and body functions.

Signs of dehydration in babies and toddlers

• A marked decrease in the number of wet nappies
• Cold hands and feet
• Urine that looks darker and smells stronger than usual
• A dry, parched mouth and lips and less elasticity in the skin
• Fewer or no tears while crying
• Eyes and fontanelle (the soft spot on the top of the head) appear sunken
• Lethargy, excessive sleepiness or fussiness

How to treat dehydration in young children

Prevention is always best, so if a child keeps vomiting or has a tummy bug, fluid intake should be topped up regularly. As babies are so vulnerable to dehydration, parents should get medical advice if they notice any of the symptoms or are in any way concerned.

Severe cases of dehydration are usually treated in hospital where fluids and minerals are replenished via an intravenous drip. However, mild dehydration can usually be treated at home under the advice of a doctor.

Doctors often recommend an oral rehydration solution in small and frequent doses to replenish lost fluids and electrolytes.

An oral electrolyte solution like Rehidrat helps to replenish lost fluids and assist with recovery.  It’s a safe solution for babies older than three months and contains an optimal balance of sugars, salts and minerals to effectively treat dehydration and electrolyte loss due to gastroenteritis and diarrhoea.

It contains no artificial preservatives, colourants or sweeteners and is available in 3 flavours – Blackcurrant, Orange and Vanilla. The vanilla flavour is usually easily accepted by children as it is specially designed to taste sweeter. Available at Clicks, Dis-Chem and leading pharmacies for around R11.95 per sachet.