ABSTRACT
A new-born baby requires a very high volume of fluid relative to its size, 150 mls/kg/day, whereas a sizeable teenager may require only 30 mls/kg/ day. Also babies and young children need frequent feeds and do not tolerate starvation well. There must, therefore, be careful attention to both the amount and type of fluid given to young children intravenously, which includes the amount of salt and the amount of sugar the child receives.
