Hydration For Kids
One crucial aspect of hiking and enjoying time outside during the summer is staying hydrated. As a parent it’s important that we stay conscious of our children and the amount of liquids they are consuming. WebMD describes how kids are different than us adults when it comes to hydration, “Parents… should know that active children do not adjust to hot temperatures as well as adults. Their body surface, as a proportion of their overall weight, is much greater than an adult’s. So they produce more heat during physical activity and they sweat less than adults. This reduces their ability to get rid of body heat.”
One of my children will drink anything on the planet if it has some kind of color additive in it. But when it comes to clean and clear water he won’t swallow unless I’m hovering over him like a hawk. He has gotten better with time though and I think that has to do with the way we’ve learned to present it to him. We let him pick out his own water bottle from the store and then had him decorate it with stickers. That little bit of independence seemed to make him more excited to drink from his very own water bottle. Now when we go on hikes or to his baseball games he’s more willing to stop frequently and take a couple swallows.
We went and explored Goblin Valley in South East Utah this last summer. It is an amazing place that makes you feel as if you’re on another planet, with mushroom shaped sandstone scattering the landscape.
We were visiting in August! If you don’t already know it’s unbelievably hot there during this time of year. We decided to go during the cooler part of the day but it was still roasting. This was our setup…
It’s a good rule of thumb to take 16 floz. of water for each hour you plan to be outside in the heat. And that’s just per person. So as a family of five we had to organize ourselves a bit. We took our Kelty Kids pack that we carry our youngest child in. There is a built-in hydration reservoir on the pack which holds 70 floz. On this particular day we filled that reservoir and then we took another daypack, our favorite Lowe Alpine, which held two 32 oz. Nalgene water bottles, a Powerade, a first aid kit and snacks. So that was enough for us to stay out for about two hours. Also, waiting for us back at the car, we had two gallons of water. We try to always keep two gallons available in case of emergencies.
Watch for these signs of dehydration - dry mouth, tongue and lips, no tears when crying, sunken eyes and grayish skin, decreased urination, feeling lightheaded or dizzy, headache, fatigue, muscle cramps.
Other helpful hints
- Plan activities during the cooler part of the day.
- Have your children wear clothing made of a good wicking fabric that keeps them cool and doesn’t trap the heat.
- Kids can get the liquids they need from other things like popsicles, juice and fruit. Have them available for quick access.
Do you have any tips concerning hydration for kids?
Nalgene Water Bottles
When children play outside, usually the first necessity considered to bring along is a water bottle. With all of the talk about polycarbonate and other different types of plastics it leaves many parents wondering whether their child’s water bottle is safe.
Our three kids each have a Nalgene water bottle made of polycarbonate, which has a key element of a chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA). It is said that BPA mimics the femal hormone estrogen and has been shown to cause defective cell division during development. Nalgene presents a wealth of information including the results of several studies done on this subject on their site. It’s really worth checking out if you have any questions.
Nalgene and many other manufacturers have decided to discontinue their polycarbonate bottles. At first I thought it was because they believed them to be harmful. But as I read into it further they are simply doing it because consumer demand is weakening for that product.
Nalgene says they have reviewed the studies and tests done by several agencies, administrations and councils and they claim to have proven BPA to be safe. These studies can be found on the site I linked to above as well. To keep in step with what consumers are seeking Nalgene has decided to transition from polycarbonate to Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, a BPA free alternative.
Overall the studies say that the amount of BPA leaching into the liquid inside a polycarbonate bottle is so minimal that there is no risk involved. As a parent it’s comforting to hear that statement ”no risk involved”, but the idea of even a minimal amount going into your child’s body is somewhat unsettling.
So it seems our choices when coming to polycarbonate water bottles are either over cautious parent or trusting consumer. Which one are you?
Find BPA-Free Water Bottles at REI
Harmful Plastics
Just wanted to give you all a heads up on this study done on plastic. I heard about it on television and my friend Jennie just sent me this story. Here’s the shortcut . I found this article to be helpful also. I’ve talked alot about Nalgene water bottles on Nature For Kids. Unfortunately they are made of polycarbonate, the type of plastic that is the most harmful, according to this recent study. Check the bottom of your bottles, baby bottles included. if it has a small number 7 that means it’s polycarbonate. Read and do what you want. I’m still drinking out of mine. I just don’t put hot things inside it anymore. Later!
Find BPA-Free Water Bottles at REI
water bottle, health, safety, hiking
Packing Breastfed Babies
For the first post of Nature For Kids I’m going to break the ice by touching on an awkward subject…breastfeeding! I’ve always breastfed my babies up to 12 months of age. To me, it is the optimum way to feed a baby. All the nutrients needed, at a perfect temperature and accessible whenever necessary…making it especially convenient when packing the little rascals around in the wilderness.
While my husband hiked the South Teton about 5 years ago I was wandering the streets of Jackson Hole, WY, with our, then 8 month old, baby. Having exhausted my allotted spending money in the fun outdoor shops that line the streets, I decided to hike the local ski hill, Snow King. After filling up my Nalgene water bottle and adding a few snacks from the car, I put my son in our Kelty Kids backpack (which I probably will be referring to in many future posts…because it simply ROCKS!) and headed up the mountain. Once I reached the peak I noticed there was a man unexpectedly playing the bagpipes. So I thought I would take a seat and listen to the music, looking over the Jackson Hole valley…while nursing my son, discreetly of course. It was an awesome experience that will stick with me forever.
I’d like to add that it might be wise for a nursing mom to invest in a compact camp chair. We have a Crazy Creek and it is perfect for clipping on to a backpack with a carabiner and then whipping it open whenever you need a seat to breastfeed. I’ve used ours on several occasions, on the beach, at the top of a mountain, even just around a campfire.
Overall I would recommend breastfeeding for any mother who wants to stay in the outdoor loop.
For those of you who bottle feed I’ll pass along a few tips I’ve seen as well. When my sister-in-law is on the move I’ve seen her put a measured amount of powdered formula in a bottle. When she needs it she simply adds water from a water bottle and shakes it up. It’s more compact than toting around a whole canister of formula and it’s nice and neat.I know there are mothers out there who take their babies outside, unfortunately we’re in the minority, so leave some comments or other ideas on this subject so that we may inspire other mom’s to take part in Nature For kids
backpack, child carrier, baby backpack, breastfeeding, outdoors, adventure, mom
