Signs of Dehydration in Children

Dehydration in Kids: What Ontario Parents Need to Know

Worried your little one isn't drinking enough? Dehydration happens when your child loses more fluids than they're taking in, and it's more common than you might think. The good news is that mild dehydration is usually easy to spot and treat at home.

What's going on?

Kids get dehydrated faster than adults because their bodies are smaller and they lose water more quickly through their skin and breathing. Common causes include stomach bugs with vomiting or diarrhea, fever, lots of sweating on hot days, or simply not drinking enough fluids.

Most dehydration in children is mild and nothing to panic about. Your child's body is pretty good at telling you when it needs more fluids, but sometimes they're too busy playing or feeling unwell to listen to those signals.

What you might notice

- Dry or sticky mouth and tongue

- Fewer wet diapers or trips to the bathroom

- Dark yellow pee (should be pale yellow)

- No tears when crying

- Sunken eyes or cheeks

- Tiredness or crankiness more than usual

What helps at home

Start with small, frequent sips of fluids. Water is great for mild dehydration, but if your child has been vomiting or has diarrhea, oral rehydration solutions like Pedialyte work better because they replace lost salts too.

For babies still breastfeeding or bottle feeding, offer milk more often. Older kids might prefer popsicles, diluted fruit juice, or even soup broth. The key is little and often rather than forcing large amounts that might come back up.

Avoid drinks with lots of sugar or caffeine, as these can actually make dehydration worse.

When to worry

Head to the emergency room if your child seems very sleepy and hard to wake up, has a sunken soft spot (in babies), isn't making tears or saliva, or hasn't peed in more than 8 hours.

Contact your doctor or text Arlo if the dehydration isn't improving after a few hours of giving fluids, if your child is throwing up everything they drink, or if you're just not sure how serious things are. We're here to help you figure it out.

The takeaway

Most kids bounce back from mild dehydration pretty quickly once they start drinking again. Trust your instincts and don't hesitate to reach out for guidance.

You can always text Arlo and talk to a provider in 5 minutes!

References - [Dehydration in children](https://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/health-conditions-and-treatments/dehydrationanddiarrhea) - Caring for Kids (Canadian Paediatric Society)

- [Dehydration](https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=776&language=english) - AboutKidsHealth (SickKids)

- [When your child has gastroenteritis](https://www.ontario.ca/page/when-your-child-has-gastroenteritis) - Ontario.ca