SUMMARY :
- Bubble: the leak-proof learning cup for a well-hydrated baby
- Which learning cup to choose for your baby?
- Hydration for toddlers
- 7 useful and fun uses of the learning cup for drinking and playing
Water is essential for life. In children as in adults, its functions are multiple. Regulator of body temperature, it also participates in the transport of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, rids the body of the waste it produces and enters into the constitution of the blood. Water also represents 75% of your baby's weight at birth. Hydrating your baby is therefore one of the most important actions for your health, especially in summer. But how to do it, and why rely on the learning cup?
Bubble: the leak-proof learning cup for a well-hydrated baby
At Élhée, to make parenting easier for you and for the greatest pleasure of your baby, we have developed a training cup that can be used from 6 months. Ergonomic and practical, it makes it easier to move from the bottle to the glass .
Made from medical silicone, flexible, soft and unbreakable , it fits well in children's little hands, for all-terrain and risk-free use , even if it tips over, even if it falls.
Equipped with an anti-leak suction spout , it does not leak, even upside down . The training cup can therefore be used without fear in bed, in the stroller and even on the living room sofa.
Your child can take their water bottle with them everywhere, put it down, roll it, put it away, pick it up again, fill it up, drink it all and empty it, then start again . And since a well-hydrated baby is one who drinks small amounts all the time, what's better than teaching him to play with the prettiest and safest container?
As a bonus, and because Élhée values the scalability and durability of its products, all the elements — physiological pacifier, suction nozzle, ring, lid, bottle and cap — of the Round Bib and Bubble are interchangeable! It's up to you to mix and match colors depending on the outfit of the day and your desires.
Which learning cup to choose for your baby?
- The type of cup : sippy cups, straw cups or 360 cups, choose the model that best suits your baby based on their age, habits and preferences. For young children, prefer the training cup with a spout, easier to understand alongside the bottle.
- Materials: for your baby's personal tableware, choose safe and healthy materials like medical silicone, rather than controversial plastic or glass that is too fragile.
- The design: ease of grip, lightness and flexibility are serious assets for a learning cup that can be used by babies. Bubble, in addition, is unbreakable.
- The anti-leak system: an effective anti-leak system prevents spills and allows your baby to drink on his own, without getting wet. The anti-leak suction nozzle is particularly effective in this regard.
- Manufacturing: French standards for the design of childcare objects are very strict, so a learning cup made in France guarantees you a quality product for your baby. At Élhée, for our cups, as for our baby bottles, we favor the use of short circuits, the manufacturing of our products in the Rhône-Alpes region and the use of environmentally friendly raw materials .
Hydration for toddlers
Water is essential for your child's cellular and organic growth, as well as their digestive health and brain function. Sufficient and regular intake also helps babies regulate their body temperature, especially in summer.
Breastfed or bottle-fed baby, in case of risk of dehydration, the rule remains the same: before 6 months, no more feedings (the water contained in milk is enough), after 6 months, a regular intake of mineral water (in addition to breastfeeding or bottle feeding) .
Recognize the signs of dehydration in babies and children
- Dry mouth and tongue, chapped lips,
- dark circles or sunken eyes,
- drowsiness, extreme fatigue, lethargy,
- hollow at the level of the fontanelle (soft area on the top of the infant's head),
- persistent skin fold in case of pinching,
- few diapers or diapers that are not very wet,
- vomiting,
- unusual weight loss.
In older children, some symptoms are clearer and more focused, such as great thirst, dry, cold, pale skin, headaches, dizziness, and a feeling of disorientation.
When should you give your baby water?
In hot weather , the risk of dehydration in children is greater, even if the heat is bearable for you. Stay cool and in the shade, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and regularly offer your child water, even if he or she does not ask for it.
In case of fever or illness, especially diarrhea or vomiting ( even in winter) babies can quickly become dehydrated. Then offer more liquid than usual (mineral water after 6 months, additional feedings or bottles before) to compensate for this loss.
On vacation, on a trip or on the move , always make sure, before leaving, that you have enough milk and water for your baby, to prepare his bottles and to give him extra to drink if necessary.
As soon as symptoms appear, offer rehydration solutions (ORS) to your baby (they are available over the counter in pharmacies) and immediately consult your doctor or your child's pediatrician. If none are available, go to the emergency room immediately.
How much water to give your child depending on age?
Throughout the first 6 months, bottles of milk – infant or breast milk – and breastfeeding are enough to hydrate your infant . In case of extreme heat or heatwave, simply offer more feedings or more bottles. Furthermore, the French Pediatric Society indicates that water needs in children vary depending on their age:
- Up to 3 months : 150/ml/kg per day (i.e., for a 3 kilo newborn, 450 ml of water per day, covered by feedings or bottles),
- from 3 to 6 months : 125 to 150 ml/kg per day, covered by feedings or bottles
- from 6 to 9 months : 100 to 125 ml/kg per day,
- from 9 months to 1 year : from 100 to 110 ml/kg per day,
- from 1 to 3 years : 100 ml/kg per day.
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What water should you fill your baby's training cup with?
The best water for babies is mineral . In the bottle, it carries the words “suitable for feeding infants” which can be found, for example, on the labels of Évian, Mont Roucous or Volvic.
Concerning tap water, ANSES (national agency for food, environmental and occupational health safety) indicates that it can be drunk by babies and young children by following a few simple precautions:
- let a little water run before filling the baby bottle, water bottle or cup,
- use only cold water,
- regularly clean and descale the tap aerator,
- do not use filtered or softened water to avoid the proliferation of microorganisms,
- in old homes, find out about the materials used to make the pipes, which may be made of lead.
Until the age of 6 months, milk is the exclusive food of babies. It perfectly covers all their needs. Also, wait until dietary diversification (possible from 4 months) has begun to offer small quantities of water to your baby, without fruit juice or syrup. These contributions will compensate for the gradual decline in the volume of milk consumed.
7 useful and fun uses of the learning cup for drinking and playing
The learning cup has been designed to hydrate baby by making him drink easily and regularly. However, over time, it will end up being replaced by a large glass, or by a tumbler. Fortunately, the Élhée bottle has more than one trick up its sleeve. It can be used for:
- drink without spilling , from 6 months,
- hydrate baby throughout the summer, day, night and during playtime,
- carry a few ice cubes without getting wet and stay cool,
- enjoy a sip of fresh water in the bath (instead of drinking the one from the bathtub),
- develop baby's autonomy ,
- play , with other children or with dolls, stuffed animals to feed them and give them something to drink,
- grow : drink without getting wet thanks to the suction spout, carry small biscuits or compote without the suction spout, but with the lid and even, later, to store pencils or small accessories.
In addition to being lightweight, transportable and multifunctional, the learning cup is hygienic and easy to clean . As with the BibRond, simply unscrew the colored ring, remove the suction nozzle with simple pressure and remove the white ring present in its neck. Each element can thus be washed separately, by hand and without a bottle brush.
2 unstoppable tips for hydrating a baby who doesn't like to drink
Compared to milk, water seems bland. Also, if baby doesn't want to drink, you may have to be tricky.
Offer him ripe and very juicy fruits and vegetables . We think, for example, of tomatoes and cucumbers, watermelon, melon, strawberries or peaches, all very rich in water. Depending on his age, prepare small pieces, offer crushed fruit or use a feeding pacifier (also called a fruit pacifier).
The container is another ace up your sleeve . The practical and fun learning cup can be your solution. All it takes is for your child to find it beautiful, funny or pleasant to handle, and that's it.
The less hot your baby is, the less he sweats and therefore, the less risk of dehydration. Staying cool, dressing in light clothing and taking advantage of every shade will help you get through the summer better, especially if your little one isn't a big drinker.
