Around 12 months, babies eat more solids, drink less breast milk, and need more water. While breast milk can “count” as water for a toddler, the ideal is 8 ounces of water in addition to breast milk or milk.įor a 12-month-old drinking less than 8 ounces of water per day, we advise offering water throughout the day and slowly work toward that 8 ounces minimum. The minimum water intake for children 12-24 months is around 8 ounces (237mL) a day. If your child is 12 months or older, water is necessary. Breast milk is comprised 87% of water and water is optional before one year of age. If your baby is younger than 12 months of age, no. If I am breastfeeding, does my baby need water? Many carbonated beverages and sparkling waters have added sodium, as well. Can babies drink sparkling water?Ī sip of sparkling water here or there is probably fine, but consumption of carbonated beverages can also lead to painful bloating, gas, and reflux. That said, always check the water quality in your area to ensure it’s safe for drinking this information is available through your local health department. You do not need to purchase special water for babies. What kind of water can babies drink?īabies can drink the same water as the rest of the family. Kalani, 9 months, drinks water out of an open cup. Learn more about cups and why we recommend against sippy cups on our Cup Drinking page or by watching our video on cups and straws here. Once your baby has the basic idea of the straw itself, you can choose any straw cup you prefer, knowing your baby can use it. There are many cups on the market that fit this description, but a shot glass or small glass yogurt cup will do just fine, too!īefore choosing a straw cup, we recommend first teaching your baby the skills of using a straw by itself. A small cup also makes it less likely that your baby will flood themselves with liquid. Since you’ll be dealing with many, many spills, look for a cup that holds no more than 1-3 ounces. When choosing an open cup, select a small cup that’s easy for baby hands to hold. Learn how to teach baby to drink from a cup. Offering small sips of water from an open cup or straw cup is an excellent way to teach your infant how to swallow water safely and adequately. Remember, bottle feeding isn’t a skill our babies need for life, so learning to drink water from a cup or straw is the way to go! Drinking water from a bottle may result in consuming too much water and does not benefit the development of oral-motor skills. If you’re concerned about baby’s hydration status, monitor the number of wet diapers and energy levels, and contact your pediatrician. Generally speaking, babies should have 4-6 good, wet diapers every 24 hours.Įunoia, 6 months, practices drinking water from an open cup.Īvoid offering water in a bottle. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests offering up to 8 ounces (227ml) of water per day starting at 6 months old however, it is our strong opinion that water should be limited to less than 2-4 ounces (59-118 ml) a day to avoid displacing valuable nutrition from breast milk or formula. Check with your health department for specific recommendations in your country or region. It’s worth noting that water consumption recommendations for babies vary across the globe. Get guidance on cup drinking and much more in our Starting Solids Virtual Course. Just keep tabs on how much your child is consuming before 12 months of age, when water intake needs to be more carefully monitored. Have a water bottle yourself? It’s fine to offer baby sips from time to time. When water is introduced, it should only be offered in an open cup or straw cup (never a bottle). Overall, water is optional before 12 months of age, as breast milk and formula are mostly water. Per the American Academy of Pediatrics, small amounts of water can be offered starting around 6 months, as long as baby is growing and gaining appropriately. When infants less than 6 months of age consume water, it puts them at risk of life-threatening electrolyte imbalance and inadequate intake of calories, protein, and essential nutrients. When can babies drink water?ĭespite varying opinions on water consumption in babies and toddlers, most medical institutions agree that water may be introduced in small amounts after 6 months of age. Also, check out our guides on Starting Solids and Toddlers at the Table. Do babies need water? When can you start giving babies water? How much water? Read on to find out.
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