Here's my tried and tested ways of keeping my three kids under three hydrated
I've no clue why but we've been plagued with some nasty bugs and virus's the past year within our home. My two girls had measles before they turned one, chicken pox has done its rounds, hand foot and mouth and most recently my one-year-old had bronchiolitis. And through all the temperatures, coughs, snots and spots the biggest struggle through all the illnesses was keeping my kids hydrated.
Here's my tried and tested ways of keeping my three under three hydrated the past year through all the nasty bugs we've had to endure:
- The most obvious were homemade ice pops and Mr. Freeze pops. I always have a stash of the small Coola pops; they were a heaven send recently. Even if I had to use a spoon and a fork one evening to dig one out of the back of the freezer.
- Now don't shoot me all at once as I know they may pose a choking hazard but the kids loved munching on ice cubes. It was and still is a huge novelty. They would probably sit there all day chomping away and it kept me same knowing they were the fluids they needed to get through the nasty bug and at the same time, it would be soothing their throats.
- A huge novelty as I don't offer them unless we are at a restaurant is a straw it's a winner every time when trying to get fluids into my babies and toddlers. I grab a handful in McDonald's every few months and keep them in the medicine press.
- If they are tired or have little or no energy I syringe water into their mouth every. I picked them up in the local chemist or use the ones that come with their pain relief. It's a handy one to try when you are close to giving up.
- Another don't shoot me all at one but a parent got to do what a parent got to do. I've given my kids decaffeinated tea with a generous scoop of sugar. As they don't get it when they are not sick it's a treat as such and it works wonders.
- And finally, all my kids seem to be water babies, they can always be found at the taps. So when they are sick I prop up a chair at the kitchen sink and give them cups and spoons and let them go wild. You can be guaranteed they will drink whatever hasn't hit the floor.
Written by Kellie Kearney, guest writer with Family Friendly HQ