Dehydration: Drinking Enough Fluids (Babies and Young Children)

Topic Overview

When your child is not feeling well, he or she may not want anything to drink. This may happen if your child has a fever or diarrhea or is vomiting. It is important that your child drink enough fluids to avoid dehydration.

Not drinking enough fluid can cause constipation. When the weather gets hot or when your child is getting more exercise, he or she needs more to drink.

Use the following table to determine how many 8 fl oz (240 mL) bottles or cups of fluid your healthy baby or child needs each day.

Keep track of how much your child drinks and urinates when he or she is ill. Remember that children may need to drink more when they have a fever or diarrhea or are vomiting.