Drinking water 6 months old baby

Drinks and cups for babies and young children

Solid foods and milk for your baby

You should continue to breastfeed or give your baby first infant formula until they're at least 1 year old.

Breastfeeding will continue to benefit you and your baby for as long as you carry on.

As your baby eats more solid foods, the amount of milk they want will decrease.

Once your baby is eating plenty of solids several times a day, they may even drop a milk feed altogether.

Beakers and cups for babies

Introduce your baby to drinking from a cup or beaker from around 6 months and offer sips of water with meals.

Using an open cup or a free-flow cup without a valve will help your baby learn to sip and is better for your baby’s teeth.

It might be messy at first but be patient, your baby will gradually learn how to drink from an open cup.

Once your baby is 1 year old, feeding from a bottle should be discouraged.

When using a bottle or trainer cup, do not put anything in it other than breast milk, formula milk or water, and do not add anything else (including sugar, cereals, baby rice or chocolate powder) to the feed.

Comfort sucking from a bottle on sweetened drinks causes tooth decay in young children. Drinks flow very slowly through a teat, which means the sugary substance will be in contact with their teeth for longer.

Find out how to look after your baby's teeth.

Choosing a baby beaker or cup

It's important to choose the right kind of beaker or cup.

A cup or beaker with a free-flow lid (without a non-spill valve) is better than a bottle or beaker with a teat as it will help your baby learn how to sip rather than suck.

As soon as your child is ready, encourage them to move from a lidded beaker to drinking from an open cup.

Drinks for babies and young children

Not all drinks are suitable for babies and young children. Here's what to give to your child and when.

Breast milk

Breast milk is the only food or drink babies need in the first 6 months of their life.

It should continue to be given alongside an increasingly varied diet once you introduce solid foods from around 6 months.

The World Health Organization recommends that all babies are breastfed for up to 2 years or longer.

Breastfeeding up to 12 months is associated with a lower risk of tooth decay.

Formula milk

First infant formula is usually based on cows' milk and is the only suitable alternative to breast milk in the first 12 months of your baby's life.

Follow-on formula is not suitable for babies under 6 months, and you do not need to introduce it after 6 months.

First infant formula, follow-on formula or growing-up milks are not needed once your baby is 12 months old.

Cows' milk can be introduced as a main drink from 12 months.

Read more about the types of infant formula.

Non-cows' milk formula

Goats' milk formula is available and produced to the same nutritional standards as cows' milk formula.

Goats' milk formula is not suitable for babies with cows' milk protein allergy. It's no less likely to cause allergies in babies than cows' milk formula as the proteins they contain are very similar.

You should only give your baby soya formula if a health professional advises you to.

'Goodnight' milk

'Goodnight' milk is not suitable for babies under 6 months old. This type of formula is not needed, and there's no evidence that babies settle better or sleep longer after having it.

Water

Giving water as a drink to babies under 6 months is not recommended. Speak to your GP or health visitor for advice before giving water to your baby.

From around 6 months you can start introducing water with meals.

When preparing formula for babies under 6 months, you should not use water straight from the mains tap in the kitchen as it's not sterile.

You'll need to boil the tap water first and then let it cool for no more than 30 minutes, so that it remains at a temperature of at least 70C.

Water for babies over 6 months does not need to be boiled.

Bottled water is not recommended for making up infant formula feeds as it may contain too much salt (sodium) or sulphate.

If you do have to use bottled water to make up a feed, check the label to make sure the sodium (also written as Na) level is less than 200 milligrams (mg) per litre.

The sulphate (also written as SO or SO4) content should not be higher than 250mg per litre.

Like tap water, bottled water is not sterile, so it will need to be boiled before you use it to prepare a feed.

Read more about how to make up baby formula.

Cows' milk

Cows' milk can be used in cooking or mixed with food from around 6 months but should not be given as a drink to babies until they're 12 months old. This is because cows' milk does not contain enough iron to meet your baby's needs.

Whole milk should be given to children until they're 2 years old because they need the extra energy and vitamins it contains.

Semi-skimmed milk can be introduced once your child is 2 years old, as long as they're a good eater and they have a varied diet.

Skimmed and 1% milk are not suitable for children under 5 years old because they do not contain enough calories.

Lower-fat milks can be used in cooking from 1 year old.

Unpasteurised milk

Young children should not be given unpasteurised milk because of the higher risk of food poisoning.

Goats' and sheep's milk

Goats' and sheep's milk are not suitable as drinks for babies under 1 year old as, like cows' milk, they do not contain enough iron and other nutrients babies this age need. As long as they're pasteurised, they can be used once your baby is 1 year old.

Soya drinks and other milk alternatives

You can give your child unsweetened calcium-fortified milk alternatives, such as soya, oat or almond drinks, from the age of 1 as part of a healthy balanced diet.

Babies and young children under 5 years old should not be given rice drinks, because of the levels of arsenic in these products.

If your child has an allergy or intolerance to milk, talk to your health visitor or GP. They can advise you about suitable milk alternatives.

Rice drinks

Children under 5 years old should not have rice drinks as a substitute for breast milk, infant formula or cows' milk as they may contain too much arsenic.

Arsenic is found naturally in the environment and can find its way into our food and water.

Rice tends to take up more arsenic than other grains, but this does not mean that your baby cannot eat rice.

In the UK, there are maximum levels of inorganic arsenic allowed in rice and rice products, and even stricter levels are set for foods intended for young children.

Do not worry if your child has already had rice drinks. There's no immediate risk to them, but it's best to switch to a different kind of milk.

Fruit juice and smoothies

Fruit juices, such as orange juice, are a good source of vitamin C. However, they also contain natural sugars and acids, which can cause tooth decay.

Babies under 12 months do not need fruit juice or smoothies. If you choose to give these to your baby, dilute the juices and smoothies (one part juice to 10 parts water) and limit them to mealtimes.

Giving fruit juice and smoothies at mealtimes (rather than between meals) helps reduce the risk of tooth decay.

From 5 years old, you can give your child undiluted fruit juice or smoothies. Stick to no more than 1 glass (about 150 ml) a day, served with meals.

Squashes, flavoured milk, 'fruit' or 'juice' drinks and fizzy drinks

Squashes, flavoured milk, 'fruit' or 'juice' drinks and fizzy drinks are not suitable for young babies. They contain sugar and can cause tooth decay, even when diluted. 

For older babies and young children, these drinks can fill your child up so they're not hungry for healthier food. Instead, offer sips of water from a cup with meals.

Fizzy drinks are acidic and can damage tooth enamel so they should not be given to babies and young children.

Diet or reduced-sugar drinks are not recommended for babies and young children.

Even low-calorie drinks and no-added-sugar drinks can encourage children to develop a sweet tooth.

'Baby' and herbal drinks

'Baby' and herbal drinks usually contain sugars and are not recommended.

Hot drinks

Tea and coffee are not suitable for babies or young children. If sugar is added, this can lead to tooth decay.

Further information

• Your baby's first solid foods
• Baby and toddler meal ideas
• Looking after your baby's teeth
• Expressing and storing breast milk
• Bottle feeding advice

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Video: should my baby use a beaker or a cup?

In this video, a health visitor talks about whether your baby should use a beaker or a cup.

Media last reviewed: 28 September 2020
Media review due: 28 September 2023

When and How to Serve Water to Babies and Toddlers

There are many opinions on water consumption for infants, babies, and toddlers. However, most medical institutions agree that water should not be offered before 6 months of age. Too much water can displace valuable nutrition from breast milk or formula and imbalance an infant’s electrolytes. Furthermore, most health care professionals agree that water isn’t necessary for the first year of life as breast milk and formula are comprised mostly of water.

When water is introduced, it should only be offered in an open cup or straw cup (never a bottle). Have a water bottle yourself? It’s fine to offer baby sips from time to time. Just keep tabs on how much your child is consuming before 12 months of age, when water intake needs to be more carefully monitored.

Get guidance on cup drinking and much more in our Starting Solids Virtual Course.

Water may be introduced in small amounts after 6 months of age. When infants less than 6 months of age consume water, it puts them at risk of life-threatening electrolyte imbalance and inadequate intake of calories, protein, and essential nutrients.^{1 2 3} Per the American Academy of Pediatrics, small amounts of water can be offered starting around 6 months as long as baby is growing and gaining appropriately, but water is optional before 12 months of age.

It’s worth noting that water consumption recommendations for babies vary across the globe. Check with your health department for specific recommendations in your country or region. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests offering up to 8 ounces (227ml) of water per day starting at 6 months old; however, it is our strong opinion that water should be limited to less than 2-4 ounces (59-118 ml) a day to avoid displacing valuable nutrition from breast milk or formula. ⁴ If you’re concerned about baby’s hydration status, monitor the number of wet diapers and energy levels, and contact your pediatrician. Generally speaking, babies should have 4-6 good, wet diapers every 24 hours.

Offer water in an open cup or straw cup to help baby develop cup-drinking skills. 

Believe it or not, water is actually one of the hardest liquids to learn how to drink. Water is thin and flows quickly, which requires the tongue and swallow muscles to work very fast. Don’t be worried if your little one coughs when first learning to drink water. The oral motor skills required to drink from a cup or straw are very different than the movements required for breast or bottle feeding. Often, a baby coughs and sputters when the liquid is not well-contained in the mouth. As baby’s skills improve with cup and straw drinking, this coughing and sputtering should subside. If your baby continues to cough with water drinking after ample practice time (a few months), speak with your pediatrician.  

Avoid offering water in a bottle. Drinking water from a bottle may result in consuming too much water and does not benefit the development of oral-motor skills. Remember, bottle feeding isn’t a skill our babies need for life, so learning to drink water from a cup or straw is the way to go!

Offering small sips of water from an open cup or straw cup is an excellent way to teach your infant how to swallow water safely and adequately. Learn how to teach baby to drink from a cup.

When choosing an open cup, select a small cup that’s easy for baby hands to hold. Since you’ll be dealing with many, many spills, look for a cup that holds no more than 1-3 ounces. A small cup also makes it less likely that your baby will flood themselves with liquid. There are many cups on the market that fit this description, but a shot glass or small glass yogurt cup will do just fine, too!

Before choosing a straw cup, we recommend first teaching your baby the skills of using a straw by itself. Once your baby has the basic idea of the straw itself, you can choose any straw cup you prefer, knowing your baby can use it. 

Learn more about cups and why we recommend against sippy cups on our Cup Drinking page or by watching our video on cups and straws here.

Babies can drink the same water as the rest of the family. You do not need to purchase special water for babies. That said, always check the water quality in your area to ensure it’s safe for drinking; this information is available through your local health department.

A sip of sparkling water here or there is probably fine, but consumption of carbonated beverages can also lead to painful bloating, gas, and reflux. Many carbonated beverages and sparkling waters have added sodium, as well.

If your baby is younger than 12 months of age, no. Breast milk is comprised 87% of water and water is optional before one year of age.⁵

If your child is 12 months or older, water is necessary. The minimum water intake for children 12-24 months is around 8 ounces (237mL) a day. While breast milk can “count” as water for a toddler, the ideal is 8 ounces of water in addition to breast milk or milk.  

For a 12-month-old drinking less than 8 ounces of water per day, we advise offering water throughout the day and slowly work toward that 8 ounces minimum. Around 12 months, babies eat more solids, drink less breast milk, and need more water.

First, remember that almost 90% of breast milk and infant formula (standard mixing) is water! Children less than 12 months of age do not necessarily need extra water, but practicing cup drinking at this age is developmentally beneficial and can help acclimate your child to the taste of liquids other than breast milk or formula. 

In general, babies who make at least 4-6 good wet diapers per 24-hour period are usually adequately hydrated. Signs of possible dehydration include: 

• chapped lips
• few to no tears when crying
• sunken eyes
• dark urine color
• sunken soft spot (anterior fontanelle) on top of the head 
• fussy
• excessively sleepy

If you are ever concerned about dehydration, contact your child’s health care provider right away. Do not wait.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until at least 6 months before offering water to your child. Water given before 6 months of age can reduce nutrient intake and cause life-threatening electrolyte imbalances.^{6 7 8} The only liquids a baby should be consuming prior to 6 months of age is breast milk or formula.^{9 10} 

The best way to encourage water drinking is to model the activity yourself. In other words, show them how it’s done! 

If baby is truly not interested in learning to drink water from a cup: 

1. Try pouring water into an open cup in front of baby.
2. Tap the table to get baby’s attention.
3. Drink the water from baby’s cup yourself.  
4. Hand the cup to baby in the air and see if baby reaches for it or leans in. 

To help incentivize older toddlers, try teaching them how to pour water from a jug into their cup and let them pour their own water. The more you hand over control, the more your child will explore, touch, and, hopefully, drink. You can also try floating mint leaves or pieces of fruit in the water to add a pop of flavor and make it more exciting. Finally, offer them your straw! Many times it’s much easier to get a toddler to drink out of “daddy’s straw” or “momma’s straw” to try some water. 

Generally, you want to offer 1-2 ounces of water in a small open cup that babies can manipulate with minimal assistance. Bring the cup to baby but stop before it gets too close and give them a chance to reach and grab the cup themselves. Encourage this independence from the start and expect that it will be messy for a while and take some time.

Need help with cup or straw drinking? Check out our Cup Drinking page >>

It is best to refrain from offering water in a bottle. When water is first introduced around 6 to 9 months of age, the focus is more on skill-building than consumption. For this reason, it’s best to offer water in an open cup. 

Additionally, it’s much easier to consume too much water through a bottle, which can displace essential nutrients and lead to water intoxication.¹¹ Remember: we want to make every sip, gulp, and bite count for babies, and consuming too much water takes away from other forms of nutrition that can be offered instead. 

Introduce both an open cup and straw cup as early as 6 months of age with meals. Alternating between an open cup and straw cup (e.g., offering an open cup with breakfast and a straw cup at lunch) can be helpful so one skill doesn’t become too dominant. Check out our cup drinking page for more information on teaching a baby to drink from a cup and why you may want to avoid sippy cups entirely.

Yes! But aim for less than 4 ounces in infants 6-9 months of age and less than 8 ounces in infants 9-12 months of age. Also, consider serving avocado, beans, berries, chia seeds, ground flaxseed, or the “P” fruits: papaya, peaches, pears, plums, and prunes. And never hesitate to touch base with your child’s healthcare provider.

No. It is never recommended to dilute formula without discussing it with your child’s primary health care provider. Formula dilution can be extremely dangerous and lead to water intoxication.¹²

We don’t recommend them. Our feeding and swallowing specialists strongly recommend using open cups or straw cups rather than sippy or 360 cups. Sippy cups and 360 cups do not encourage oral-motor skills development. Drinking from an open cup or straw is a lifelong skill. For more information, visit our cup drinking page. 

After 12 months of age, should I have water available throughout the day?

Absolutely. Having water easily accessible throughout the day in addition to mealtimes is a great way to foster independence in your child while also maintaining hydration. Like in adults, toddlers’ thirst varies depending on their activity level and health status, as well as the weather.  As caregivers, we can model drinking water throughout the day to help children build healthy habits early on. 

For some children, water is instantly accepted. For children younger than 12 months old, monitor how much water is consumed in a day. If it’s more than 8 ounces, it’s likely too much. For younger infants, in particular, drinking too much water can result in water intoxication characterized by electrolyte imbalance and even seizures.¹³

Signs of overhydration or water intoxication include:¹⁴

• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Excessive number of wet diapers (more than 8 per day)
• Confusion
• Change in behavior

If you feel like your child is excessively thirsty, this can also be a sign of an underlying problem. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s health care provider. 

Reviewed by:

Natalia Stasenko, MS, RD

Jennifer H. Min, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, PhD(c) 

Kimberly Grenawitzke, OTD, OTR/L, SCFES, IBCLC, CNT

Rachel Ruiz, MD, FAAP. Board-Certified General Pediatrician & Pediatric Gastroenterologist

1. Houck, J., Ganti, L., & Vera, A. E. (2019). A Case of Hyponatremia-induced Seizures in an Infant Secondary to Water Intoxication from the Use of Almond Milk. Cureus, na.
2. Becker, G. E., & Remmington, T. (2014). Early additional food and fluids for healthy breastfed full-term infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, na.
3. Cohen, R. J., Brown, K. H., Rivera, L. L., & Dewey, K. G. (2007). Exclusively breastfed, low birthweight term infants do not need supplemental water. Acta Paediatrica, 89(5), 550–552.
4. Martin, C. R., Ling, P. R., & Blackburn, G. L. (2016). Review of Infant Feeding: Key Features of Breast Milk and Infant Formula. Nutrients, 8(5), 279.
5. Martin, C. R., Ling, P. R., & Blackburn, G. L. (2016). Review of Infant Feeding: Key Features of Breast Milk and Infant Formula. Nutrients, 8(5), 279.
6. Houck, J., Ganti, L., & Vera, A. E. (2019). A Case of Hyponatremia-induced Seizures in an Infant Secondary to Water Intoxication from the Use of Almond Milk. Cureus, na.
7. Becker, G. E., & Remmington, T. (2014). Early additional food and fluids for healthy breastfed full-term infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, na.
8. Cohen, R. J., Brown, K. H., Rivera, L. L., & Dewey, K. G. (2007). Exclusively breastfed, low birthweight term infants do not need supplemental water. Acta Paediatrica, 89(5), 550–552.
9. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021). Infant Food and Feeding.
10. World Health Organization. (2020). Infant and young child feeding.
11. Encyclopedia of Children’s Health. (2021). Overhydration.
12. Healthy Children. (2018). How to Safely Prepare Formula with Water.
13. Encyclopedia of Children’s Health. (2021). Overhydration.
14. Encyclopedia of Children’s Health. (2021). Overhydration.

The child's need for water. Myths and truth. Let's figure it out!

Author of article Belmer Sergey Viktorovich

491969 views

August 25, 2021

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Water calculator

Water calculator - calculate how much water your child needs.

Water is the basis of life and a natural component of the human body. Children's bodies especially need proper water intake. After all, it is at an early age that the most important stages in the development of the nervous, circulatory, respiratory, digestive and immune systems of the body occur.

The right diet for a child is the basis of his health and further development. And the sooner you help your child form the habit of competent water consumption, the easier it will be for him to maintain a healthy and proper lifestyle in the future.

A child's body is 80% water, and an adult's is 60%. So, let's figure it out: how much water is needed for the healthy development of a child's body, what kind of water is useful, and how often should a child be offered a drink?

These and other important questions on the topic are answered by Belmer Sergey Viktorovich , Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Hospital Pediatrics No. 2 of the Pediatric Faculty of the Russian National Research Medical University (RNIMU) named after. N.I. Pirogov.

Let's debunk the most popular myths about water, that is, the most popular misconceptions about its benefits, quantity, quality, and possible harm.

Myth #1: It is necessary to give your baby water from the moment of birth

It's a delusion. It all depends on the specific situation, whether the child is breastfed or not. How much and how often the child consumes breast milk or formula per day. Every age has different water needs. See for yourself:

Standards for the total daily water requirement of children

The table values ​​take into account all the water that the child receives during the day. This is pure water, and various drinks, and soups, and solid food, which also contains water.

Based on the data presented in the table, you can easily calculate the child's need for clean water. So, for example, take a baby weighing 3 kilograms. According to the table, we calculate the daily need of the baby for water: 3 kg * 90 ml = 270 ml / day. If you know how much water from milk or complementary foods a child receives per day, it is not difficult to calculate whether additional water should be given to the baby.

As a rule, a breast-fed baby up to six months of age has enough water from mother's milk and does not require additional water intake. With the introduction of complementary foods, additional water is required for the child.

But once again I want to remind you that the rate of water consumption is a purely individual value, which depends on the activity of the child, the biochemical characteristics of the child's body, on the temperature and humidity of the surrounding air.

Myth #2: Bottled water should still be boiled

Bottled water does not need to be boiled. The technology of water preparation and bottling ensures its sterility throughout the entire shelf life. In this regard, boiling, aimed specifically at the destruction of microorganisms in water, is not required in this case. In all other cases, such as tap water, spring, well, etc., it is necessary to boil. And sometimes more serious methods of processing such water are required, but it is not recommended to give such water to children.

Myth #3: There is no difference between "baby" and "adult" water.

"Children's" water is distinguished by higher quality requirements and a physiologically balanced composition. Bottled water of the first and, especially, the highest category is subject to very strict requirements for its safety, in particular, for its chemical composition. In the case of "baby" water, the requirements for its composition are even higher. In its production, it is necessary not only to prevent the excess of the concentration of macro- and microelements, but also to ensure their balanced content, taking into account the characteristics of the child's body.

Myth #4: Water can be easily replaced with juices, fruit drinks and other drinks

Any drink is a source of water. However, the composition of various drinks, such as juices, fruit drinks, etc., contains other substances besides water, such as sugar, the excess of which may be undesirable for a child. In this regard, replacing “clean water” with other drinks should be done with great care. After the introduction of complementary foods, juices and fruit drinks appear in the composition of the child's diet in regulated volumes.

Myth #5: Baby water is a marketing ploy

It's a delusion. "Children's" water, as I have already said, is distinguished by special requirements for its composition, in particular, the balance of the amount of macro- and microelements, corresponding to the needs of the child's body.

Myth #6: Boiled and filtered water is no different from baby water

Boiling destroys microorganisms. The results of filtration depend on the characteristics of the filter, but, first of all, particles suspended in it are removed.

Myth #7: Water with any mineral composition is good for a child

The water contains calcium, magnesium, sodium, iodine, selenium and many other macro- and microelements that are necessary for the body. It is important that their content does not exceed the permissible concentration. On the other hand, it should be borne in mind that water is not the exclusive and even the main source of these substances: the child receives them, first of all, from other foods. However, the deficiency of certain minerals in water, which is often observed in various regions of the world, can lead to diseases. Thus, water without minerals is hazardous to health.

Myth #8: Boiled water is best for formula feeding

It's a delusion. It is best to use specially prepared industrially "baby" water. It is safe and has an optimal chemical composition.

These are the main myths about water in terms of baby food and consumption that are encountered today. For a more detailed study of the topic, consider a few more frequently asked questions that parents of babies contact us with.

What are the benefits of the minerals indicated in the composition? (Ca, Mg, K, bicarbonates, sulfates, fluorides, chlorides)

Minerals in the composition of water are necessary for the normal course of metabolic processes. Calcium and magnesium are essential for bone formation and the functioning of the nervous system, potassium is essential for the normal functioning of the heart and muscles, sodium is a key factor in almost all metabolic processes. It is very important that the chemical composition of water meets the needs of the body, which is achieved by certain technological methods in the production of special "children's" water.

How to persuade a child to drink water?

It's hard to persuade. The child drinks according to his needs. Feeling thirsty is an indicator of water consumption. Water in a bottle or drinking bowl should always be nearby. Offer your baby first quality water, not sugary drinks.

How to teach a toddler to drink from a bottle?

In the first days and months of life, if necessary, you can gradually accustom the child to water, supplementing it with a spoon or from a bottle with a nipple. And if you start giving water at an older age, then you can immediately move on to a baby cup or sippy cup.

How to drink a child on a trip?

Special baby water is the best choice for a child while traveling. Such water is sterile and compensates for possible loss of salts, thanks to a balanced chemical composition.

How much baby water to take on a plane?

It depends on the age of the child and the duration of the flight, but not less than 100 ml. This is the minimum stock.

Should I give my baby water at night?

It is not necessary to water the child at night, but if such a need arises, offer the child a couple of sips of water. This is fine.

Should I give my child to drink after active games in the heat?

This must be done without fail, and not only after, but also during active games in the sun or in hot weather, since water is excreted from the body in significant quantities with sweating. Offer your baby water as often as possible. It is more convenient to take special "baby" water in a bottle for a walk, it has a small volume, but sufficient even for a two- or three-hour walk.

Children's water "FrutoNyanya" - from the first days of life!

Children's water "FrutoNyanya" is water of the highest category. Does not require boiling. The water is carefully balanced in terms of mineral composition and is suitable even for the smallest children.

FrutoNyanya special children's water is available in 0.

Choose the format that best suits you. A bottle of 0.33 liters is ideal for a walk. And for home use: preparing cereals, mixtures and pouring into a children's drinking bowl, bottled water of 1.5 liters will be convenient. A 5L canister is a great option for a large family or to take the required amount of water with you to the country.

Water quality control is carried out at all stages of the technological process of its production in the accredited testing center "FrutoNyanya". The test center employees take water samples at every stage of its production.

When extracting water from a well, the stage of water treatment, whether it is purification from mechanical impurities, the stage of normalizing the composition of water in terms of the content of macro- and microelements, the ozonation process or final filtration. Also, samples are taken without fail when pouring water into containers and its packaging.

All samples undergo mandatory testing for compliance with the requirements and standards. Product quality control is a continuous round-the-clock process of our center. If at least one discrepancy is found, the batch is not allowed to be sold.

Author of the article Belmer Sergey Viktorovich

Pediatric gastroenterologist, MD, professor.

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when, how much and what kind of water to give a newborn and children with breastfeeding and formula?

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.

Breast milk is both food and drink for the baby, since it consists of 90% water and in the first weeks of life it is able to maintain the fluid balance at the required level. Mother's milk helps the process of digestion, as it contains all the enzymes necessary for this. Moreover, the mother's body is able to very accurately adapt to the needs of the child, adjusting the composition of milk depending on the situation. For example, if a baby needs more fluid, he will breastfeed more often and, as a result, receive more unsaturated foremilk, which quenches thirst and restores electrolyte balance.

It may seem that the child does not need water, but this is not so: there are situations when it is indispensable. Indeed, up to three months, babies should be given water only on the recommendation of a doctor. Babies older than four months can be fed quite calmly - contrary to popular belief, this does not lead to the child's refusal to breastfeed, and even more so to his exhaustion. If the baby drinks water with pleasure, there are no contraindications for this. But the lack of fluid for the baby is very dangerous - adults should not forget that the metabolic rate in newborns is very high and moisture loss is also significant.

However, parents need to know when and how much water should be given to newborns and how the type of feeding affects fluid requirements.

Water while breastfeeding

Newborns can drink water from four to five months. It is better to do this between feedings - if the baby feels thirsty, he drinks water with pleasure. How much water can you give a newborn? Here, as in adults, everything is individual. Usually, pediatricians advise giving a certain amount of liquid per day with a calculation of no more than 100 ml per kg of weight, but this also includes breast milk. So the water, in fact, remains 30-70 ml.

You can feed your newborn from a bottle with a nipple or even from a spoon - this will make it easier to introduce complementary foods in the future, because the baby will already know how to use a spoon. But the most important rule is voluntariness: if the child is naughty and does not want to drink, you should not insist.

Water with formula or formula feeding

Formula feeding differs markedly from natural feeding - infant formula contains much more protein than mother's milk, so the baby needs additional fluids. Lack of water, especially when feeding too rich formula, can lead to constipation in children. The extra water will help empty the bowels and make your baby feel better.

With artificial or mixed feeding, water can be given earlier than with breastfeeding. Unlike formulas, which should be 36-37°C, the water can be slightly cooler: 26-30°C in the first one or two months of life, and at an older age - about 20°C.

All paediatricians agree that with the introduction of complementary foods, water becomes essential. Usually, babies who received only milk or formula before the introduction of complementary foods begin to drink solid food only after one to two months. And babies, accustomed to water, are not capricious and drink it with pleasure after each feeding.

When is water given to newborns?

Babies should be given water some time after meals and between feedings. Do not forget that the volume of the child's stomach is very small, which means that he simply cannot drink a large amount of water at once - a few teaspoons will suffice for a start.

In some situations, the need for fluid increases. Most often, overheating and very dry indoor air leads to a lack of moisture. Many parents are so afraid of colds in a child that they wrap him in clothes and do not observe the temperature regime in the children's room, which leads to a decrease in air humidity and dehydration of the baby's body. The optimal temperature for a nursery is 20 ° C, and humidity is 50–70%. Dry air leads to increased breathing, a decrease in the protective functions of the body, difficulty swallowing and colic. And in summer, in hot weather, overheating is added to all these problems, because of which the child sweats and loses precious moisture. It is easy to determine the first signs of dehydration: this is rare urination (normally - about 20 times a day), dryness of the mucous membranes, skin, tongue. In such a situation, water is simply necessary.

Many paediatricians recommend giving newborns water to drink even when they are sick - with fever or colic, which are easily recognized by tucked up legs, a tense tummy and restlessness of the child. A few sips of warm water can also help with hiccups.

What kind of water should I give to an infant?

Boiled water and water from open sources

Many parents believe that children should drink boiled water, but this is a delusion. Boiling leads to the destruction of only part of the bacteria, in addition, such water contains in excess chloride compounds that are very harmful to young children. Water from open sources is also dangerous - it may contain a high content of nitrates and bacteria from the soil and other harmful impurities. And, of course, babies should not be given healing mineral or sparkling water.

In addition, water from ordinary filter jugs designed to purify water for adults is not suitable for infants.

Bottled water

Baby water is sold in pharmacies and supermarkets. As a rule, on the bottle it has a special marking and information that this product has been tested by the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Water for a baby is different from the usual "adult" drinking water. In particular, other requirements for the content of minerals are imposed on it:

• total minerals less than 200–300 mg/l;
• calcium less than 60 mg/l;
• potassium less than 5–20 mg/l;
• sodium less than 20 mg/l;
• magnesium - less than 10-35 mg/l.

Boiling such water is not required, but it can be stored only for a day from the moment of opening and always in the refrigerator. The best container for bottled baby water is a glass bottle or polycarbonate container (bottles made of this material are marked with the number seven on the bottom).

Specially filtered water

Regardless of the brand of bottled baby water and the cost, it is impossible to be completely sure of its quality. Alas, there are also unscrupulous manufacturers, in addition, product quality may suffer during improper transportation or poor storage conditions.

Many parents, striving to give their children the best from the first days of their lives, “prepare” children's water on their own. Purifying water with quality home filters allows them to be sure that the filtered water does not contain harmful chemicals and bacteria. Moreover, advanced filters enrich the water with the necessary microelements that a growing child's body needs so much. Using water purification systems, parents themselves control its quality - this gives them the opportunity not to doubt the result. Filtering water at home is somewhat similar to making fresh juice: in both cases, the consumer can follow the process and get a natural and fresh drink. Meanwhile, it is impossible to control the technological process in large-scale production, and it is not known exactly how useful such a product is.

Another advantage of using home filters is their cost-effectiveness. Water obtained by home filtration is ten times cheaper, although it is not inferior in quality to water from a supermarket, and often even surpasses it.

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