Is your child getting enough water?

When a child is sick with the stomach flu, most parents know it is vital to keep them hydrated. But what about staying hydrated throughout a regular day? 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that children who drank less water also ate fewer fruits and vegetables and drank less milk. They also ate more fast food, drank more soda, and got less exercise.

As the rate of kidney stones in children continues to go up, experts are pushing to increase water intake. 

“We know what's good for us. We know, for example, that drinking a lot of fluids prevents stones but it's very hard to do that,” Dr. Gregory Tasian said. “(We're) using things like financial incentives and coaching so we can work on an individual to overcome those personal barriers to maintain a high fluid intake." 

Here are some ways to increase hydrating liquids:

• There are some foods that are extra hydrating, such as cucumbers, grapes, tomatoes, peppers, apples, and carrots. 
• Give kids their own special water bottle and teach them to fill it up.
• Lead by example.