Introducing Water to Babies: Guidelines for Hydration and Health
Hydration is essential for everyone, especially young babies.
In the first year of life, breast milk or formula feeding provides all the fluids babies need.
As they begin to eat solid foods during BLW, babies may also start to drink small amounts of water after eating, but water is not necessary until the 12-month mark, and it is always better to offer milk.
When babies are ready for an introduction to water, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends offering small sips of water from a cup, not a bottle.
The best way to offer water is with an open cup; forget about using a straw cup, and offer the real thing from the beginning.
A shot glass or an EZPZ tiny cup is also a good idea. However, specific cups are not required for water consumption.
Offering water is a great way to help babies stay hydrated, especially during very hot weather.
It is also essential to recognize the signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, crying without tears, and fewer wet diapers (babies should have around five wet diapers every 24 hours)
Babies should not consume large amounts of water, as it can lead to intoxication. The maximum recommended water intake for babies is around 3 oz.
At this point, it is essential to mention that offering too much water too early may interfere with the baby’s breast milk or formula intake, which provides all the nutrients and fluids needed in the first months of life.
Giving water to babies younger than six months is not recommended except when specifically advised by a doctor.
When Can Babies Start Drinking Water?
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises introducing water in tiny doses at about six months; however, this is optional until the 12-month mark.
It’s important to remember that infants younger than six months old who drink water risk developing a potentially fatal electrolyte imbalance and receiving insufficient amounts of calories, protein, and other vital minerals.
How Much Water Can Babies Drink?
| Age | Recommended Water Intake |
|---|---|
| 6-9 months | Less than 4 oz per day (optional) |
| 9-12 months | Less than 8 oz per day (optional) |
| 12-24 months | 8-32 oz per day (minimum intake of 8 oz) |
How to Offer Water to Babies During Baby-Led Weaning
Introduce small amounts of water in an open cup during Baby Led Weaning to develop essential oral-motor skills, and avoid bottles to prevent overconsumption and ensure proper feeding and speech development.
Offering water to babies during baby-led weaning is a good way to train important oral skills.
It’s best to start with small amounts of water, always in an open cup, to help babies develop their cup-drinking skills.
Here are some tips on how to offer water to babies:
Offer water in an open cup: Drinking water from a cup helps babies develop their oral-motor skills, which are essential for proper feeding and speech development.
Offering water in a cup also helps prevent the overconsumption of water.
Start with small sips: When introducing water, offer small glasses to avoid overwhelming the baby’s system.
Monitoring the baby while drinking is essential to ensure they’re not choking or aspirating.
Choose the right cup: When choosing an open cup, select a small cup that’s easy for the baby’s hands to hold.
Look for a cup with no more than 1-3 ounces to avoid spilling and overconsumption.
Many cups on the market fit this description, but small glass yogurt cup (which we have used with Pablo) will do just fine, too!
Practice makes perfect: Drinking water from a cup requires different oral-motor skills than breast or bottle feeding, so it’s normal for babies to cough and sputter when first learning.
Avoid offering water in a bottle: Drinking water from a bottle may result in consuming too much water and does not benefit the development of oral-motor skills.
What Kind of Water Can Babies Drink?
Ensure your baby’s water is safe by using regulated tap or purified bottled water, avoiding flavored or sweetened options, and researching local water quality to protect their health.
Tap Water
Tap water is generally safe for babies to drink, as it is typically regulated and treated by local water authorities.
Tap water may contain essential minerals that benefit a baby’s health.
However, it’s important to check with your local health department to ensure tap water is safe for consumption.
In some cases, tap water may contain high levels of contaminants or minerals that can harm babies, so it’s essential to do your research.
Bottled Water
Bottled water may be a good alternative if tap water is unsafe for your area.
However, it’s crucial to choose bottled water specifically labeled as “purified” or “distilled” to ensure it is free of harmful contaminants.
Also, avoid bottled water labeled as “spring” or “mineral” water, as these may contain high levels of minerals that can harm babies.
Baby Water
Some companies sell water marketed explicitly for babies.
While this may seem like a good option, it’s not necessary.
Regular tap water or purified bottled water is excellent for babies to drink.
Flavored or Sweetened Water
It’s essential to avoid giving babies flavored or enhanced water, as these may contain artificial sweeteners or other additives that can harm their health.
Stick to plain water to ensure your baby gets the hydration they need without any unnecessary additives.
Other Questions About Water in BLW
Can babies drink sparkling water?
It’s best to avoid giving babies sparkling water, as the carbonation may be hard on their stomachs and cause discomfort. Instead, stick to water still to ensure your baby stays hydrated without any unnecessary additives.
Should breastfed babies drink water?
Breast milk is a complete source of nutrition for babies and contains all the hydration they need.
Breastfed babies do not need additional water until they start solid foods.
However, offering small amounts of water may be beneficial if your baby is constipated or in a hot environment.
Is it okay to give water to a constipated baby?
Small amounts of water may benefit constipated babies, as it can help soften their stool.
However, it’s essential to consult with your pediatrician before offering water to a constipated baby, as they may need other interventions to relieve their constipation.
Should babies drink cold or warm water?
Babies can drink water at any temperature that is comfortable for them.
However, room temperature or slightly warm water may be easier on their digestive system than cold water.
Can babies drink water during meals in BLW?
It’s best to offer water right after meals with solid foods since water can help clean their mouth and allow the food to reach the stomach better.
Can babies drink coconut water?
Coconut water is a natural source of hydration and contains essential minerals such as potassium and magnesium. In small quantities okay to offer coconut water, but be aware of the extra sugar it has.
Can babies drink water from a regular water bottle?
It’s not recommended to offer water to babies from a regular water bottle, as it can be difficult for them to drink, and they may end up overconsuming.
Moreover, the important thing is the skills they acquire, not the water they consume; that’s why offering water in open cups is always better.
We’re Maria and Alberto, a married couple and educators who are nutrition enthusiasts. Even before we had kids, we were already crazy about nutrition.
We’d read scientific articles, watch videos from nutritionists, and spend hours listening to nutrition podcasts.
Today, we continue doing this, but in a different way, as we’ve learned to sift through the noise and trends. Nutrition, like any other field of knowledge, the more you read and learn, the more you develop a comprehensive understanding of reality, and that’s what has happened to us.
Before having our first child, we focused on learning everything we could about child nutrition, using the same techniques we had already employed, backed by our extensive knowledge in nutrition.
Our mission is to help other parents with their children’s nutrition, to help them become the best versions of themselves.
If we are what we eat and drink, which is absolutely true, let’s do it right!
