When Can Babies Have Water?

Summer is here!

And so are long days at the beach, the park, or walks with your infant in the midday heat. So your baby must be extra thirsty for water, right?

Yes, babies get thirsty, and you need to make sure babies get extra milk on hot days. Some pediatricians may even recommend small sips of water too.

But babies get all the fluid they need from formula and/or breast milk, their primary source of nutrients throughout the first year of life. Once babies are weaned from breast milk and/or formula, they'll need more fluids.

That’s where milk and water come in.

Keep reading to learn why very young babies can't have water, when to offer it, and tips on introducing water to babies when they're ready.

Why Can’t Very Young Babies Have Water?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies younger than 6 months old don't need to drink water. An infant's diet is already made of nutrient-rich liquids, which provide all the fluids a baby needs to stay hydrated and healthy.

While water is a vital nutrient for health, too much water isn't good for babies..

• Water doesn't have nutrients, and drinking water can displace a baby's primary nutrient source. As a result, babies can miss out on the carbohydrates, fat, and protein needed for healthy growth

• Babies younger than 1-year-old can get water intoxication with too much water. It's rare but dangerous for infants, especially those younger than 6 months old. Water intoxication causes an imbalance in electrolytes such as sodium, which can lead to seizures, coma, brain damage, and death

How Much Water Can My 6-Month-old Baby Drink?

After babies start solids at around 6 months of age either via baby-led weaning, purees or a combination of both, they’ll eventually start drinking less milk. As they start getting some nourishment from complementary foods, it’s a good idea to start introducing small amounts of water.

Babies shouldn't have cow’s milk (as a beverage) or fruit juice until 12 months old. And juice isn't as healthy as many parents think. The USDA counts 1 cup of 100% fruit juice as one serving of fruit. While fruit juice is popular with kids and parents, it's loaded with natural and added sugars.

Whole fruits contains natural sugars which are different from added sugars because they come in small amounts and are accompanied by the fiber and many micronutrients found in whole fruits.

The large quantities of fruit it takes to make one cup of juice mean that juice is providing a concentrated amount of sugar without the fiber to slow down absorption.

For this and other reasons, the AAP recommends that parents limit juice to no more than 4 ounces per day in 2-3 year-olds, no more than 4 to 6 ounces in 4-5 year-olds, and none for babies under a year. The healthiest option for babies 6-12 months is to offer a small amount of water.

The recommended amount of water for babies is:

• For babies 6 to 12 months, aim for 0.5-1 cup of water/day

• For babies 12 to 24 months, aim for 1-4 cups of water/day

• For toddlers 2 to 5 years, aim for 1-5 cups of water/day

Signs of Dehydration in Babies

Babies can get dehydrated when they don’t consume enough formula and/or breast milk. If you think your baby isn’t eating enough, check for these common signs of dehydration in infants and call your pediatrician.

• Fewer wet diapers than the expected amount of 6 to 8 wet diapers per day

• Sunken fontanelle (a baby’s soft spot)

• More sleepy than usual

• No tears when your baby cries

What Are the Benefits of Water for 6-Month-Old Babies?

You probably don’t leave the house for long outings without a water bottle for you and a travel cup for your baby.

Hydration is essential for health and to keep the body functioning. Of course, adults need more water than babies, but both moms and babies benefit from drinking water:

• Water prevents constipation. Babies can get constipated when they start eating solids. Offering a little water with meals helps prevent this.

• Water keeps joints and tissues lubricated

• Staying hydrated maintains blood volume

• Water transports nutrients and oxygen to cells and helps remove waste

• Drinking water early also helps kids develop a preference for healthy drinks.

• Water containing fluoride is an added benefit for teething babies and young kids getting their adult teeth. Cavities are reduced by 25% in communities with fluoridated water. Not every community has fluoridated water so your child may need a supplement. Small amounts of fluoride help prevent tooth decay. But regularly mixing your infant’s formula with fluoridated tap water before they are 6 months old may cause fluorosis, which is when thin white lines form on teeth. Talk to your doctor about fluoride and your community’s water if you have questions.

Tips for Offering Water to Babies

Bottle-fed babies typically drink from the bottle until between 12 and 18 months. Still, ideally, parents want to transition their babies away from bottles by 12 months, 18 at the latest.

There are many baby-friendly cups to choose from, and babies can learn how to drink from an open cup while seated in the highchair, starting as early as 6 months. Start with silicone or BPA-free plastics, so you don't have to worry about glass breaking.

By 12 months, your infant likely has a few baby teeth already! Drinking from a cup helps keep their teeth healthy and slows down how much fluid and air they're taking in when drinking. Holding a cup also helps develop their fine motor skills while learning to drink from a cup.

Here are a few tips on how to offer water to babies:

• Offer 1 - 2 oz in an open cup with meals only. Water can clear out pockets of food and facilitate swallowing.

• Use safe tap water or bottled water to prepare powdered formula. Follow the directions for reconstituting the formula. Too much water dilutes the nutrients, and your baby won't get enough. And not enough water is hard on a little one's kidneys and digestive system.

• If your water system doesn't contain fluoride, talk to your pediatrician about whether your baby needs a fluoride supplement.

• On hot days, babies need more fluid, but it's important not to replace your baby's milk with water even when they're old enough to drink water.

• Don't forget that food also contains water! Offer more baby-friendly high-water foods, including soft fruits and fruit purees, during the summer.

• Never force your baby to drink or eat. If they reject water, don't worry as long as they eat. They will get fluids from milk and food.

FAQ’S

Does water for babies need to be boiled first?

I know there's a lot of conflicting information about boiling water for babies, which can be confusing. The primary concern is a baby getting sick from the bacteria Cronobacter. It's rare but can be very dangerous for young babies.

Some babies have a higher risk of infection, including infants less than 2 to 3 months old, premature infants, and babies with a weakened immune system. If your baby has a higher risk, the CDC recommends mixing powdered formula with water boiled to at least 158°F/70°C and cooled for approximately 5 minutes to room temperature.

If your water comes from a well, parents should boil water for babies even if they don’t have a higher risk of a bacterial infection.

The WHO recommends boiling water for 30 minutes and letting it cool before mixing the formula. Like the CDC, the FDA recommends boiling for about one minute, then letting it cool to room temperature.

If you're unsure whether your water is safe, contact your local health department or use bottled water. In addition, the CDC has a guide to help you safely prepare your baby’s formula.

Is boiled tap water safe for baby formula?

Boiling water helps remove bacteria. But bottled water is the best option if your water has lead, other contaminants, or you're concerned about fluorosis.

However, boiling water for babies raises the risk of you or your baby getting burned. If you warm your baby's milk or boil water before mixing powdered formula, always double-check the temperature before bottle feeds with a few drops of formula on the underside of your wrist.

Final Thoughts on Water for Babies

As long as babies younger than 6 months old are drinking enough formula and/or breast milk, they get enough fluid to stay healthy and hydrated.

Water between meals can be filling and can end up displacing important nutrients babies get from formula, breast milk, and complementary foods. So, limit water to 1-2 oz at a time with meals only to help make sure your baby isn’t drinking too much.

If you’re getting ready to start your baby on solids, download my FREE Baby-Led Feeding Essential Checklist to make sure you have everything you need to get started. You might also want to check out my new online course for parents, based on my best-selling book which will walk you through the whole process of starting solids using a baby-led approach.

Alternatively, if your baby is almost ready to start solids and you’re looking for someone you trust to map out the entire first 12 weeks of your baby’s solid food feeding journey, check out my new Safe & Simple 12 Week Meal Plan! Over 30 recipes, weekly shopping lists, tons of balanced baby meals, a complete plan for top allergen introduction, & lots of guidance (with photos) on how to safely serve each food.

And if you're looking for personalized nutrition support for yourself, your babies and/or your kids, I am currently accepting new clients in my virtual private practice. Looking forward to meeting you online…