Keeping Your Child Well-Hydrated During Hot Summer Days

As the scorching sun of summer takes over, it's crucial to prioritize your child's hydration to ensure their well-being and overall health. While reaching for a refreshing glass of water is an obvious solution, taking a holistic approach to hydration can yield even greater benefits. In this article, we will explore various strategies and tips to keep your child well-hydrated during hot summer days.

Encourage Frequent Water Consumption

Water is the foundation of good hydration. Encourage your child to drink water regularly throughout the day, especially when exposed to heat or physical activity. Aim for several glasses of water daily.

Make Hydration Fun and Creative

Drinking water doesn't have to be boring. Infuse it with flavors by adding slices of fruits like lemon, cucumber, or berries. Create homemade fruit popsicles using natural fruit juice or pureed fruits. Offer herbal iced teas or diluted fruit juices as alternative hydrating options. Engaging your child in the process of making and choosing their beverages will make hydration exciting and enjoyable.

Optimize Nutrition

Hydration is not solely dependent on water intake. Include hydrating foods in your child's diet, such as watermelon, cucumbers, strawberries, oranges, and grapes. These fruits have high water content and are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Incorporate hydrating snacks like yogurt, smoothies, and homemade fruit sorbets. A well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables will contribute to overall hydration and support your child's health.

Be Mindful of Electrolytes

During hot summer days, your child's body loses not only water but also vital electrolytes through sweat. Electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium, help regulate hydration and maintain proper bodily functions. Natural sources of electrolytes include coconut water, watermelon, oranges, and bananas. Consider offering these options after physical activities or prolonged exposure to heat to replenish lost electrolytes.

Provide Adequate Shade  

Prevent excessive heat exposure by creating shaded areas in your backyard or at parks. Invest in a good quality sun umbrella or use natural shade from trees. Dress your child in lightweight, breathable clothing made from natural fabrics like cotton. Opt for light colors that reflect sunlight and allow air circulation, keeping them cool and reducing the risk of dehydration.

Educate and Lead by Example

Teach your child about the importance of staying hydrated and the effects of dehydration on their body. Educate them about the signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, fatigue, and dizziness. Be a role model by staying hydrated yourself and making healthy choices. Children learn by observing, and seeing you prioritize hydration will encourage them to do the same.

Back to School Covid Recommendations

In this blog, SVIPeds is providing an update on covid prevention for our children as the school season is returning. 

Data from previous variants of the Sars-2 Covid virus suggested that there was less covid transmission in younger children and therefore less transmission of COVID occurring at schools. The delta variant appears to be more virulent, meaning it spreads quicker and reproduces faster. It also appears to be targeting a younger cohort than the previous variants did so it is possible school environments may become a vector for transmission of infection.

Furthermore, most people infected with the delta variant have a higher viral load consistent with the increased virulence. This means if you become infected with the delta variant there is a higher chance of getting more sick compared to the previous covid variants.  

These are all things to pay attention to and are additional incentive to try to prevent infection to the best of our abilities.

To that end, in terms of prevention, continue with the practices that work well. Social distancing, hand washing and wearing a mask indoors while in close proximity for prolonged periods are the most effective tools for preventing COVID in our children.

Obviously eating healthily, getting enough sleep, exercising and reducing stress will always be beneficial. Please see other blogs pertaining to these topics. 

While not necessarily assured to prevent COVID, supplements that decrease inflammation and other treatments that may decrease viral load could potentially be helpful to limit the severity of COVID if you or your child becomes ill

The Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance has an adult prevention protocol based on practical experience and reviews of scientific research that may help to limit COVID 19 severity. The team is made up of critical care physicians focusing on adults, but I have adapted their scientifically based protocol to children. 

Based on this data I recommend the following supplements and treatments:

• Vitamin D3

• Vitamin C

• Quercetin

• Zinc

• Melatonin

• Twice daily nasal flushing and gargling. Increase gargling and nasal flushing to three times daily if ill.

Nasal flush with xylitol and grapefruit seed extract (Xlear), two sprays per nostril twice per day. Alternatively, dilute 1% povidone/iodine (see directions below to dilute 10% to 1%*) can be used for nasal flushing too, and would probably be more robust, but I would only utilize this if actively fighting a viral infection. 

Gargling options include 3% hydrogen peroxide, mouthwash with cetylpyridinium (scope, act, crest), listerine (natural dye free),  or 1% povidone/iodine (dilute OTC 10% to 1%*). Most mouthwashes have alcohol, so only use with children able to gargle and spit, otherwise use xylitol spray in throat.

Please find suggested dosing for the above supplements noted below. For those under 2 years old, please discuss dosage with your physician. For children over 2 years of age, start with the lower end dose and adjust for age and weight. For children above 10 years old, aim for the higher end of the dosages. 

Once your child weighs 100 lbs, please follow the adult dosing guidelines on the FLCCC website.

Quick Look Chart:

• Vitamin D3: 35 iu/lb of body weight per day

• Vitamin C: 250-500mg per day

• Quercetin 100-200mg per day

• Zinc: 10-15mg per day

• Melatonin: 1-3mg an hour or so before bedtime. Melatonin triggers the sleep process so only take before bedtime. Use of melatonin can be saved for treating an illness versus using it prophylactically.

• Xlear: 2 sprays to each nares and into back of throat. 2 times daily. 3 times daily if ill.

Unless noted, the above are preventative doses. If ill, you can double the vitamin C and zinc dosages for the week that your child is ill, if you like.

There is good data that fever increases interferon levels which is a part of your immune system that helps to fight infections, thereby helping to limit the severity of viral illnesses. Please don’t over treat fevers. Try to allow fevers that are less than 103F to run their course to support the the natural increase of the body’s interferons.

My website has links to online ordering of many chewable versions of the above through Fullscript in the Wellness Shop. Under the heading prescriptions you will find a drop down menu with protocols. The Kids COVID protocol suggestions can be found there. You can also call the office at 208-208-8889 with any questions.

Within the protocol you will find:  D-Hist Jr., a chewable form of quercetin made by Ortho Molecular. Melatonin, also by Orthomolecular, which should dissolve under the tongue. There are many liquid and chewable vitamin D and chewable vitamin C choices available. One of each is listed for your convenience. Zinc lozenges dissolve in the mouth. You can search for more options if you don’t find what you need listed.

We are always available to answer your questions as well. 

Please stay safe and we wish your children an amazing school year.

Dr. F

* How to dilute 10% povidone/iodine: 1mL povidone/iodine to 9mL of saline solution (or 1/4tsp to 2 tsp). You can add the iodine to Xlear which should increase the effectiveness.