You don’t have to be lost in the Sahara Desert without water to become dehydrated. Mild dehydration occurs commonly in young children (and, sometimes, in adults) at home, in your back yard, and at school. In most cases a few simple steps suffice to prevent virtually all cases – and prevent the resulting health issues. […]
Appropriate drinks for active children
Sports drinks. Energy drinks. Electrolyte solutions. Carbonated drinks. Milk. What is healthy, what is not? Young children and adolescents participating in non-competitive play do not benefit from the wide variety of beverages that are heavily marketed as means to prevent dehydration and improve performance. In fact, some of these beverages are counterproductive at times. Yes, […]
Infants/Young children/Vomiting/Diarrhea/Treatment
Our previous posting was about preventing vomiting/diarrhea in infants and young children (click to review). Today the subject is treatment. Having a child with vomiting/diarrhea in your household means your defensive strategies have failed, the causative organisms (pathogens) have invaded your household, and you must tackle containment and treatment. 1. Prevent other household members […]
Infants/air travel/feedings/dehydration
My posting that has received the most comments — comments often laced with skepticism — are my statements that: In-flight dehydration is a myth; and Feeding infants frequently during air travel is counterproductive and may make them uncomfortable. Please see my answers to the skeptics. In-flight dehydration is a myth!! It doesn’t exist. Yes, it […]
Families at Altitude: How Not to Feel Low When You Are Up High
Visiting Mexico City: 7,550 feet. Viewing the Grand Canyon: 8,000 feet. Skiing in Colorado: 8,000 feet (with some slopes going higher.) Driving up Pike’s Peak: 14,000 feet. At these elevations most children run circles around their huffing and puffing parents. But some children will show symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS), and a rare child […]
Obtaining Safe Water and Other Beverages When You Travel
When you travel, drinking lots of water helps you stay fit – as long as the water is fit to drink. Being well hydrated helps counteract some of the vagaries of travel: fatigue and jet lag, altitude, and hot and cold environments, to mention a few. Minimal dehydration occurs even before you feel thirsty, subtly […]
Healthy Air Travel for Infants
There is nothing novel about infants traveling by air. They have been doing so since time immemorial, long before adults. Legend has it that they were “delivered” by storks, and were never the worse for their trips. Of course, stork flights skimmed rooftops, eliminating concerns of high altitude and accompanying ear issues, dehydration, and excessive […]