When Can Babies Drink Water?
Staying hydrated is crucial to health and well-being, even for infants. As a new parent, you may be wondering when it's safe to introduce water to your baby's diet. You might know that babies have different hydration needs compared to older children and adults, but how does the whole water situation work as your baby grows?
Let's explore when babies can start drinking water and how to safely introduce it into their diet.
The First 6 Months: Breast Milk or Formula Only
For the first six months of your baby’s life, they don't need any water at all. During this time, the fluids in breast milk or baby formula provide all the hydration and nutrition your baby needs. In fact, giving water to babies under 6 months can be dangerous, as it may lead to water intoxication, which can cause seizures and other serious health issues.
Breast milk is about 87% water, while formula is specifically designed to mimic breast milk's composition with enough water content. This means that even on hot days or when your baby seems thirsty, additional water isn't necessary. Instead, you can offer more frequent feedings and make sure your baby is getting all the milk they need.
Introducing Water to Babies After 6 Months
Around the 6-month mark, when you start introducing solid foods, you can begin offering small amounts of water to your baby. This coincides with the development of your baby's ability to sit up with support and grasp objects, making it easier for them to learn how to drink sips of water from a sippy cup.
How Much Water Should My Baby Drink?
The amount of water babies should drink varies by their age, size, and stage of development. Typically, there are general recommendations that we’ll cover below. But always talk with your child’s pediatrician for personalized guidance.
6-12 Months Old
For babies between 6-12 months old, you can offer 1-2 small sips of filtered water, spread out throughout the day. Limit their water to 4-8 ounces (or ½ to 1 cup) of water per day.
Water should be given in addition to breast milk or formula, not as a replacement.
12-24 Months Old
Babies who are 1-2 years old can start to drink water more frequently as they develop. At this age, you may increase water intake to 8-32 ounces (or 1-4 cups) per day, making sure to monitor your baby’s reactions and feeding schedules.
Additionally, you can continue to offer breast milk alongside water. Some parents begin offering whole cow’s milk, which naturally contains some water as well. Your baby might begin drinking water from a sippy cup or bottle as they try solid foods.
2-5 Years Old
After the age of two, your toddler can drink water more regularly. Aim for 8-40 ounces (or 1-5 cups) of water per day. Remember, these are general guidelines and your baby’s specific needs will likely vary based on activity level, overall health, and the climate you live in.
How to Safely Introduce Water to Your Baby
When you start offering water to your baby when they’re around 6 months old, follow these tips.
Use an open cup or straw cup: This helps gradually develop cup-drinking skills.
Offer small amounts: Start with just a few sips at a time. Your 6-month-old does not need a whole cup of water.
Prioritize breast milk or formula: Continue to offer milk as the primary source of nutrition and hydration until your baby is 12 months old.
Introduce water with meals: This can help your baby get used to the taste and learn to associate water with eating and nutrition.
Use safe water: It’s generally advised to avoid giving babies tap water since there can be excess minerals contained in it. Start with filtered water, distilled water, or tap water that’s been boiled and then cooled completely if you want to be safe.
Talk with your pediatrician to ask if they have additional or personalized suggestions as well.
Good Signs That Your Baby is Getting Enough Fluids
Monitoring your baby's hydration is important. Here are some signs that your baby is well-hydrated and doesn’t need more water quite yet.
They produce 6-8 wet diapers in a 24-hour period
They have pale yellow or clear urine
Your baby seems content and not excessively thirsty
Risks of Giving Too Much Water to Babies
While proper hydration is essential, giving too much water to babies can be dangerous. Remember, water intoxication is a serious risk, especially for babies under 6 months! Water intoxication is when too much water throws the electrolyte levels in the blood out of balance, which can cause physical risks.
Symptoms of water intoxication include:
Seizures
Confusion or drowsiness
Vomiting
Irregular breathing
Muscle cramps and twitching
If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your pediatrician immediately.
Using Water for Baby Formula Preparation
If you're using baby formula, it’s crucial that you follow the instructions carefully when mixing it with water.
Use the exact amount and temperature of water specified to ensure your baby gets the right balance of nutrients safely. Never dilute the formula with extra water! This can lead to malnutrition.
Encouraging Healthy Water-Drinking Habits in Babies and Toddlers
As your baby grows into a toddler, encourage healthy water-drinking habits. You can encourage this in several ways.
Make water easily accessible: Keep a sippy cup of water within your child's reach. Only fill it with the maximum amount of water they need per day so that they don’t chug too much water all at once.
Be a role model: Drink water regularly yourself, ideally taking several sips of water at a time, frequently throughout the day.
Flavor water naturally: Add slices of fruit for a subtle flavor boost that your toddler might find more interesting than plain water.
Offer water-rich foods: Fruits like watermelon, cucumber, and strawberries can contribute to hydration.
Use fun cups: Colorful cups or ones with favorite characters can make drinking water more appealing.
When to Avoid Giving Other Beverages to Babies
While water and milk are essential for growing babies, there are some drinks you should avoid giving to babies and young children:
Juice: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no juice for children under 1 year old, as it contains way too much sugar.
Sugary drinks: Sodas, sports drinks, and sweetened waters are not suitable for young children.
Caffeinated beverages: Caffeine should not be given to children. As a stimulating substance, caffeine can significantly interfere with sleep, physical development, and nutrition.
Keeping Your Baby Hydrated and Healthy
Ensuring your baby stays properly hydrated is crucial for their health and development. Water helps regulate body temperature, aids in digestion, and supports overall bodily functions. As your child grows, teaching them to enjoy water as their primary beverage sets the foundation for lifelong healthy habits.
By following these guidelines and paying attention to your baby's cues as they become ready to drink water, you can ensure they stay healthy and hydrated as they develop.
Start tracking your baby’s feedings, breastmilk (or formula) intake, and hydration signals as you prepare to introduce water into their diet. Need help tracking everything conveniently? The Baby Connect app makes it easy for busy parents to monitor their baby’s development. Features include sleep tracking, diaper changes and potty training, medicine logs, feeding reports, and more. Try Baby Connect for free today to monitor your milk stash, keep track of feedings, monitor your baby’s fluid intake, and enjoy your happy, healthy little one!
