Most water looks like the same thing. However, water sources aren’t identical. It’s not just about taste but also about drinking water security.
“What Kind Of Water Should Babies Drink? or What is the best water for Infants?” Well, this is one of the common frequently asked questions by parents since the start of time and is no different for me.
Therefore, it is just natural for me to go through every option available to come to the answer below.
There are many options, such as tap water, spring, bottled well, and distilled water, to choose from; the decision is entirely yours because all have advantages and disadvantages.
The safest option for babies is the distilled version because it has been evaporated and then condensed back into liquid, reducing the chance of contamination.
The distillate water is first subjected to evaporation and then condensing; all of its initial impurities are eliminated.
The water that is condensed is then pumped into a sterile storage tank. However, distilled water does not taste like its own because it’s not enriched with minerals.
Related:
When Can Babies Start Drinking Water?
A baby should consume only breastfeeding milk or formula until six months. It provides all the nutrition and hydration they require in the first months.
Although you can start feeding them purees or table foods at about six months old, breastfeeding, milk, and formula remain more essential than water. However, you can start by introducing it.
Breastfeeding or formula is vital over water when infants are between 6-12 months of age.
However, if you give formula or breast milk at first, you can provide the water twice a day in ounces.
Currently, 4-8 ounces per day of water is adequate. Anything more than that could result in drinking intoxication.
How Can You Convince Your Baby To Drink Water?
If you know when babies are allowed to drink, What should you do to give baby water? There is no one right or wrong method to go about it.
“Sippy cups, bottles, straws, or even tiny sips from a standard cup are delicate. They enjoyed it! They laughed, and sometimes they spit it back.
However, they soon grew used to the smell of plain water as infants.
The Amount Of Water Do Infants Drink?
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests providing 8oz (227ml) of fluid daily at 6 months.
However, water consumption should be restricted to less than 2 pounds (59-118 milliliters) per day to ensure it doesn’t contaminate valuable nutrients from formula or breast milk.
If you’re worried about your baby’s water intake, check the number of wet diapers and energy levels and consult your pediatric physician. As a rule, babies need 4-6 healthy wet diapers daily.
Related: Your Ultimate Baby Registry Checklist
Is It All Right to Give Water to Babies?
The general rule can be that the infant is not required to drink water until at least six months. At this point, breast milk is the most suitable option.
The breastfed baby does not require additional fluids since the breast milk is around 100 percent water.
Bottle-fed babies also receive their water intake from the formula. Therefore, plain water is not a good idea if your child is eating correctly and drinking water.
She can be allowed to drink water after she has reached 6 months of age.
Can Babies Drink Sparkling Water?
A glass of sparkling water in a pinch is fine, but drinking carbonated beverages could result in gastric pain, gas, and even reflux.
A large number of carbonated beverages and sparkling water drinks contain sodium.
Is It Possible For A Baby To Become Dehydrated?
If the baby is eating well and growing weight in a healthy way, it’s unlikely to become dehydrated. However, there are times when a baby has a cold, flu, or another health issue.
“When babies are sick, they can get easily dehydrated if they aren’t drinking enough or losing fluids through vomiting or diarrhea,” Jessica adds.
Make an appointment with your pediatrician as soon as possible if there are fewer wet and filthy diapers than normal if your baby seems irritable or grumpy or doesn’t cry, or if the quiet place on the baby’s head seems to be sunk.
What can you do to tell when your baby isn’t drinking enough?
Related: 10 Best Baby Bottles for Gas and Colic Prevention
If I’m Nursing My Baby, Does It Need To Drink Water?
When your child is less than 12 months old, then no. Breast milk contains 87% water and is not mandatory before one year old.
Drinking water is essential if your child is 12 years old or older. The recommended water intake for children aged 12-24 months is approximately 8 pounds (237mL) daily.
Although breast milk may “count” as water for toddlers, the ideal amount is 8 ounces of water as an addition to milk or breast milk.
For a child who consumes under 8 ounces of water daily, we suggest providing water throughout the day. Then, gradually increase the amount to 8 ounces minimum.
After 12 months, babies consume more solid foods, consume less breast milk, and require more fluids.
Related: Is Ready-to-Feed Formula Easier to Digest?
Reasons To Evade Feeding Water to Babies/Why is Water Unsuitable for Babies?
The infants receive the necessary nutrition from breast milk or formula. This is the case for any weather condition, including highly humid or hot.
Instead, drinking plain water could cause them to lose their appetite because the additional water will fill their tiny stomachs. This, in turn, could result in weight reduction.
The additional water can interfere with nutrition because it hinders the absorption of nutrients in the milk or formula of the mother. You wouldn’t want that to happen to your baby, would you?
Another problem you may face if you aren’t sure about the kind of water your baby should drink is the possibility of oral water intoxication.
When a baby is only 6 months of age, his kidneys aren’t equipped to remove pure water. Therefore, the child could be in the trap of water intoxication, which can hinder her child’s development and overall health.
Additionally, an imbalance in electrolytes could occur within her body, which is not recommended.
Babies who are fed on water won’t be interested in nursing.
This could cause a delay in the mother’s milk flowing out and may result in a decline in the amount of milk she produces.
How Can Water Be Harmful To Infants?
Although you do not have to worry about not giving the baby enough fluids, feeding too much is still possible.
This is usually the result of the attempt to dilute formula using water, which is not recommended to reduce calories when you feel that baby is losing weight too fast.
Ingesting excessive amounts of water could result in water intoxication for infants.
While uncommon, it can cause infants’ electrolyte and sodium levels to fall, leading to serious medical issues such as brain damage, seizures, and even death.
At What Age Is It Right to Give Your Newborn Water?
Water isn’t recommended for your infant during the initial six-month period. At the same time, your baby is still eating solid food.
Your child will get all the fluids that he requires via breast milk (which is, in fact, more than 80% of water) and formula.
When your baby is six months old, you can begin giving a small amount of water.
Why Shouldn’t You Offer Water to Your Infant Under 6 Months?
Drinking water may cause vomiting and malnutrition in infants under six months old.
Breastfed infants drinking water, the introduction of this liquid can lead to the baby having to reduce or stop breastfeeding altogether, leading to malnutrition.
Infrequent breastfeeding could, in turn, result in a decrease in the supply of breast milk.
Related: Best Slow Flow Sippy Cups for Babies
Must Tap Water Be Boiled for Babies?
The tap water you use may not be safe for your child. Contact the nearest health authority if the purity of tap water is uncertain at home.
If the water you drink is unsafe, you can opt for water bottles or boil tap water for mixing into infant formula or feed your child once he’s six months old.
To boil water from the tap, bring the water to a simmer for about 1 minute. Set it aside to get to room temp for around 30 minutes before using it.
It’s a good idea to try the water with your fingers to make sure it’s at room temperature before giving it to your child.
How Can I Tell Whether My Child Is Drinking Enough Water?
It is important to remember that approximately 90% of breast milk or infant formula (standard mixing) is water!
Children under 12 months old don’t necessarily require additional water. Still, drinking cups at this stage can benefit development and help your child adjust to the flavor of liquids other than formula or breast milk.
Infants with at least 6-8 good wet diapers over 24 hours are generally well-hydrated. The signs of dehydration could include:
- chapped lips
- little or no tears crying
- sunken eyes
- dark urine color
- Sunken challenging area (anterior fontanelle) at the top of the head
- The fussiness
- overly tired
If you’re ever worried about dehydration, consult your child’s health professional immediately. Don’t wait around.
How Do You Know Why Your Baby Is Dehydrated?
The best method to be aware of is to keep track of her dirty and wet diapers during sickness.
If the number of diapers decreases, she is less active, or the soft top of her head is sunk, and her head is sunk, you need to see the pediatric doctor.
Don’t give her fluids. Until you see the doctor, continue to breastfeed your baby more often.
Should You Give Your Breastfeeding Child Water on Hot Days?
Your baby will not require water before six months, even though it’s a hot day or you reside in a desirable area.
The best solution is to ensure your baby is well-hydrated with formula or breast milk.
Does Your Infant Need Water When Sick?
Experts say providing water to your baby even when sick is not a brilliant idea because it can overfill them with water, making it difficult for nutrients to absorb.
You should only do it after your doctor’s advice.
When Should Babies Start Drinking Water? What Kind Of Water Should They Consume?
You can safely provide babies with water once they reach at least six months old. At this stage, they are at a point where they can be fed solids, too. The milk intake will decrease when a child is exposed to solid food.
Thus, water in smaller quantities is required to replace the water loss.
Furthermore, her kidneys are mature enough to clean the water, thereby reducing the possibility of intoxication from water.
It is important to continue breastfeeding breast milk or formula in this stage. Also, the amount of water you drink will increase as you increase children’s activity.
Additionally, the type of solids consumed and the frequency of eating the solids play a crucial part in the proper amount of water consumed.
When discussing the kind of water infants drink, you should always suggest plain water and watch so your child develops a love for it.
This is the only way to ensure that she grows to enjoy plain water, and you’ll be free from having to educate her about the advantages of drinking water.
How Do You Introduce Water to Your Baby?
There isn’t any rule of thumb. It could be a sippy cup, bottles, tiny sips, regular cups, or even straws. Whatever the method, it should be minimal at a time, gradually.
Your goal should be getting her to drink water, not the quantity of water consumption. The girl should begin to enjoy the taste of water.
It is possible to consider cups with handles. The handles could be removed, and the cup may come with straws or a small spill.
Specific cups come with valves that aren’t spill-proof, and they will make drinking a breeze for babies as the valve allows for free flow. Your baby will also be spared the pain of drinking.
- Sippy Cup with Spout
- Sippy cups with straw and handle that is removable
- No-Spill Sippy Cup
Sippy cups are fantastic. They can be used without lids initially. Add a little water into the cup and bring it into her mouth.
When she knows the cup is filled with water, put the lid on, and she’ll no longer be inexperienced.
Bottles are also great, and in addition, they can be used to make cups. This way, your child can drink while sucking.
My Toddler Won’t Drink Any Water! What Can I Do To Get My Newborn To Sip More Water?
The best way to get people to drink water is to demonstrate the process yourself. Also, explain to the kids how!
If your baby is not keen on learning the art of drinking from the cup:
- Pour the water into an unopened cup on the front of the baby.
- Make sure to tap the table to attract your baby’s attention.
- Sip the water in the baby’s cup by yourself.
The cup should be handed to the baby on the other side, and observe if the baby reaches for it or leans towards it.
To get older toddlers to be more enthusiastic about learning, teach them how to put water from a jug into their cups.
Then, allow them to fill their cup with water of their own. The more you let them take control of your child, the more they will be able to explore, touch, and, hopefully, drink.
You could also try floating leaves of mint or fruit pieces within the water. It will give an extra flavor and make it more fun. Don’t forget to provide them with the straw!
It’s often simpler to convince your toddler to drink from the straw of “daddy’s straw” or “momma’s straw” to taste the water.
Generally speaking, you want to provide 1-2 2 ounces of water per small cup that infants can manipulate without assistance.
Introduce the cup to your baby, but stop when it is too close and allow the child to take it.
Inspire this independence initially, and anticipate the cup getting messy and taking time.
Related: 10 Best Mosquito Nets For Strollers That Parents Trust
Water Needs of Older Babies (9 to 12 Months)
This is the phase of the transition from cups to bottles. There will be a few minor hiccups, but don’t be worried.
Soon, you will feel more comfortable eating and eating with cups.
This is because even if you’re nursing your child, you must introduce her to goat or cow milk. As you submit this type of full-fat milk, feeding water in small amounts becomes essential.
The amount of water also consumed increases, and the amount consumed is typically at a few ounces per day.
However, drink water only between meals and feed whole milk during mealtimes.
Can I Offer My Child The Water That I Have From The Bottle?
It is best to stay away from providing water in bottles. When water is introduced at around 6-9 months old, the emphasis is on developing skills rather than drinking.
This is why serving the water in an open cup is best.
Drinking excessive amounts of water via the bottle is also much more convenient, which can remove essential nutrients and cause water poisoning.
Remember that we want to make each sip, swallow, and bite count for infants, and drinking too much water can take away other types of nutrition that could be given in place.
Do You Have To Offer Water To A Baby With Constipation?
Yes! However, aim for under 4 pounds for babies aged 6-9 months and less than eight ounces for infants aged 9-12. Also, consider serving avocado, beans, berries, and chia seeds.
You can also add ground flaxseed or the “P” fruits: papaya, Peaches, pears, prunes, and plums. Don’t be afraid to contact your child’s healthcare provider.
- Read More: Childhood Obesity 12 Best Ways to Prevent and Reduce it
Water Needs of Kids Aged Twelve Months and More
As soon as the child has reached the age of one, the amount of milk consumed will fall. She can drink 16 ounces a day. In addition, she’ll need to undergo a regular meal routine and different types of food.
Her water intake will likely increase because of all this and her growing activities. In addition, solid food is the risk of becoming constipated.
The right amount of water can solve this issue; your child will experience regular stool movements.
Therefore, you can be sure about the kind of water recommended for babies.
Age – Water Proportion
6-12 months: between 2 and 4 ounces of water per day
1-year-old: 8 ounces of water daily
The quantity of water that is used will rise each year. Each year, it will grow by eight ounces. i.e., an infant will require 16 ounces, while a 3-year-old will require 24 pounds.
Making Sure Water Is Baby-Safe
When mixing baby formula or providing a baby drink to drink for the first time, you should consider testing your tap water.
Although tap water might contain fluoride to help prevent tooth decay, it may also be contaminated with levels of lead that could be harmful to infants.
The majority of tap water within the U.S. is safe, with the following exceptions:
- If you’re unsure about the quality of your healthy water, you should test it.
- If your water supply has been recently affected by contamination.
- If your baby has low immunity, then it is likely that your baby has a low.
If you’re concerned about lead exposure or traces of chemicals in your drinking water, you should install a filtering system or opt for distillation water instead.
You can purchase or distill the distilled water yourself by boiling it for 10 minutes.
Is Bottled Water Safe for Babies to Drink?
The water in bottles is not the safest way for babies to drink or use for creating a formula. This is because the water isn’t germ-free. Additionally, it could have excessive sodium or sulfate.
If, for any reason, bottled water is your only option, make sure that it has at least 200 mg or 250 mg of sodium (Na), sulfur (SO4), and sulfate (SO4) in 1 Liter.
Also, you can sterilize the water by boiling it until it is germ-free.
How to Ensure Enough Hydration for Your Child?
Because children aren’t in a position to regulate temperatures as well as adults, proper water intake is a must for children.
The standard for providing the necessary hydration can differ between children. Some consume their water when they can access it without your effort.
However, for other people, it won’t be so easy.
You’ll need to offer the second group of people little fluids throughout the day. It will not affect the amount of food they consume.
It is also possible to dilute fruit juice instead of drinking water.
It is also possible to try cute straws with fun shapes or colorful cups that will draw the toddler to drink water.
Another option could be adding water-rich meals like soups and fruits into their diet.
