What are the signs of dehydration in kids and toddlers?

If your child's dehydrated, it means they don't have enough water and essential minerals in their body. Dehydration can be mild and easily corrected, but it can also be moderate, severe, or even life-threatening.

"Mild dehydration is fairly common and easily treatable," says Chandani DeZure, M.D., a pediatrician, neonatal and pediatric hospitalist, and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board . "However, it's important to recognize its signs and symptoms so it doesn't progress or worsen to severe dehydration."

Dehydration happens if your child loses more fluid than they take in due to:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Burns
• Sweating too much (in hot weather, for example)
• Certain chronic illnesses, such as diabetes

Children are more prone to dehydration than adults. That's because they have diarrhea and vomiting more often, they lose a higher percentage of water and electrolytes when they sweat, and they're not as reliable about replenishing their fluids.

Signs of dehydration in kids

Any of these signs could mean that your child has mild to moderate dehydration:

• More than six hours without going pee
• Pee that looks darker and smells stronger than usual
• Thirst
• Fatigue
• A dry, parched mouth and lips
• No tears or fewer tears while crying
• Decreased bowel movements (unless the dehydration is caused by diarrhea)
• Headache
• Muscle cramps

In addition to the symptoms above, if your child is seriously dehydrated, they may have:

• Sunken eyes
• Lethargy
• Hands and feet that feel cold and look splotchy
• Excessive sleepiness or fussiness
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, weakness, confusion, or delirium
• Wrinkled skin
• Urination only 1 or 2 times a day
• Rapid heartbeat

Also, your child may be slightly dehydrated and not have any signs. If you think this might be the case (say because they've been out playing in hot weather or they've had a high fever), be sure to get them to drink fluids to ward off dehydration.

What should I do if my child shows signs of dehydration?

If your child shows signs of mild to moderate dehydration, call their doctor's office for advice. The doctor may want to see your child to make sure they're okay.

If your child shows signs of serious dehydration, take them to the emergency room immediately. Young children can quickly become dangerously dehydrated, so it's important to act fast.

If your child loses consciousness, has symptoms of heat stroke , or has a fever over 102 degrees, call 911 or your local emergency number.

How is dehydration in kids treated?

If your child is seriously dehydrated, they may need to receive liquids through an intravenous (IV) line in the hospital until they're rehydrated.

If your child is mildly or moderately dehydrated, you may be advised to give your child a special liquid to replenish the water and electrolytes that their body has lost. However, not all kids appreciate the taste of electrolyte liquids, so if your child refuses to drink them, increase the amount of liquids they normally drink and ask your doctor about alternatives. Ice pops and ice chips may be an appealing way to help rehydrate kids who are old enough to eat them.

Electrolyte liquids are available in most pharmacies. These products include:

• Pedialyte
• Infalyte
• Enfalyte
• Revitalyte
• Generic brands

Don't give your child sports drinks such as Gatorade. Although they do contain electrolytes, sports drinks have a higher concentration of sugar than the electrolyte liquids that are specifically made to help rehydrate children. This can make diarrhea worse.

Your child's doctor can give you exact directions for using electrolyte liquids, based on your child's age and weight. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also provides guidelines for treating a child with electrolyte solution.

The fluid can be given slowly – sip by sip using an age-appropriate cup, teaspoon by teaspoon, or with a spoon or syringe. The goal is to have your child take at least an ounce of liquid per hour.

If your child falls asleep during the day, wake them every few hours if they're mildly dehydrated to make sure they drink some liquids. If they're more dehydrated, wake them more often, say every hour. There's no need to wake them overnight, however. Rest is part of their recovery, says Dr. DeZure.

Also, don't worry if your child's refusing solid foods for the first 24 hours or so. Liquids are all they need to prevent dehydration, and liquids are less likely to cause vomiting if your child is struggling with an upset stomach.

How can I prevent dehydration?

First, the basics:

• Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids every day, and especially on very hot days and when they're sick. According to the AAP, children 1 to 3 years old need about 4 cups of fluids per day. Kids 4 to 8 years old need around 5 cups, and older children need 7 to 8 cups of fluids daily. If your child isn't a big drinker, try serving drinks in a fun cup or special water bottle.
• Offer water frequently. With no calories and no added sugar, water is the best drink for kids. To make it more enticing, try infusing water with your child's favorite fruits (cut them up and put them in a pitcher of water in the fridge).
• Milk – which provides nutrients along with hydration, is also a good choice. Give children ages 1 to 2 whole milk and children 2 and older skim or low-fat milk. Avoid flavored milks, because those contain added sugars.
• Some juice is okay, too. The AAP recommends limiting your child's juice intake to at most 4 ounces a day for toddlers, 4 to 6 ounces a day for children 4 through 6 years old, and 8 ounces (1 cup) a day for children 7 and older. You may want to dilute your child's juice with water.

Read more about the 13 best and worst drinks for thirsty kids .

Here's how to help prevent dehydration under more specific circumstances:

• Fever . Offer your child plenty of liquids whenever they have a fever. They may prefer an ice-cold drink, or they may find warm liquids more soothing. If they're having trouble swallowing, you may want to give them a pain medication such as children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help with the discomfort. (Never give a child aspirin , which is associated with a rare but serious condition called Reye's syndrome.)
• Overheating . Too much activity on a hot day or just sitting in a stuffy, sweltering room can lead to sweating and fluid loss. Give your child more fluids than usual during hot weather or if they're involved in strenuous activities.
• Diarrhea . If your child has an intestinal illness, especially acute gastroenteritis (stomach flu), they'll lose fluid through diarrhea and vomiting. Don't give them fruit juice. Fruit juice contains fructose, a sugar that can cause loose stools and make matters worse. Also, don't give them over-the-counter diarrhea medicine unless their doctor recommends it. Just encourage your child to drink plenty of water. If you think they're becoming dehydrated, you can give your child an electrolyte drink as well.
• Vomiting. Viruses and intestinal infections can lead to vomiting. If your child is having trouble keeping liquids down, they can easily become dehydrated. Try giving them very small amounts of fluid frequently. Again, an electrolyte drink may be helpful.
• Refusing to drink. A sore throat or ailment such as hand, foot, and mouth disease can cause so much throat pain that your child stops drinking. If this happens, give your child some children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease the discomfort. Offer them liquids frequently and in small amounts. Cold liquids may be soothing, but avoid citrus drinks such as orange juice and grapefruit juice because these could sting and burn the irritated tissues of their throat.

If your child refuses their usual favorite drinks, be flexible. Popsicles are a great alternative; they're a good source of fluids and kids usually love them. Try giving popsicles made from Pedialyte or other electrolyte replacement solutions. If your child doesn't go for those, try regular popsicles.