Babies and Water
It’s certainly true that water is essential to our health. But when it comes to newborns and younger babies, they get all the hydration they need from their formula or breast milk. And, in actuality, giving water to babies younger than six months old can cause problems. Newborn stomachs are so small that you don’t want to fill them up with water so they aren’t hungry for feedings—breastmilk and formula have the nutrients and hydration babies need. Another reason water is a no-no before six months is because if your baby has too much, it can cause something called “water intoxication” where a baby’s kidneys flush out more sodium than they should. (Symptoms of this include irritability, low body temperature, drowsiness, and swelling.) A few sips of water in the bathtub isn’t a concern, but we do want to keep an eye if they seem to be gulping water.
How to Introduce Water to Baby
Once your baby is six months old, you can start introducing a small amount of water with meals. This can help them move the food around in their mouths and also aid in hydration. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox. Offer it in an open, straw cup, or sippy cup, which can keep them from taking too much at a time. It’s also a good opportunity to practice drinking from something other than a bottle or breast, which is a skill they need to master as they grow. You can give your baby about 4 to 8 ounces of water a day from six to 12 months, but note that this should not replace a formula or breast milk feeding at this point. Instead of tracking ounces, offer a little with meals and snacks (if offering snacks), and at natural points during the day when they might be thirsty (just like how you drink water). As your child grows you can add more water into their routine: Toddlers ages 12 to 24 months need about 1 to 4 cups of water a day, and the recommendation goes up to 1 to 5 cups for 2-to-5 year olds. TIP: You can find recommendations for the best transition sippy cups for water here.
Top Tips for Giving Babies Water
Newborns ages 0 to 6 months get all the hydration they need from breastmilk or formula. They should not have water. Giving newborns water isn’t recommended because it can fill them up and cause them to miss feedings that they need. (Too much water can also cause a rare condition called “water intoxication.”) Once your baby is six months old, you can start introducing a small amount of water with their meals. Offer it in an open cup, straw cup, or sippy cup. The recommended daily intake of water for babies ages 6 to 12 months is about 4 to 8 ounces. This goes up to 1 to 4 cups of water a day for ages 12 to 24 months and 1 to 5 cups for 2-to-5 year olds. You can read about Babies and Salt and when to Start Solids, plus get more tips for the Best Drinks for Kids.
I’d love to hear any questions you may have, so comment below!
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This post was first published on March 30, 2021.
