Wondering when babies tin drink h2o in addition to breast milk or formula?

Little ones generally don't need water for the outset few months — and even when you practise add H2O to the mix, your babe volition just need a few sips.

Here's what every parent needs to know about when babies can start drinking water.

Can babies potable water?

Babies should only begin drinking sips of h2o once they start eating solid foods. Before and then, babies become the hydration they need from formula and/or breast milk.

When tin babies beverage water?

So whencan you give h2o to your infant? Nearly experts suggest that you expect until y'all've started solids, when your petty one is around half dozen months old. You tin start solids between 4 and half-dozen months one-time, but experts recommend waiting until your baby is closer to half dozen months in most cases.

Once your baby starts drinking water, offer a trivial at a time from a sippy loving cup if she'll have information technology. Babies usually tin't get also much water from a cup (merely a bottle) — plus information technology'south adept do for when all of baby's drinks will come from a cup.

If your trivial one volition but drink water from a bottle for the time being, that's okay as long as you monitor (and limit) how much she'south getting.

How much water can my babe beverage?

From well-nigh six months on, babies demand 4 to 6 ounces of water a mean solar day, or just over half a loving cup of h2o. Only ask your pediatrician how much your piddling one needs before your baby starts drinking h2o.

Drinking From a Cup

Why can't very young babies potable water?

Infants get all the water they demand from breast milk or formula, which volition keep them well-hydrated. In that location are also risks associated with giving a baby water before she's old enough, including:

Continue Reading Below

  • Nutrient deficiencies
  • Weight loss
  • Chemic imbalances

Risks of giving your baby water too shortly

Very piffling babies tin can't drink h2o considering of the following risks:

  • A lack of nutrients. Babies who satisfy their appetite and their demand to suck with bottles of water miss out on important nutrients they get from breast milk and formula feedings.
  • Insufficient weight gain. If your babe regularly drinks water in addition to chest milk or formula, she isn't filling up on food. Over fourth dimension, that ways your baby won't take the calories she needs to proceeds the appropriate amount of weight.
  • Decreased milk supply. If y'all're breastfeeding, giving your babe h2o tin can ultimately decrease your milk supply, since babies who fill upwardly on water will feed less at the breast.
  • Chemical imbalances. Letting your baby drink large amounts of water can lead to water intoxication, a potentially dangerous condition where electrolytes (similar sodium) in a baby'south bloodstream become diluted. This can bear on a baby's normal body functions, resulting in symptoms like low torso temperature or seizures.

Benefits of giving your baby h2o

H2o benefits older babies half dozen months and up by helping them stay hydrated, which:

  • Transports nutrients and oxygen to cells while helping remove waste product
  • Keeps joints and tissues lubricated
  • Maintains blood book
  • Eliminates the need for fruit juice (which pediatricians propose avoiding earlier the historic period of ane anyway — and then only offering it in very express quantities, if at all)

Should babies potable water when it's hot outside?

Many doctors recommend that babies drink small sips of water when it's very hot outside to reduce the risk of aridity, just be certain to check with your child's pediatrician commencement.

Signs of dehydration in babies

If yous're concerned that your child isn't getting plenty fluids considering she's sick or information technology'due south extremely hot exterior, sentry out for these signs of dehydration in babies:

  • Fewer than six wet diapers in 24 hours
  • Dark xanthous urine
  • Croaky lips
  • Tearless crying (crying with few or no tears)
  • Dry skin that doesn't bounce back when gently pressed
  • Sunken optics
  • Listlessness
  • Sunken fontanelle (the "soft spot" on the top of her head)
  • Extreme fussiness
  • Unusual sleepiness
  • Cold hands and feet

When to call the doctor

If your infant is sick with diarrhea and/or is airsickness, phone call your child's doc for tips to ensure your little one stays hydrated. Also call the pediatrician if your child shows whatever signs of dehydration.

One last tip: Say no to fruit juice until your infant's at least ane year quondam, if at all. Not only does juice fill up your babe's tiny tummy, leaving less room for milk and food, just the sugar in juice tin crusade stomach cramping and diarrhea in young babies.

Although friends and relatives might say it's necessary to offer babies h2o in the first months of life, information technology'south all-time to concur off until your little ane starts solids to avoid potential health problems. Y'all'll be regularly serving the clear stuff before you lot know it!