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Singing loud enough to tell everyone…..Summer’s just begun…….

What a lovely song and of course what a lovely summer!!!  Summer means vacation time, time for fun; time to explore; time for awaiting trips and tours and many more. Exciting and with kids even more adventurous.

When we plan vacation with kids we focus on many things from packing to medication, from food to shoes, from comfort to entertainments and these concerns won’t get over until we head back. While on vacation we focus more on kids but sometimes we forget to focus on daily fluid intake of kids without knowing that that can turn out to the big mistake.

Recently I was on vacation with my 5 years old daughter. The place where we have been is quite hot compare to the place we stay. As that is our native place I didn’t think of heat and all and treated my daughter the same way I treat her at our home. Of course I focused on her food, her routine but I forgot to focus on her fluid intake. My daughter is like she won’t ask for water until you offer her and I gave her the way I usually give her at our home. But here the place was different; we visited it after a quite long so we roamed here and there too. Actually she needed more fluid than normal because of extra walking, extra physical exercise, bit change in routine and the heat but I offered her even little bit lesser than I used to. Result she got sick really sick.

Foster Feel

First few days she enjoyed there a lot and then slowly she got tired (the way she never use to be). As she is always energetic we all noticed that and tried to focus on her health by offering her more settled routine and nutritious food but the idea of water didn’t strike to me even at that time and that made it even worse. She got really sick by the time I understood and result she had to pass through all the painful medical processes like blood tests urine tests etc. and that too twice in less than 24 hrs.

Well As we are from doctor family it wasn’t that tough but still to see your kid in pain is always difficult. My most energetic all the times full on mischief girl was down, really down she couldn’t even able to seat for a minute and that made every one worried.

Well I believe when end is good all is good and so I am glad to say she is perfectly fine now and here I am writing this post to share few mistakes which I made because I feel parents should know that to avoid this kind of situation, after all learning from someone’s mistake is better than suffering especially when it’s about your kid.

• I focused on her routine; I focused on her food but didn’t focus on her fluid intake. I knew she was not taking enough fluid but I ignored I thought it is okay I will cover it up once I will be back home.
• When first time I saw her little bit low I thought it is because of change in food style, extra walk (than routine) or change in sleep pattern as normally at home I put her on bed before 8 and there she used to sleep by 10 (even though I made sure she gets her full 12 hrs sleep). I tried to fix those things and didn’t think about water intake even for a second.
• I encouraged her to explore the nature the way we enjoyed as kids rather to limit it. I allowed her to eat fruits and vegetables directly from the farm, I allowed her to drink water from well and I allowed her to play in pond either. I forgot that we were doing those because we were doing those every day and for these kids it’s all new. They are raised in different climate with different life style and so sudden change may affect them.
• When first time she complained about head ache, I thought she must be tired and she should take rest, I didn’t realize that head ache is not common in kids!!! And within just 1 hr her health got worst.

We don’t know really what had happened to her? Was it heat stroke or was it some sort of infection or dehydration (as not fully dehydrated). But we knew one thing that it’s all because of 1. She couldn’t tolerate the heat 2. Lack of fluid

With the prescribed medicine doctor suggested us to offer her lots of liquids and to put her in AC all the times with 27 to 28 degree temperature set. And that really worked just in 1 day!!!

Do you want to measure fluid intake of your kid while on vacation? Here are tips to help you :

• Keep the water bottle handy all the times.
• Offer water after every half an hour. It is okay if they take just few sips.
• Offer a small glass of juice or buttermilk with meal.
• Add juicy fruits like grapes, oranges, watermelon etc. in menu.
• Don’t forget to give water before going to bed and once they get up from the bed.
• Normal water or cold water is better than chilled one.
• If you think your kids are still not having enough fluids offer them ice or even jelly (not nutritious but it’s okay to give junk food some times).

Do you measure fluid intake of your kid while on vacation? if yes that’s really great and if no better to start now as there is never late to start a good thing.

Have A Happy Summer Have A Happy Vacation