Kids Health -- Kidney Stones

They say special things come in small packages, but I guess you could say this is not exactly always the case.

An article in the New York Times science section yesterday highlights the fact that more than ever before, kids are getting kidney stones, a painful experience usually limited to people in their middle age or older.

What struck me as a mother of three boys was that while doctors believe that there is some link to this trend with child obesity, a lot of the kids who get them are a perfectly normal weight. Another factor was the increase of plain old table salt in food marketed to children. But this did not really make me worried, because as my husband and I have been watching our own salt intake, we've cut back on buying salt laden snacks.

What struck me was that one of the big factors against children is that they don't drink enough water because either they don't have time for the water fountain, don't like going to the bathroom in school, or feel pressure not to go because it means getting permission to leave the classroom. Who would ever think I'd have to ask my kids about their bathroom habits in order to keep on top of their health!

Yesterday as I went to pick up my two youngest, Wesley (5 years) and Henry (8 years) from the park where they both have soccer practice, I couldn't help but think of hydration as I watched them run around the soccer field. As we walked home I asked them how often they went to the bathroom at school. "Never!" Wesley shrieked. "Really?" I asked. "Well.....sometimes" he admitted, "but hardly ever." "Why not?" "The boys room at school is not as nice as our bathroom mommy." "Yeah" agreed Henry.

"But don't you drink from the water fountain at school a lot?" I asked. They both shook their heads. All of a sudden I realized that for the most part, all my boys have to drink during the day is the dinky little juice box I pack them for lunch...which is what, a couple of sips? Looks like I need to buy some reusable juice containers so I know my boys are getting enough to drink!