How to make baby drink water: Age Recommendations and Hydration Tips

Age Recommendations and Hydration Tips

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While it seems unnatural to not provide water to your little ones early on, there’s legitimate evidence as to why babies shouldn’t have water until they’re about 6-months old.

The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that babies that are breastfed don’t need additional water, as breast milk is over 80 percent water and provides the fluids your baby needs. Children who are bottle-fed will stay hydrated with the help of their formula.

Assuming that your child is feeding well, either through breast milk, formula, or both, their hydration status shouldn’t be a cause of concern.

Giving your baby water before six months isn’t recommended for the following reasons.

1. Water feedings tend to fill up your baby, making them less interested in nursing. This could actually contribute to weight loss and elevated bilirubin levels.
2. Providing water to your newborn could result in water intoxication, which can dilute the other nutrient levels in the baby’s body.
3. Too much water causes their kidneys to flush out electrolytes, including sodium, leading to imbalances.

When your little one is at the stage where you’re introducing pureed solids, water could also be introduced.

According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), once solids are introduced around 4 to 6 months, a baby’s milk intake reduces from a range of 30 to 42 ounces per day to around 28 to 32 ounces per day.

It all depends on how solids are introduced, what kinds of solids are introduced, and how often they’re being consumed. The goal for babies between 6 and 12 months is to ensure adequate nutrition intake and overall growth.

In order to effectively achieve this, introduce solids slowly and in multiple exposures. It’s acceptable to supplement with water at this time. However, assuming adequate formula or breast milk intake, your child may not need more than 2 to 4 ounces of water over a 24-hour period.

Water is traditionally introduced through a sippy cup. In this time period, as your child becomes more active, you may find that providing additional water in occasional instances is helpful.

Buy: Shop for a sippy cup.

Once your child is 12-months old, their milk intake will reduce, ideally to a maximum of 16 ounces per day.

At this stage, you may have established a routine involving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while introducing a variety of new foods. Due to the increased activity of your child, the reduced milk intake, and the varied food intake, water intake will naturally increase.

The CHOC Children’s hospital in Orange County, California recommends that a 1-year-old gets approximately one 8-ounce cup of water every day.

This amount increases each year. The number of 8-ounce cups an older child consumes each day should correspond with their age (up to a maximum of eight 8-ounce cups per day). For example, a two-year-old should consume two 8-ounce cups per day.

Staying hydrated can help your child have proper bowel movements and replenish any lost fluids.

For most children, all you need to do is provide frequent access to water and they will drink enough to meet their needs. If you seem to have trouble encouraging your child to consume water through a sippy cup, try these additional tips to ensure adequate hydration.

Encourage small, frequent sips

Offer small amounts of water throughout the day. Your child will be hydrated but not full from other fluids, which may affect their meal intake.

If you use diluted fruit juice, limit their intake to 4 ounces of pure juice per day.

Make fluids fun

Young kids seem to be intrigued by colors and shapes. You could use colorful cups and fun-shaped straws so that your little ones are excited about consuming water.

Buy: Shop for cups and straws.

Be mindful of weather and activity

Kids aren’t able to regulate their body temperature as easily as adults, so it’s harder for them to recover and cool off. Encourage fluid intake before, during, and after activities.

As a guideline, encourage at least 4 ounces of fluid every 20 minutes, or whenever a break happens. An ounce of water is equal to about one “gulp” from your little one.

Incorporate water-rich foods

Foods such as soups or fruits such as watermelon, oranges, and grapes are rich in water. You can also flavor water with lemon, lime, cucumber, or oranges to make it fun and tasty.

Your baby may be ready take their first sip of water at six months. However, it’s important to realize that newborns, infants, and toddlers have very different hydration than from adults.

What we’d expect ourselves to do in hot weather or during activity is quite different from what they would be encouraged to do. As long as you pay attention to your child’s activity and give them plenty of access to water after age 1, you’ll make appropriate decisions.

Anita Mirchandani, MS, RD, CDN, received a BA from NYU and an MS in clinical nutrition from NYU. After completing a dietetic internship at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Anita became a practicing registered dietitian. Anita also maintains current fitness certifications in indoor cycling, kickboxing, group exercise, and personal training.

When can babies drink water and how to offer it

Updated Oct 10, 2022

Drinking enough water is essential for optimal health and well-being. Babies have the largest percentage of body water, about 78% at birth. By 1 year of age, that amount drops to about 65%. 

But what does this mean for babies? Should they be drinking water throughout the day like the rest of us? The answer is — it depends! Keep reading to find out when it is appropriate to start offering your baby water and how much they need.

IN THIS ARTICLE:

• Why is it important for babies to drink water?

• When can I introduce water to my baby?

• How much water should babies drink?

• How should I offer water to baby?

• What are signs of dehydration in babies?

• Water for babies FAQ

Why is it important for babies to drink water?

Drinking water is important for everyone, including babies, since it has so many vital functions in the body. Water helps to carry nutrients throughout the body, lubricate joints, and regulate digestion and body temperature. As adults, we usually think of meeting our water needs by assessing the amount of water we drink each day. However, babies meet their needs a little bit differently. More on that below!

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing water for babies from the age of 6 months, although breastmilk or formula will remain their main beverage until they reach 1 year. After that, water is the best-choice beverage alongside plain cow’s or nondairy milk. 

When can I introduce water to my baby?

Babies can begin to have small amounts of water when they start solids at around 6 months of age. Offer a few sips of water from an open cup or straw cup at mealtimes. Any water your baby drinks at this age is meant to get them used to its taste and introduce the skills needed for cup drinking. It is not intended to replace breastmilk or formula, which still provides all the water your baby needs. 

Babies younger than 6 months should not be offered water or any other fluids besides breastmilk or formula, which is sufficient, even on hot days. Introducing water too early or diluting formula or breastmilk with water can be dangerous for your baby because it affects the balance of electrolytes in the blood and can lead to seizures. 

How much water should babies drink?

Water needs may vary quite a bit from baby to baby as well as from day to day. Factors such as the weather and activity level can impact hydration needs. Additionally, high water-containing foods such as fruit, vegetables, and soup can also contribute to water intake. 

The best way to know if your baby is adequately hydrated is to watch their diapers. Babies should have at least 6 wet diapers a day to indicate they are adequately hydrated. If you aren’t seeing that, watch for other signs of dehydration and talk to your baby’s pediatrician. 

Use the table below as a general guide, and visit Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids for more expert information from leading health organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the American Heart Association.

0 – 6 months	6 – 12 months	12 – 24 months
None	4 – 8 oz	8 – 32 oz
Breastmilk and/or formula provide enough fluids.	Serve a small amount at mealtimes once solids are introduced.	Serve at meals and snacks, as well as throughout the day.

How should I offer water to baby?

• At meals and snacks

Start by offering your baby small amounts of water at meals and snacks. This allows your baby to get used to the taste of plain water and start developing cup-drinking skills. It’s best to keep water to about 1 – 2 oz at a time, so it doesn’t displace breastmilk or formula. Stay with the lower end of the range until your baby is taking larger meals.

• In a cup

Offering water in a cup helps babies build lifelong skills such as drinking from a cup or straw. Make sure to choose appropriately-sized cups — they need to fit into small hands — and don’t be afraid to help them! Start with small amounts of water and work your way up as baby masters drinking from a cup.

• Consider foods

Fruits, vegetables, and anything that is liquid at room temperature, like soup or popsicles, all contribute to your baby’s overall water intake. Sometimes it may feel like your baby isn’t consuming a lot of liquid, but when you also take a look at their food intake, you may realize they are getting more than it appears. 

Making smoothies or popsicles at home is a fun way to offer water as well as to try new fruits and vegetables. They can be especially useful for babies who need extra calories or nutrients because you can pack a lot in a small amount of volume. 

• Throughout the day 

When your baby turns 1 year old, you can begin to have water available more frequently throughout the day. Place a cup out in the kitchen or playroom and let them know they can drink as needed.  

Dehydration can be dangerous for a baby and severe cases may require hospitalization. If you suspect your baby might be showing signs of dehydration, it’s best to call your pediatrician right away so they can guide you on what’s best to do. 

Note: conditions such as vomiting and diarrhea put your baby at increased risk for dehydration. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the following are signs of dehydration: 

Mild to moderate dehydration:

• Less activity than usual

• Less than six wet diapers a day 

• Less saliva or cracked lips

• Fewer tears when crying

• Sunken soft spot on the head

Severe dehydration (all the symptoms listed above, plus):

• Very fussy or overly sleepy

• Sunken eyes

• Cool, discolored hands and feet

• Wrinkled skin 

• Only 1 or 2 wet diapers in 24 hours

• Dry tongue and mouth

• No tears when crying

When should I introduce a cup?

Babies can begin using a cup at about 6 months when they start to eat solids. Most feeding experts recommend starting with an open cup or a straw cup as these help to strengthen the muscles used for eating and chewing. Babies will continue to develop their cup-drinking skills through to toddlerhood.

Water for babies FAQ

Q: Can babies have too much water?

A:

Yes, babies can have too much water, and those under 6 months are at an increased risk. Once babies are eating solid foods, it is rare, but it can happen. You can avoid water intoxication in babies by following proper guidelines for introducing water and giving them an age- and activity-appropriate amount. Additionally, do not dilute formula or breastmilk with water.

Q: When can you start giving water?

A:

Babies can begin to drink small amounts of water with meals when they start solids around 6 months.

Q: Do breastfed babies need more water than formula-fed babies?

A:

No, breastmilk is about 87% water, and formula is regulated and made to resemble breast milk. So there is no reason breastfed babies would need more water than formula-fed babies. After 6 months of age, all babies who have been started on solid food should follow the same water guidelines, regardless of whether they are receiving breastmilk or formula.

Q: Is tap water bad for babies?

A:

Generally, tap water is safe for babies. However, it’s best to check to see if your tap water contains fluoride. Using fluoridated tap water to mix formula all of the time increases the risk for dental fluorosis, characterized by faint white markings on their teeth. To reduce the risk, use low- or no-fluoride bottled water to mix formula some of the time. You may also want to verify the safety of the water source before consuming it.

Q: Can babies have sparkling water or flavored water?

A:

It’s best to stick with plain water for babies. This helps them learn to like the taste of plain water before other beverages are introduced while avoiding any additives, sugar, or dissolved minerals that may not be suitable for babies.

Q: How do I know if a baby is drinking enough water?

A:

If your baby has at least 6 wet diapers a day, they are adequately hydrated. This means they are getting enough fluid (including water) from all sources: breastmilk, formula, water, and food.

Q: Is it ok if I serve water in a baby bottle?

A:

It’s best to offer baby water from a cup, if possible. This allows your baby to build important cup drinking skills and helps prevent your baby from consuming too much water. It’s easier to drink from a bottle, which may cause them to drink too much, thus displacing breastmilk, formula, or food with water unintentionally.

How to teach a child to drink water?

Children’s refusal to drink water can confuse any parent. How long does it take to instill such a habit in a child? How to make drinking water a fun activity if “water doesn’t taste good”? These and other questions are answered by nutritionist Yulia Bachurina.

Question. The child does not drink water at all. I’m already scolding and begging, but he doesn’t. What to do?

Answer. Drinking water is a vital habit. Without water, the brain works worse, vitamins and minerals are poorly absorbed. But this information will not make the child drink water more often, so the task of the parent in such a situation is to make drinking water more fun. On average, it takes 1–1.5 months to develop such a habit. nine0003

How to teach your child to drink water:

• Eliminate sugary drinks such as juices and sodas from your child’s diet. If the child is already used to them, reduce their number gradually and replace the most harmful ones first. For example, instead of cola – dried fruit compote.
• Ensure that drinking water is always available to the child. If water at your house is in the far corner of the countertop in a heavy jug or in another place where the child cannot get it himself, then he will not have the desire to go for it. You can offer the child his own bottle of water, which will always be with him. nine0016
• See to it that the habit of drinking water, even if only in small quantities, becomes regular in the child. For example, once every 15-30 minutes. To do this, you can set a special timer.
• Make drinking water fun. For example, put berries on the bottom of a glass: this is how water acquires a pleasant taste, and the process arouses interest. Freeze juice in the form of ice cubes of bizarre shapes, and the child will become interested in what is happening. You can try to give him water from a beautiful bottle with a straw or show how the taste of water changes if you add a slice of lemon, mint, basil or tarragon. nine0016

Ask your question to Mel, and the editors will find someone who can answer it. Write to our social networks – we read all the messages on the pages in VKontakte and Odnoklassniki. Answers will be published in order of priority in the “Question – Answer” section. By the way, we do not disclose names, so questions can be anything (feel free!).

Cover image: Africa Studio / Adobe Stock

How do you get your child to drink water?

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, if we talk about very young children, then for forums for young parents you can find the most disputes, councils and tricks, how well make the baby swallow at least a spoonful of water. However, many people think that babies do not need water, because they receive all the necessary elements from their mother’s milk. Still, babies need to drink water. First of all, this applies to those children who are prone to diseases accompanied by high fever (colds, diarrhea). In such cases, in no case should dehydration of the child’s body be allowed. In addition, thermoregulation is impaired in infants, and water will help maintain optimal body temperature. With a lack of water, the baby’s stomach acid becomes thicker and may not be able to cope with the digestion of mother’s milk (especially if it is fatty), leading to problems such as constipation. Remember about climatic conditions: in the heat, thirst always increases,
and in the cold, due to the dry heated air, the nasopharynx also becomes drier and requires additional moisture. nine0003

How to teach a baby to drink water?

• Start small. Give water from a spoon, from a special bottle or drinker – a few milliliters every hour. So the child will gradually get used to the taste of water.
• The water should be at the temperature of breast milk. The baby is accustomed to warm liquids, so it is not surprising that he does not drink cool and even more so hot water of an unusual temperature.
• If the child is already on complementary foods, give more liquids with food, making it as liquid as possible. nine0016
• Advice for babies from six months: bright children’s mugs are another way to instill in your child a love of water. Cartoon drinkers look like toys, and older toddlers will associate drinking water with fun play.

If a child is not accustomed to water from infancy, then it will be more problematic later on. However, there are tricks and tricks here too. First of all, you need to remember that in no case should you make the most common mistake among parents – replacing ordinary water with sugary drinks or soda. They give a deceptive feeling of fullness, which is easy to confuse with thirst quenching.