How much water should a 7 month old drink

Recommended Drinks for Children Age 5 & Younger

By: Natalie D. Muth, MD, MPH, RDN, FAAP

What you offer your child to drink in the first 5 years of life can shape taste preferences for a lifetime. But from plant-based and toddler milks to 100% juice, stevia-sweetened fruit drinks and flavored milk, the options and the marketing can be overwhelming.

Thankfully, the best-choice beverages are really simple: water and plain milk.

Plain water provides the hydration all of us need to live. Milk provides calcium, vitamin D, protein, vitamin A, and zinc―all essential for healthy growth and development.

Suggested Daily Water & Milk Intake for Infants & Young Children
	6-12 months	12-24 months	2-5 years
Water	4-8 oz/day 0. 5-1 cup/day	8-32 oz/day 1-4 cups/day	8-40oz/day 1-5 cups/day
Cow's Milk*	None	16-24 oz/day 2-3 cups/day	16-20oz/day 2-2.5 cups/day

*Children ages 12-24 months are advised to drink whole milk and children 2 and older nonfat (skim) or low-fat (1%) milk. For information about short-term use of cow's milk for children over 6 months of age during the current baby formula shortage, read this article.

How do young children develop unhealthy beverage preferences?

We know children who drink mostly water and plain milk from a young age tend to continue drinking them as they age. But we also know, bad habits form early. Young children who are introduced to sweet drinks at a young age develop a strong preference for them―making water and plain milk a harder sell. PS: The same goes for food preferences.

When can I give my baby water? How much is ok?

Around 6 months, you can start offering your baby a little bit of water (4-8 oz/day, 0.5-1 cup/day) in an open, sippy, or strawed cup. This helps develop cup drinking skills and familiarity with water. If you live in an area where the water is fluoridated, drinking water will also help prevent future tooth decay. Note that the actual water intake is unlikely to replace much breast milk or formula at this point. Remember, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding as the sole source of nutrition for your baby for about 6 months. When you add solid foods to your baby's diet, continue breastfeeding until at least 12 months. Also see How to Safely Prepare Formula with Water.

At 12 months, you can transition your baby from breastmilk or formula to whole or reduced-fat milk. You can continue to breastfeed your baby after 12 months for a year or more, as long as you and your baby want to. For formula-fed babies 12 months and under, see Why Formula Instead of Cow's Milk?.

What about all of the other types of drinks?

While drinking only water and plain milk is the ideal, we know young children may be exposed to any number of other drinks at some point.

Here's why most of these other drinks should be avoided,

100% juice: it's very sweet tasting and lacks fiber, an important nutrient found in whole fruit. Once children are exposed to juice, it may be difficult to limit portions or get them to prefer plain water. In some cases where whole fruit is not available, giving your child a small amount of 100% juice (no more than 4 ounces per day in 2-3 year-olds and no more than 4 to 6 ounces in 4-5 year-olds) can provide some nutritional benefit. However, infants less than 1 year of age should not drink juice. Eating fruit is always preferred to drinking juice.
Flavored milk. Chocolate, strawberry, and other flavored milks contain added sugars. Added sugars should be avoided in children less than 2 years of age. Children aged 2-5 also should avoid flavored milk to minimize added sugars intake and avoid developing a preference for sweet tastes. An early preference for flavored milk may make it more difficult to get them to accept regular milk.
Plant-based 'milk.' For some children, a dairy allergy or milk intolerance may make it difficult to drink cow's milk. But keep in mind, most plant-based milks are not nutritionally-equivalent to cow's milk and may be lacking in important nutrients such as protein, vitamin D, and calcium. Other than soy milk, plant-based milks are not recommended for children to drink in place of dairy milk. Soy milk is nutritionally equivalent to cow's milk and is an acceptable alternative.
Stevia- or artificially-sweetened drinks. The health risks of stevia or artificial sweeteners to children are not well understood. For this reason, it is best to avoid sweetened drinks, even if they are calorie-free. When children have a strong preference for sweet drinks, it can lead them to dislike or refuse plain water.
Toddler milk. Toddler milks, often marketed by formula companies as "transitional" to wean from breast milk or formula, are unnecessary and potentially harmful to young children. These products contain added sugars and may fill a baby's stomach up so he or she is not hungry for healthier foods.
Sugary drinks. Sugary drinks like sodas, sports drinks, fruit drinks, lemonade, sweetened water, and other drinks containing added sugars are harmful to a child's health. They increase the risk of excess weight gain, dental cavities, heart disease, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.
Caffeinated drinks. Caffeine in young children increases the risk of poor sleep, irritability, nervousness, headaches, and difficulty concentrating. All caffeine-containing beverages are best avoided.

Editor's note: These early beverage recommendations are drawn from a report published by Healthy Eating Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics along with the American Heart Association, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

More information

Ask the Pediatrician: With the baby formula shortage, what should I do if I can't find any?
Choose Water for Healthy Hydration
Fruit Juice and Your Child's Diet
How to Reduce Added Sugar in Your Child's Diet
Beyond Chicken Nuggets: Protein-Rich Alternatives for Picky Eaters
Sports Nutrition for Busy Families and Busy Lifestyles

About Dr. Muth:

Natalie D. Muth, MD, MPH, RDN, FAAP, is a pediatrician and registered dietitian who practices general pediatrics and is the director of the W. E.L.L. healthy living clinic at Children's Primary Care Medical Group in Carlsbad, CA. She is author of the Family Fit Plan and co-author of Picky Eater Project, both published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Dr. Muth is also a current executive committee member of the AAP Section on Obesity and lead author of the joint AAP/AHA statement on public policies to reduce sugary drinks consumption in children and adolescents. She is also the AAP representative to the expert panel that developed the above beverage recommendations for children ages 0-5. Follow Dr. Muth on Twitter @drnataliemuth, Instagram @dr.nataliemuth, Facebook @howtoraisehealthyeaters, and visit her website drnataliemuth.com.

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

When Is It Safe to Give Water to Infants?

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

How Infants Stay Hydrated

As an adult, water is the most hydrating thing you can drink. It quenches your thirst and helps all of your systems stay balanced.

But children under a year old don’t need water like adults do. It can actually be dangerous for them. Babies get all their hydration from breast milk or formula.

When Babies Can Start Drinking Water

A baby should drink only breast milk or formula until they’re six months old. It has all the hydration and nutrition they need in the early months.

Even when you start giving them purees or table food at around 6 months of age, breast milk and formula are still more important than water. But you can begin to introduce it.

When babies are between 6 and 12 months of age, breast milk or formula continues to be a priority over water. But if you offer breast milk or formula first, you can then offer water, 2-3 ounces at a time. At this age, 4-8 ounces a day of water is enough. More than that may lead to water intoxication.

Making Sure Water Is Baby-Safe

Before using water to mix baby formula or offering a baby water for the first time, consider testing your tap water. While tap water may have fluoride that helps prevent tooth decay, it could also contain levels of lead that are unsafe for babies.

Most tap water in the U.S. is safe, with a few exceptions:

If you have untested well water.
If your water source has recently been contaminated.
If your baby has low immunity‌.

If you’re worried about lead exposure and traces of chemicals in your water, install a filtration system or use distilled water instead which can be easily purchased.

Considerations for mixing formula with water. If you use tap water to mix formula, mix only one bottle at a time. Don’t use tap water to mix formula in bulk amounts.

A similar rule applies to water that you’ve boiled. Refrigerate boiled water within an hour, and throw it away if you don’t use it within 24 hours. Always allow the water to cool completely before mixing the formula. Hot water can burn your baby.

When you purchase formula, carefully follow the instructions on the container for mixing it with water. Instructions vary by brand. This will ensure your baby gets the right amount of nutrients and hydration.

Mixing in too much formula may lead to constipation or dehydration. Mixing in too little formula may lead to malnutrition or water intoxication.

Risks of Water for Infants

Drinking too much water at a young age is very dangerous. Water causes an imbalance in sodium levels that may lead to:

Seizures
Brain damage
Coma‌
Death

Water intoxication leads to changes in behavior such as:

Confusion
Drowsiness
Muscle cramps and twitching
Nausea and vomiting
Difficulty breathing‌
Weakness

Watch for signs of water intoxication and call your doctor immediately if you have any concerns.

Water as Your Baby Grows

Between the ages of 1 and 3, your toddler needs 4 cups of liquid per day. This is a transitional period that should include both water and breastmilk or formula. The older your child gets, the more water they need. There are several ways you can encourage your older child to drink enough water.

Flavor water with fresh fruit. Water is healthier than juice since many children’s juices are full of sugar. If your child prefers the taste of juice, use fresh fruit to flavor their water. Lemon, berries, mint, and cucumber are great additions.

Offer more fruits and vegetables. Encourage your child to eat more fruits and vegetables with high water content. These help them stay hydrated without forcing them to drink more water than they want. Hydrating vegetables include cucumber, tomato, zucchini, celery, and iceberg lettuce. Hydrating fruits include strawberries, watermelon, blueberries, cantaloupe, and grapefruit.

Make creative ice cubes and popsicles. Puree your fruit of choice with water and freeze it into ice cubes or popsicle molds.

Provide special drinkware. Use a fancy cup with favorite colors or characters. When you find ways to make water fun, your child is more likely to enjoy drinking it.

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

Drinking regimen for a breastfed baby

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

Infants get all the water they need from breast milk, which fully satisfies the baby's fluid needs.

How to give water to a bottle-fed child

The situation is different with children who are bottle-fed or mixed-fed. 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 of age 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 “suitable for feeding children from the first days of life”;
Use an open 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 drink 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 your child to drink water

Keep juices and yoghurts out of the public domain;
Buy your baby a colorful water bottle or cup;
Suggest drinking from an adult cup;
Show how fun 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. It is better to provide him with physical activity. The child himself will ask for a drink when he begins to feel thirsty.

What can be done?

Teach your child to drink water and distinguish between thirst and hunger from birth. Listen to the baby and his needs and by his own example teach the child to drink water a lot and often.

How much water should the child drink and what water should the child be given?

Child's health is one of the main concerns of parents. Did you know that water plays a key role in the formation of the child's body and strengthening immunity? In this article, we will tell you how much life-giving liquid per day is recommended for children of different ages to drink and why this is important.

Science has long proven the great importance of drinking the required amount of water per day. And this is not surprising. So, the body of an adult is 60–75% water, and a child’s body is 80–90%. Water is easily absorbed by the body and has a strong influence on all processes occurring in it. Its lack leads to a deterioration in well-being, a decrease in immunity, and even weight gain. Often, the development of certain diseases is just a signal that our body does not have enough water! This liquid is especially important for children's health. And the sooner you help your child form the habit of drinking water regularly, the easier it will be for him to maintain a healthy lifestyle in adulthood.

As we have already said, water has a beneficial effect on health and is involved in vital processes. Regular consumption of a sufficient amount of water improves metabolism, maintains normal pressure and body temperature, reduces the risk of allergic reactions, and even has a positive effect on mood. Dehydration leads to rapid fatigue, fatigue, and the development of a number of diseases. Especially dangerous is the lack of water at elevated body temperature and on hot days.

Note!

The importance of keeping in drinking water the optimal ratio of biologically necessary macroelements (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus) and some microelements (selenium, potassium, zinc, iodine, fluorine) is recognized at the state level. Physiologically high-grade water plays a particularly important role in the diet of children, pregnant women, and the elderly [1].

Here is just a small list of changes in the body, which leads to lack of water:

infections and allergic reactions;
dry skin;
kidney stones;
digestive and metabolic problems;
pain in joints and back;
problems with teeth and gums.

In short, water is a natural component of our body. For children, the correct regimen and certain volumes of consumption of this fluid are especially important, since it is in childhood that all body systems are formed. And the sooner the child gets used to the regular use of water, the less often you will visit the doctor with him.

What kind of water to give your baby

The kind of water you give your baby will affect his health and well-being. Naturally, ordinary untreated tap water is out of the question, even if it is boiled. Water from wells or a pump room, as well as bottled water for adults, will not work either. The thing is that special regulatory requirements are imposed on children's drinking water and water for preparing baby food, which are contained in SanPiN 2.1.4.1116-02 (as amended on June 28, 2010).

Baby water:

must have a balanced mineral composition. However, the amount of salts and their concentration in children's water, according to the norms, is much lower than in water for adults;
must be free of preservatives, including carbon dioxide and silver;
if we are talking about bottled water, then the label must contain information that it is “water for baby food” and “water of the highest category”, as well as information that the product has been registered with Rospotrebnadzor.
Stress

1.5–7 m-EKV/l

alkalinity
0. 5–6.5 mg-OKV/lm 9000.5 mg-sequ
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 Roskontrol quality monitoring system[2], the phrases “childish” or “from the first days of life” often found on water bottles are just a marketing ploy that does not impose on the manufacturer the obligation to follow the legal requirements 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

Babies up to four to six months, 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 adapted to the needs of the baby. 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 bottle-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 of age require 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.
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