If information technology's a hot, sunny day, you might wonder if it is safety to give h2o to your six-month-onetime babe. While you may be aware of when to start your baby's solid food nutrition, the information about water consumption may not be well known. Then, when can babies beverage water? The right time depends on the age, different activities, and the child's food intake. Moreover, it is of import to innovate small quantities to avoid whatever discomfort. Yous demand to adopt certain measures while hydrating your infant to ensure it does non adversely bear upon their health. So, if yous have similar queries, read on! In this post, we volition tell you virtually h2o for babies, including the right time, the adequate quantity, preventive measures, and the right means to feed it to your little one.

When Can Babies Drink Water?

Once your baby is six months old, you can begin giving water in small amounts. This is the time when you introduce solid foods, and also when she gets more than active. You can also offer clear soup merely not soda or other sugary drinks. You may outset with a sippy cup, spoon, or canteen feeder.

However, backlog water might result in her tummy pain or whatsoever other discomfort (1).

[Read: Is Mineral Water Safe For Infant]

Is It Not Prophylactic To Give Water Before Half-dozen Months?

It is, usually, not for the following reasons (2):

  1. Affects nutrient absorption: Water fills the baby with empty calories and can affect her ability to absorb nutrients from breastmilk or formula. Breast milk or formula has plenty water, extra water makes kids pass more than urine. It tin can atomic number 82 to weight loss and elevate the levels of bilirubin, and also increase the risk of infection.
  1. Water intoxication: Too much h2o can cause water intoxication in babies, thus diluting the nutrients in the body. It volition issue in seizures, and reduced body temperature.
  1. Dehydration: Co-ordinate to the researchers at Johns Hopkins Children'southward Center, U.s.a., babies younger than vi months should not be given h2o as their kidneys are however not adult, they affluent out sodium, along with excess water (3).
  1. Backlog water can stimulate the kidneys to flush out sodium and electrolytes causing dehydration.
  1. No ambition for breastmilk: The baby's breadbasket is full with h2o and she would not want to drink breastmilk. This will make her miss on her daily dose of nutrients (4).

[ Read : Munchkin Miracle Stainless Steel Sippy Cup Review ]

Allow's at present see how much water should a infant drinkable after six months.

Water For Babies Aged Six To 12 Months:

When you beginning to give solid food around six months, the babe's intake of milk reduces from 25-30oz to fourteen-25oz a day. This, however, depends on the kind of solids yous innovate and the frequency with which the little i eats.

Forth with breastmilk or formula, she may not crave more than two to 4 ounces of h2o every 24-hour interval (5). If your child is very active, you can provide some more water occasionally.

H2o For Babies Older Than 12 Months:

When your baby enters the 12th month, the milk intake reduces to 16oz a day. Past this time, you lot may take introduced a variety of foods and established a routine of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Therefore, with the reduced milk consumption, varied food intake and increased activity, your child'due south need for water increases naturally (6).

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, toddlers need around i.3 liters of water every day (7). It includes h2o from milk, food and other sources. Proper hydration will help ease bowel movements and replenish lost fluids.

What Kind Of Loving cup Or Bottle Is All-time To Use?

You may have to choose different kinds of cups or bottles depending on the age of your niggling 1.

Effectually half dozen months: At this ideal historic period to innovate water, use a cup containing handles and a harbinger or soft spout. You lot should cull a non-spill valve that is removable. The free-catamenia cup will help your baby to potable without sucking. This also helps oral development as she uses dissimilar muscles to drink.

If the baby is transitioning from breastmilk to formula, a canteen with a breast-like nipple should suit her. Your baby'south latch will be natural.

Effectually 12 months: This is the age you can assist them in drinking from cups. If she is already drinking from a spout or straw, moving to cups is easier for her. Y'all tin apply a sports cup or an open up loving cup. A non-spill valve is ideal.

[Read: How To Choose Canteen For Infant]

How To Give Water To The Infant?

You should make sure the babe is drinking water advisedly. The post-obit instructions may be of some help:

  • Teach your baby to hold a cup/drinking glass.
  • And then help her tilt the cup merely enough to make the water menses steadily.
  • Agree the cup as she drinks from it.
  • You will accept to do this regularly earlier she can concord the cup without your help and without spilling the content.
  • You can use no-spill sippy cups so that the water doesn't spill. The sippy cups are safety fifty-fifty if they are turned upside downwardly, every bit the water does not come up out unless the baby sucks information technology.
  • Y'all may experiment with multiple sippy cups until you lot find the one that is comfortable for your baby.

Follow these bones guidelines to introduce your baby to h2o, and go along her hydrated.

Some Additional Measures To Keep Your Baby Adequately Hydrated

Yous can make the early days of water consumption interesting and healthy for your baby. Here are a few tips:

  • Let your baby have small quantities frequently. Requite small amounts of h2o or watery fluids all through the day.
  • Utilise colorful cups and differently shaped straws then that your baby will be excited about drinking water.
  • Exist wary of weather condition atmospheric condition and activities. Requite plenty water during activity fourth dimension, and in hot weather. Allow them take at least four ounces every twenty minutes.
  • Give more h2o-rich foods such every bit soups or fruits like orangish, watermelon, and grapes. Flavour h2o with lime, lemon, oranges or cucumber to make drinking fun.
  • Yous tin can replace the lost fluids by giving your baby formula, breastmilk or a rehydration solution. However, practise not requite plain water to rehydrate her body.

Do not be in a hurry to introduce h2o to your baby. In the first six months, breastmilk is everything for her –nutrient, h2o, fruits, and vegetables all packed in one. Innovate water gradually after vi months only make sure the baby is not drinking and then much that she loses her appetite.

Oftentimes Asked Questions

i. Should you give boiled water for babies?

Yes, it is good to eddy and cool the water for your baby. Boiling kills the microorganisms, thereby reducing the risk of any infection. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, sterile water should be used for babies fifty-fifty while preparing infant formula (eight).

2. Can babies drink bottled water?

It is not safe to give bottled water for babies as it is likely to be high in sodium and sulfate content. Requite water that is low in sodium and sulfates. One liter water should contain less than 200mg of sodium (Na) and 250mg of sulphate (SO or SO4). Y'all may utilize bottled water that is labeled as purified, deionized, demineralized and distilled (9).

[Read: Is Alkaline Water Safe For Babies]

3. Can you dilute formula with water?

Do not add excess h2o to dilute the formula feed. Read the directions for making formula and add the recommended amount. Adding excess water can only raise the hazard for water intoxication, wherein your infant takes in fewer nutrients than what she should.

4. When tin can babies drink tap h2o?

You can start giving tap water from the time you introduce h2o to your baby but make sure the water is non fluorinated. You can also employ a water filter and then that filtering removes sure additives such as chlorine and fluoride to keep the tap water fresh (10).

v. Tin you give juice to beverage?

Yous may give juices to your baby when they are 12 months one-time. But ensure it is 100% fruit juice without whatever added sugars or preservatives, or else information technology increases the risk of tooth decay. Requite equally less as four ounces per day, forth with a meal or a snack because juice can make full up their tummy. Information technology can besides lead to diarrhea, diaper rash and weight proceeds (xi).

Nosotros hope our trivial guide helps you lot brainstorm the process of introducing water to your baby smoothly. If you have got whatsoever more ideas to share, experience free to write them below.

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Dr. Raju Shah is the medical director of the Ankur Institute of Child Health and is a former professor and head of the department of pediatrics at the GCS Medical College, both in Ahmedabad, India. He obtained his MBBS in 1970 and Dr. in pediatrics in 1974 from the B. J. Medical College in Ahmedabad and trained in vaccinology at... more

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist and toddler mom with over viii years of feel in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children. Then she worked every bit a nutrition faculty and clinical nutrition bus in unlike organizations. Her involvement in scientific writing... more