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At What Age Can Babies Drink Water?

Water is something that everyone needs to drink, right? Well, it turns out that babies get all the hydration they need from breast milk or formula in the first several months.

Find out when it’s OK to start giving your baby water, and why it’s important not to give your baby water until he’s started on solids. Plus, get some answers to some frequently asked questions about safely giving your baby water when the time comes.

At What Age Is It OK to Give Your Baby Water?

Water is not recommended for your baby in his first six months. Until your little one is eating solid food, your baby will get all the water he needs from breast milk (which is actually 80 percent water) or formula. After your baby turns 6 months old, you can start offering a little water.

Why Shouldn’t You Give Water to Your Baby Under 6 Months?

For babies under 6 months, drinking water can lead to diarrhea and even malnutrition.

With breastfed babies, the introduction of water can cause the baby to breastfeed less or stop entirely, leading to malnutrition. Less frequent nursing can, in turn, result in a reduction in breast milk supply as well.

How and When Do You Introduce Water to Your Baby?

The best way to introduce water to your baby (who is 6 months or older) is to give her a small amount in a sippy cup. Don’t force her to drink the water if she rejects it.

Your baby’s need for liquids will increase when she starts eating solid foods.

This is why the time when you start giving solids is also a good time to slowly introduce water. Gradually giving your little one water also gives her a chance to get used to water’s plain flavor.

Drinking water will also help your child develop healthy habits. Giving your baby juice is not recommended, as it can cause her to crave sweetened drinks, which can lead to her becoming overweight or obese later on.

Is It OK to Mix Formula With Water?

It’s OK to mix powdered formula with water. Just be careful to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how much water to add.

What's dangerous is adding extra water to the formula. Diluting formula or giving your baby water in addition to formula can lead to a condition called water intoxication.

Diluting infant formula beyond the manufacturer’s directions reduces the nutrients your baby is getting. This can lead to slowed development, electrolyte imbalances, and possibly seizures.

Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions when mixing infant formula, and check out these formula feeding guidelines.

Does Tap Water Need to Be Boiled for Babies?

Some tap water might not be clean enough for your baby. Check with your local health department if you’re unsure about the quality of the tap water in your home.

If the water isn’t safe, you could use bottled water instead, or boil the tap water for mixing with infant formula or for giving your baby once he’s over 6 months old.

To boil tap water, bring cold water to a boil for 1 minute. Then set it aside to cool to room temperature for about 30 minutes before using it. It’s a good idea to test the water on your wrist to ensure it’s at room temperature before giving it to your baby.

Should You Give Water to a Dehydrated Baby?

Your baby may become dehydrated if she has a fever, is vomiting, has diarrhea, or for certain other reasons.

Some signs of dehydration may include

• a dry mouth

• fewer wet diapers

• fussiness

• sleepiness

• a soft spot on the head.

If you suspect your little one may be dehydrated, do not give your baby water. The best fluid to keep your baby properly hydrated is breast milk or formula.

Contact your baby’s healthcare provider right away if you suspect your little one may be dehydrated. Your provider may suggest a rehydration solution, drops, vitamins or minerals in syrup form, or medicine to hydrate your little one.

Should You Give Your Breastfeeding Baby Water on Hot Days?

Your baby does not need water before the age of 6 months even if it’s a hot day and/or you live in a hot climate. The best option will be to keep your baby hydrated with your breast milk or formula.

What Is Water Intoxication in Babies?

Water intoxication, also called hyponatremia, is a condition in which the sodium level in the blood becomes abnormally low. Drinking too much water can cause this condition.

A baby who is given water under the age of 6 months may be at risk for this condition.

Symptoms of hyponatremia can include

• nausea/vomiting

• headache

• confusion

• drowsiness

• irritability

• seizures.

Water intoxication requires emergency medical attention, and treatment may include intravenous electrolytes or medications. Contact your baby’s healthcare provider if you notice any of the symptoms listed above, or if you have any concerns about water intoxication.

Even though giving your baby water may seem harmless, it’s not recommended until your little one is 6 months old. Your baby is getting all the nutrients and hydration she needs from breast milk or formula.

With all those feedings, you’ll also be doing lots of diaper changes. To make the task a bit more rewarding, download the Pampers Club app to earn rewards for your Pampers purchases.

How we wrote this article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.

Should I give my child water from a bottle?

Many young mothers are interested in the question - is it necessary to give water to a newborn baby? In this case, the doctor gives a variety of advice - some argue that breastfed babies do not need additional water, others assure the opposite. To get an answer to this question, it is necessary to understand in more detail how and when the baby should be watered, and what water can be used for this.

Mother's breast milk, which the child receives from the first days of life, is both food and drink for him - it is known that on 90% it consists of water. Thus, the breastfed baby receives all the amount of fluid he needs. Thanks to special enzymes, mother's milk has a beneficial effect on the digestion process. In addition, the female body is able to independently adapt to the needs of the baby, regulating the composition of breast milk. When the baby needs more liquid, he begins to breastfeed more, thus receiving more foremilk (it is less saturated), which not only quenches thirst well, but also restores electrolyte balance. nine0003

If we take into account all of the above, we can decide that the baby does not need ordinary water as a drink at all. But in fact, sometimes it is necessary. However, giving water to a child who is not yet three months old is possible only on the recommendation of a pediatrician. Babies who are already 4 months old can drink water - this will not affect the breastfeeding process in any way. There are absolutely no contraindications to water if the baby drinks it with pleasure. On the contrary, you should be wary of a lack of fluids, which can cause much more harm to the child. We must not forget that newborns have a very fast metabolism, due to which the loss of moisture can be very significant. nine0003

Water for baby during breastfeeding

You can give your baby water from about 4-5 months. It is best to do this not during feeding, but between them. When the baby feels thirsty, he will gladly drink water from the bottle. As for the norm of fluid for a child, this is a very individual question. As a rule, pediatricians advise giving babies about 100 mg of liquid per 1 kg of body weight, while the liquid includes breast milk. Water in this case will be from 30 to 70 ml. nine0003

The baby can drink water from an ordinary bottle with a nipple, you can also use a spoon for this (it will help to accustom the child to complementary foods, which will be needed soon). However, the main rule to remember is that the baby must drink water voluntarily, in no case should he be forced to do so.

Mixed or formula-fed baby water

Artificial feeding has significant differences from natural feeding. The fact is that infant formula contains much more protein than mother's milk. A formula-fed baby has a special need for extra fluids. If you constantly give him a rich nutrient mixture, this can cause constipation. The additional water received by the baby will improve his well-being and contribute to the normal emptying of the intestines. nine0003

If the child is on mixed or artificial feeding, then you can start giving water to him a little earlier - already from 1 or 2 months of life. In this case, the water temperature should be cooler than the temperature of the nutrient mixture. Pediatricians assure that babies who are on artificial or mixed feeding definitely need water.

You can give your baby a drink immediately after eating. You can also drink it in between feedings. It is important to remember that babies have a very small stomach in volume, and they will not physically be able to drink a lot of water. It is enough to give him 2-3 teaspoons of water. Gradually, this dose can be slightly increased. nine0003

There are situations in which the need for additional liquid for the baby increases dramatically - for example, when the child has been in a room that is too dry for a long time, or has become slightly overheated. Some parents are too afraid of catching a cold while bathing, and maintain a high temperature in his room - because of this, the humidity in the room decreases, and the baby's body is dehydrated. To prevent this from happening, the air temperature in the baby's room should be maintained at 20 degrees, and the humidity should be between 50 and 70%. nine0003

If the air in the room is too dry, the child begins to breathe rapidly, swallowing becomes difficult and colic begins. With overheating, which most often occurs in summer, the baby sweats more, as a result of which the body loses moisture. Signs of dehydration can be signs such as dry skin and mucous membranes, as well as infrequent urination. Pediatricians agree that during illness, newborns need to be given water - for example, with colic, or at elevated temperature. The water in this case should be warm. nine0003

The child needs water in such cases:

• at a high temperature - you can give him a little drink from a spoon, and just moisten his lips with water;
• with diarrhea - you need to give the child a little drink, after which it is imperative to show it to the pediatrician;
• when there is fever without temperature - water can be given to the baby in a small amount;
• for constipation - the liquid will help to empty the intestines without discomfort for the child; nine0034
• when vomiting - water will prevent dehydration and cleanse the stomach;
• for hiccups - water will relieve spasm of the diaphragm, which happened from hypothermia, and also help to get rid of excess air in the stomach.

What kind of water should a baby drink?

Some parents are sure that only boiled water can be given to babies. Actually it is not. When water is boiled, not all bacteria die in it. And in the composition of such water there are chloride compounds that are extremely harmful to babies. Water obtained from open sources can be no less dangerous, as it contains bacteria from the soil and nitrates. In no case should children be given carbonated or mineral medicinal water with a complex chemical composition. Water purified by home filters is also not suitable for babies. nine0003

Where can you get water that will not harm the child? It is best to buy it in a pharmacy. Special water for babies is labeled on the bottle, it contains the optimal amount of minerals for the baby. Water from the pharmacy does not need to be boiled, but after opening it can be stored for no more than a day, and only in the refrigerator. It is best to immediately pour such water into a glass container with a tight-fitting lid.

Which water purification methods can be used for a baby? nine0009

The most economical and easiest option to provide your baby with high-quality drinking water is to buy a special "children's" water filter. This can be a jug-type device - it is inexpensive, it is very easy to use such a filter, and the degree of water purification is very high - the device effectively removes chlorine, bacteria, pesticides and particles of mechanical impurities from ordinary tap water. For the manufacture of such filters, only high-quality safe plastic is used, which is approved by pediatricians. Water purified in this way can be used not only for feeding the baby, but also for preparing various decoctions and infant formulas. nine0003

Can I give my baby water during hiccups?

What is hiccups? This is an involuntary contraction of the muscles of the diaphragm and larynx. Babies are especially prone to hiccups, since their diaphragm muscles are characterized by increased excitability. Hypothermia, air entering the stomach, nervous overexcitation and accumulation of gases in the intestines often lead to hiccups.

As soon as a child has hiccups, you need to immediately eliminate its cause. If the baby is cold, it needs to be warmed up. In order for air to come out of the stomach, the baby should be held in a “column”. A few sips of warm water will also help to cope with hiccups. nine0003

It is necessary to give water to a child with hiccups, as this measure will quickly eliminate the cause of discomfort.

If you do everything right and give water to the baby only when he really needs it, then there will be no harm - on the contrary, the child will receive the necessary amount of fluid for the normal functioning of the body.

Information about higher organizations

Ministry of Health of the Russian FederationOfficial portal of the Mayor and the Government of MoscowDepartment of labor and social protection of the population of the city of Moscow: on Mondays from 15.00 to 18.00Department of health of MoscowDepartment of RosZdravNadzor for the city of Moscow and the Moscow region: Mon - Thu: 9:00 - 17:45, Fri: 9:00 - 16:30, Sat - Sun: days off Office of Rospotrebnadzor for the city of MoscowFKU Main Bureau of Medical and Social Expertise for the city of Moscow: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 8. 30 to 17.30 .Directorate for coordinating the activities of medical organizations DZMMosvolunter. Responsible person for cooperation with volunteer organizations: Adylov Seyran Midatovich, tel. +7 499-250-01-75

Information for the public

Assessment of the quality of servicesIndependent assessment of the quality of services provided by medical organizationsQuestionnaire for assessing the quality of services provided by medical organizations on an outpatient basisDrugsCrowdsourcing projects of the Government of MoscowAmbulance and Emergency Medical Service in the City of MoscowAssistance Center for Medical WorkersMoscow City Compulsory Medical Insurance FundInsurance companiesFederal budgetary healthcare institution " Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in Moscow "Official resource of the Healthy Russia program." Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated August 10, 2017 N 514n "List of studies during preventive medical examinations of minors" List of drugs dispensed free of charge and with a 50% discount List of categories of citizens persons entitled to receive state social assistanceOn the list of documents required for issuing prescriptionsOn the list of pharmacy organizations for the disabled

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when, how much and what kind of water should be given to a newborn and children during breastfeeding and artificial feeding?

Does a newborn baby need water? This question worries many young mothers, while the recommendations of doctors differ: some believe that the baby does not need any additional fluid, while others argue that the child needs water. Let's try to figure out how and when to give your baby water and how water for newborns differs from ordinary drinking water. nine0086