Giving water to babies is important. Water is vital to humans, young and old. However, you can have too much, especially in infancy.
Giving water to an infant too early can have serious consequences. It can interfere with your baby's feeding, and it can cause systemic malfunction or a condition called water intoxication.
First-time parents often wonder when to give their babies water, especially during the warm summer months. They often hear advice or receive pressure from grandparents and other extended relatives to give their babies water. Don't worry—we'll walk you through everything you need to know to keep your baby healthy, hydrated, and happy.
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When can water be given to infants?
You should be careful when giving your baby water. It's recommended to wait until your baby starts eating solid foods, which is around the six-month mark.
Although solid foods can be introduced at 4 months of age, you should avoid water until after your baby turns 6 months old. Until then, your baby doesn't need water; babies get all the nutrition and hydration they need from breast milk or formula.
How to give water to an infant
Some babies enjoy their first taste of water, and you should limit them. Others may spit it out quickly, so introducing it is a little more difficult. Most parents use either a cup or a bottle to start with—a teaspoon also works.
Whatever feels most comfortable for you and your baby is fine. It's best to try bottles first, even if they're used to the sucking motion. Once your baby is used to sipping water, you can start encouraging them to hold the container themselves. Place it in their hand, but eventually continue to hold it until they're completely confident.
Spill-proof sippy cups are a gift for encouraging independent drinking. Your baby can take sips on their own without spilling. Water should be offered as a supplement to the liquid, not as a substitute for breast milk or formula. In other words, sips of water should be offered between meals and regular feedings. This should be encouraged even more during the warmer months when it can be more difficult to keep hydrated.
Giving water to an infant at the age of 6 to 9 months
For babies between 6 and 9 months old, water should be offered in moderation. They only need a few sips to help hydrate and familiarize themselves with the taste.
From 9 to 12 months, you can give your baby about 2 to 4 ounces per day. Offer them their solid food to aid hydration and digestion. Continue giving them breast milk or formula. Keep their diet varied with nutritious foods to ensure they stay healthy. As your baby grows,
You can increase their water intake. After their first birthday, you don't need to be as cautious. From this point, your baby should drink about 32 ounces per day, or about four cups. Try to keep water intake strictly between meals, then offer them whole milk during mealtimes instead.
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Reasons for not giving water to infants
Fills their stomachs
Giving water to babies under 6 months old can cause problems. One major issue is that water fills their stomachs, making them feel full without eating. If this continues, your baby will inevitably lose weight, which can lead to other complications such as malnutrition.
interferes with nutrient absorption
In addition to making your baby feel full, giving water too early can disrupt their system. Water interferes with the way their body absorbs the nutrients they get from breast milk and formula.
water poisoning
Water intoxication is a severe but rare event. It occurs because a baby's kidneys aren't mature enough to filter water. Giving your baby too much causes their body to dilute essential sodium and flush it out with the remaining water.
Sodium is essential for brain function, so losing excess amounts can affect mood and awareness. Excessive sodium dilution in the body causes tissue swelling, interfering with your child's system. Symptoms of water intoxication include low body temperature, facial puffiness, irritability, restlessness, and drowsiness.
Severe water intoxication can lead to seizures, coma, and even death. Before you panic, know that it takes a large amount of water to cause water intoxication. Excessive water can result in as little as 90 minutes, as demonstrated in a case study from Pediatrics.
Be careful not to drink too much water during bathing or swimming. Babies love to explore, and for them, that means tasting.
Being surrounded by fluid, it is almost irresistible for them to try to swallow some. Minimize the amount your child swallows by closely monitoring them when spending time in the water.
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Add more water to the formula
To prevent dehydration or to make these formulas last longer, this is not recommended. Infant formula is a carefully formulated recipe that contains the correct amount of nutrients your baby needs for growth. Each package has directions for use, indicating how much water to use. Adding more water will put your baby at risk of water intoxication. When you add more water, you also dilute the ingredients, and your baby will get fewer nutrients than they need. Always follow the instructions for preparing the formula carefully. If you have any problems, contact your baby's pediatrician.
Prevent dehydration
Children who are well-fed and gaining weight are unlikely to become dehydrated under normal circumstances. The times when they are most vulnerable to dehydration are when they suffer from illnesses such as colds, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Children tend to refuse food or eat less when they are sick. If they experience symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, or both at the same time, they are losing more fluid than they are taking in.
This is a recipe for dehydration, and caution should be used. However, avoid giving your baby too much water. Offer small sips throughout the day with a bottle or breast milk. Watch for signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet diapers, not crying when spitting up, or unusual tiredness. Contact your pediatrician for guidance. They may recommend giving your baby an electrolyte solution such as Pedilite.
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Types of water that children can have
Once your baby is over 6 months old, they can drink the same water you drink. It's fine to give your baby tap water; there's no need to boil it beforehand like you would when preparing formula.
There are many baby waters on the market today with varying amounts of added fluoride. Specially fluoridated water is not necessary before the age of 6 months.
If you live in an area with unfluoridated tap water, your pediatrician will likely prescribe an age-appropriate fluoride supplement. Consuming too much fluoride can stain teeth.
If you're using distilled water in your baby's formula, you may be tempted to give it to your baby alone. However, it's not the best choice for daily hydration. Due to the distillation process, all the minerals and nutrients are stripped from the water. While your baby can drink it occasionally, they still need some of the beneficial properties of natural water. You can balance the two, or consult your baby's pediatrician for guidance.
Water is life. Water is crucial, but during the first six months of life, it's best to avoid drinking it. During this time, all your baby needs is formula or breast milk.
You can start offering water after six months, when your baby begins eating solid foods. Give them sips throughout the day. Don't give your baby too much water, as this can lead to water intoxication. As long as your baby is breastfed or formula-fed, water isn't necessary at this stage.
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