Did you know that children lose proportionally more fluids through sweat than adults do?

As a parent who embraces organic living, one of your top health priorities this summer is proper hydration, which affects children both physically and mentally.

The following hydration tips have been provided by Dr. Jennifer Trachtenberg, a board-certified pediatrician in New York City and clinical instructor of pediatrics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine:

• Encourage your children to drink water at the age of 6 months.
• Hold off on juices until after age 1 to help encourage the taste for water as a thirst quencher.
• Try giving your children water with or after meals, as they will be thirstier after eating. Today, bottled water comes in many convenient shapes and sizes for easy portability for families on the go.
• Serve as a role model for your children by drinking water in front of them. Try to change your habits when it comes to drinking sugary or caffeinated beverages.
• Depending on their age, children need approximately 18 to 32 oz. of fluid daily, including water, 2–3 cups of low-fat milk and 4–6 oz. of 100% juice.

Photo courtesy of Nestlé Waters North America