If you prefer bottled baby water, be sure to read the label. It must necessarily indicate: the type of water, its category, information on state registration, chemical and physiological composition, storage conditions, date of manufacture, place of collection and, of course, expiration date.

Important!

Not every bottled water has the right to be called children's water. To do this, the label must necessarily indicate - "for baby food." According to the experts of the quality monitoring system "Roskontrol" [2] , the phrases "for children" or "from the first days of life" often found on bottles of water are just a marketing ploy that does not impose on the manufacturer the obligation to follow the requirements of the legislation for the mineral composition and security. And, of course, the presence of children's drawings is also not a confirmation that the contents of the bottle meet the quality standards for children's drinking water.

Perhaps it is precisely because of the high regulatory requirements that manufacturers are afraid to put the cherished words “for baby food” on the labels, thereby relieving themselves of responsibility. According to research by the non-profit organization Roskontrol conducted in 2016, out of 11 samples of bottled water from popular brands, which is positioned by manufacturers as children's, only three were tested: this is only 27% of the total number of tested samples. In the rest, an unbalanced salt composition was revealed, as well as a significant excess in the number of microorganisms that actively multiply at a temperature of 37°C, the content of chloroform, and even traces of mercury were found, although in small quantities [3] .

Important!

Heavy metals, which, unfortunately, can be found in many foods, tend to accumulate in the body. Accordingly, the norms are developed taking into account the total risk, which may have a delayed effect.

Although a lot of time has passed since the testing by Roskontrol specialists, we were unable to find information on how exactly these shortcomings were corrected by manufacturers and whether they were corrected at all. In connection with such complaints about the quality of children's bottled water, many experts recommend giving children water purified in household filters intended for children, without the use of cartridges containing silver ions, which can disrupt the child's intestinal microflora and lead to the development of dysbiosis. Moreover, the use of household filters allows not only to purify water from microorganisms, excess salts, but also to enrich it with microelements necessary for the child, such as fluorine and magnesium.

Norm of water consumption for a child

How much water does a child need to drink? The consumption rate will depend on age, weight, mobility, physical condition and even weather conditions.

From birth to one year old

Babies up to four to six months old, as a rule, get all the nutrients, including water, from their mother's milk. During this period, doctors do not recommend drinking water for babies. First of all, because it is at this time that the intestinal microflora is formed and any intervention can affect the process. Moreover, water fills the stomach and creates a false feeling of fullness - because of this, the baby may not eat up.

The composition of mother's milk is perfectly adjusted to the needs of the child. And if the baby is hot, he is more often applied to the breast and as a result receives a lot of foremilk, which is 88-90% water. It is important that the mother herself consumes the required amount of water and does not feel thirsty!

However, doctors allow giving babies from three months a little water on a spoon - but only in hot weather, when the child sweats or when his mouth dries up. In no case is it necessary to force, it is important to offer: if the baby wants, he will drink. This should be done between feedings. Water can also be given when the child has the following problems:

• constipation;
• diarrhea or vomiting;
• hiccups;
• fever.

But this should also be done carefully, without persistence.

But if the child is formula-fed or mixed-fed, then water has to be used for formula preparation and additionally given between feedings from the first day. But remember, the baby can drink no more than 100-200 ml per day.

In general, babies under one year old need 50 ml of water per kilogram of body weight, but remember that approximately 75% of their water comes from milk and food. Therefore, in order to calculate how much of this life-giving fluid is needed to maintain water balance, it follows from the daily requirement indicator (50 ml, multiplied by the weight of the child) subtract the amount of water received with food (the volume of milk drunk in ml, multiplied by 0.75).

One to three years old

When solid foods are introduced into the baby's diet, the need for water increases. At the same time, children begin to actively move, so the intensity of fluid loss increases. You can calculate the daily water requirement in the same way: a child needs 50 ml of water per kilogram of weight. In this case, we are talking about pure non-carbonated water: juice, compote, tea and other similar drinks are not taken into account.

Here are some signs that a child is not getting enough water:

• dry lips;
• dry and/or pale skin;
• diaper not wet after six to eight hours of sleep;
• the child shows anxiety, cries more often, but without tears;
• urine is dark or has a strong odor;
• the child is drinking water greedily.

Three to seven years

The older the child, the more water he drinks. By school age, this volume will already reach 1.2–1.7 liters of water per day. At the same time, from the age of four, the nervous and skeletal system begins to actively form in the baby. Therefore, it is important that the water contains the required amount of fluorine and magnesium

During this period it is important to teach the child to drink regularly. Care should be taken to ensure that water is always available. You can take handy bottles with you for walks.

Important!

For children with heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, the drinking regimen must be prescribed by a doctor.

Seven years and older

At this age, the norm of water consumption is 1.7–2.5 liters of water per day. When calculating the individual value, it is worth considering the energy of your child. If he plays sports and is generally physically active, then the amount of fluid you drink should be increased. Also keep in mind that the composition of water for children aged 12 and over should be as close as possible to the composition of water for adults. And remember that during periods of illness or in hot weather, the need for fluid increases.

How much water children under one year old should drink - an article from the "Healthy habits" section on Food.

Drinking regimen for a breastfed baby

According to WHO (World Health Organization) recommendations, children should be exclusively breastfed up to 6 months . Babies who are fed by their mothers on demand, and not by the hour, do not need supplementation.

All the water children need comes from breast milk, which fully satisfies the baby's fluid needs.

How to give water to a bottle-fed child

The situation is different for children who are bottle-fed or mixed. On the one hand, infant formula is prepared with water, but on the other hand, it is food. It turns out that extra fluid babies need.

It is recommended to supplement formula-fed babies after the main feeding. Two to three teaspoons of water is usually sufficient.

Water fills the volume of the baby's stomach, and if the baby is given water immediately before feeding, he will eat less formula. This means that you will get hungry faster without getting the necessary amount of nutrients.

How to choose water for your baby

Children under 3 years old should not drink mineral and carbonated water. A child under one year old should not be given tap water, as well as water that has undergone long-term heat treatment. Bottled water intended for adults is also not suitable for children.

It is recommended to give preference to bottled specialized children's water of the highest category, which has passed all the necessary stages of purification and has a low level of mineralization, which eliminates the risk of violations in the baby's kidneys.

Children's water is certified by Rospotrebnadzor. It is balanced in mineral composition. Here's what you need to know when buying baby water:

• Choose only special water;

• Give preference to children's lines only from trusted brands;

• Check that the bottle is labeled “water suitable for feeding children from the first days of life”;

• Use an opened bottle of baby water within 24 hours.

In the production of water for children, special sanitary standards apply, such water is bottled on a separate line, on which other products are not produced.

Drinking regime after the start of complementary foods

After the introduction of complementary foods, fruit juices appear in the baby's diet. They do not replace water, but parents now need to be more careful about how much liquid their child drinks.

After 8-9 months drinking yogurt and kefir are added to the diet. The scheme for calculating the amount of water becomes more complicated.

The calculation formula looks like this: from 6 months to a year, the rate of water consumption is 50 ml per 1 kg of body. That is, a baby weighing 10 kg should drink 500 ml of water. And they include juices, yogurts and soups.

It is best to teach your child to drink water from a cup, sippy cup, straw or spoon from the very beginning. A breastfed baby will not experience so-called “nipple confusion” (a situation where a baby confuses a nipple and breast), and it will be easier for babies on artificial and mixed feeding to wean from the bottle.

It is enough to offer the baby a glass of water from time to time between meals. Many children like to play with water, spill it and spit - this is normal. Don't worry: if the child is thirsty, he will drink.

Juice and fermented milk products for babies under one year old are a complete meal. Do not offer them to quench your thirst.

Closely monitor children's drinking regimen during illness, especially if there is a risk of dehydration. Then the baby should be supplemented and fed with water, or breastfeeding should be offered as often as possible if he is still breastfeeding.

How to teach a child to drink water

• Keep juices and yoghurts out of the public domain;

• Buy your baby a colorful water bottle or cup;

• Offer to try drinking from an adult cup;

• Show how fun and interesting it is to drink water through a straw;

• Place shatterproof glasses of water throughout the house so that the child can drink whenever he wants;

• Do not force your baby to drink water.

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