When Can Babies Have Water? What Every Parent Needs to Know!

As a parent, something that might bother you is to understand the hydration requirements of your baby.

Especially when parenting a newborn, you struggle to know when’s the right Time to give your newborn some water. Can you give them water before they are 6 months old?

The easy answer is that when your baby is ready to have solids, you can give them water. But what’s the exact Time to introduce water to your baby?

Read this article for a detailed answer.

Why Babies Don’t Need Water in the First 6 Months

The baby won’t need water until they are six months old. Parents and caregivers should only feed them breast milk or water during this period. These are two sources of all the nutrients and hydration your baby needs until they are six months of age.

The Role of Breast Milk

So, how does your baby fulfil his need for water? Breastmilk fulfills all those needs for your baby throughout the early months of their lives. Breastmilk contains minerals, vitamins, antibodies, and water that help support the baby’s immune system and growth.

The same goes for formula-fed babies. They also have sufficient nutrients and hydration through formula. These drinks are also prepared with hydration in mind for the babies. But it’s prohibited for babies to have water before 6th month of their life. Giving them water before six months can lead them to several difficulties.

So, if you are wondering when babies can have water, then here are a few things you need to keep in mind –

Nutrient Deficiency: when your little one is consuming too much water instead of breast milk or formula, they can miss out on nutrients needed for growth and development.

Water Intoxication: water intoxication is also a possibility when you give water to your newborn. Excessive levels of water intake can dilute the sodium level in their blood. Potentially, it can lead to serious health issues and risks like seizures or brain damage.

Reduced Milk Intake: if giving water to a newborn doesn’t do all the other harm, it can reduce their breast milk intake. If they have the formula, then there’s a chance for them to have less formula. This way, their breast milk intake goes down, leading to lower immunity power.

According to studies, parents feel their little ones need more fluid because of cultural beliefs or some misconceptions passed down through generations.

But giving water to a newborn (before 6 months of age) isn’t the best practice. Many researchers have suggested that giving water to babies before they are 6 months old can affect their breastfeeding habits.

When Is It Safe to Introduce Water?

So, when do you start to give your little one water? The easy and simple answer is when they are 6 months of age. But you can also begin to way later. This works better with the introduction of solid food into the diet. When your baby has solid food, you’ll need to drink water.

This works with the introduction of solid food into their diet, which increases the need for introducing water. This is when your baby needs additional fluid on top of the diet, which consists of puree and other different types of food as well.

Here’s the right age for offering water and food to your baby –

Recommended Age for Introducing Water

6 months: The right age for your baby to have water is six months. At this age, you can start to give your little one some water. 4 to 8 ounces of water per day is perfectly normal for a baby that’s 6 months old. At this age, a slight reduction in the amount of formula you feed them isn’t a problem.

1 year: when your child is six months old, they can drink water more comfortably and freely than they could in their six months of age. You can give them water alongside cow milk or colid food.

As per the AAP, you can offer your baby 8 ounces of water per day. But that does not mean reducing their intake of breastmilk significantly.

When starting to give them water, make sure that your baby has enough amount of breast milk or formula. Initially, the amount will be less than 8 ounces. You can increase it little by little as they near their first birthday.

How to Introduce Water to Your Baby

Now that you know when babies can have water, what’s the process of starting out? Introducing water should be a gradual process that allows your baby to adapt to this new taste and experience.

Start Small

Yes, your baby can have up to 8 ounces of water per day when they are 6 months old. Make sure to give them a few sips or in a sippy cup alongside their food. Giving them water during mealtime is good enough.

Use a Sippy Cup

The best method for giving your baby water to drink is with sippy cups. Even feeding them water with a spoon works. But with a sippy cup, you can help your baby learn how to drink from a cup little by little.

Make a routine

Your baby won’t start drinking water in a day or get habituated easily. But you can make it easier for them by offering them meals and snacks. You can introduce water into your baby’s daily routine little by little while also using a sippy cup to help them drink water.

Give it Time

Your baby can initially reject water water when they are starting out. This is completely opposite to the sweeter taste of breastmilk. It’s completely normal for your baby to feel reluctant to drink water. So, the best way to make it easier for them is by offering water gently without pressure. Give your baby time to adjust to having a new drink other than formula or breast milk.

Encourage Exploration

If you are introducing water near the end of 11 months, you can start to innovate. Bring new things to the mix. Give your baby a cup with a straw or a bottle. This way, you can make drinking water interesting for your baby. It’s also a skill-building exercise for your little one to explore. When you give them the choice to drink, you reduce the chances of their overconsumption of water.

Tips: When Can Babies Have Water?

For introducing water, here are the things you need to keep in mind.

1. If you are giving your baby tap water, boil it first. Cool down the water before you serve it to the baby. This helps you reduce potential contaminants within the water.
2. Reduce the amount of water you offer to someone at this stage.
3. Avoid offering them mineral water since the minerals and salt present in the water can be dangerous for the baby.
4. Offering too much water during the first few days can cause water intoxication with a reduced amount of breast milk intake.
5. Make sure that your baby is hydrated. Monitor their diapers. If they have 6 to 8 diapers, it indicates they are having adequate hydration.
6. Consider giving your baby berries or cucumber slices when they are getting old enough to consume solids. This way, you’ll ensure hydration even through other mediums.

When to Consult a Pediatrician

If you have concerns about your baby’s hydration or feeding habits, it’s important to consult your pediatrician. You should seek advice if:

• Your baby is showing signs of dehydration (e.g., fewer wet diapers and dry mouth).
• You are unsure about how much water is appropriate for your baby’s age.
• Your baby refuses to drink water consistently after introducing it.

Conclusion

So, if you were wondering when babies can have water, the answer is after six months of age. In the first few months, breast milk takes care of all the necessary nutrients they need in the body. Then, you can introduce water little by little.

But after they are six months old or older you can introduce water alongside breastmilk or formula they are already having. Even when you introduce solid food to their diet, it’s best to continue with breastmilk as long as they aren’t fully ready for a solid-only diet. By following these guidelines and being attentive to your baby’s needs, you can help them develop healthy hydration habits that last a lifetime.

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