So, can children safely drink alkaline water? The short answer is yes! They can benefit from it, just like us adults. However, there are a few industry-wide recommendations about giving your children alkaline-ionised water, and if you want to make sure that your children are enjoying the most benefits to it, sticking to these recommendations is a good idea.
So, here are the guidelines you can follow to give your children alkaline water based on their age:
1. Infants
For babies and infants, breast milk or formula should be the only source of water they should be drinking till they are at least six months old. Growing children need a lot of water to grow and develop, so the fact that, until they have the necessary developmental milestones, they don’t need or shouldn’t drink any water other than breast milk or formula is a good thing.
Once they start drinking water, they should stick to breast milk as the main source of water till they are one year old. They can then transition to alkaline water with a low concentration (1.0 pH to 6.5 pH). It’s still important that you don’t let your kids get used to alkaline water as their main source of drinking water because it’s more likely to cause vomiting, and the body may reject the change.
If you’re going to give them alkaline water, it’s better to give them the commercially-available bottled water because it tastes better and is less likely to contain contaminants (compared to tap water). Also, infants are really sensitive to water temperature, so make sure you cool down the water to a temperature that will not harm your child.
2. Toddlers
For toddlers, drinking alkaline water is also fine but should be introduced along with breast milk or formula for a few months. Once the formula or breast milk is reduced, you can introduce other drinks (vegetable milk, fruit juices, and water) to your toddlers.
As toddlers are likely to be picky and don’t like the taste of water, it’s important that you don’t give them alkaline water in addition to their usual water intake. This may result in water intoxication.
3. Children
When it comes to kids, they are more mature and are more likely to enjoy the taste of alkaline water. So, instead of introducing it to your children as an additional drink, you can start them off with alkaline water as a replacement for their usual drink.
You can also encourage your kids to drink alkaline water by making them take their vitamins in water with the appropriate pH level.
4. Teens
Most teens will find alkaline water more enjoyable than regular tap water. That’s because it has a more refreshing taste and is more appetizing to drink. But, as teens are still developing, you have to make sure that the electrolytes in their blood are balanced out and that their body is at the appropriate pH level.
So, it’s good to make sure that your teens don’t drink more than 3-4 glasses of alkaline water in a day.
Conclusion
It’s safe to say that there are a lot of benefits of alkaline water for children, including the improvement of the immune system and the lowering of the risk of diabetes. These factors, along with the improving the absorption of minerals and other nutrients, can be attributed to both the increased alkalinity and the increased pH of the water.
That said, what you need to remember is that while alkaline water might be considered as a healthy alternative to regular water, it’s still water, which your children should drink in moderation. Additionally, specific medical conditions can be better managed when you consult a doctor or seek advice from a medical practitioner if in doubt.
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