How much water your baby needs depends on lots of factors from their age, feeding methods and weather. This post gives details on the EXACT amounts your baby needs from birth to an older child. It also details HOW you should offer water and other ways to get water from foods.
Factors influencing babies water needs
Babies should gradually be introduced to drinking water in a cup from 6 months of age. There are many reasons why babies need additional water from this age and this is explored in more depth here.
The factors that influence their water needs include the following and are worth knowing:
- Age – under 6 months they won’t need any additional drinks of water.
- Feeding method – if they are exclusively breastfed then they won’t need any extra water until they get beyond 6 months. If they are formula fed then they may need a little extra cooled boiled water in hot weather.
- Weather – in warmer, especially hotter weather their water needs will increase.
- Activity levels – more active babies are likely to drink a bit more water as their thirst increases.
How much water does my baby need?
When thinking about how much water your little one should be aiming for, it’s important to note that water can come from foods as well as drinks. The guidelines in the table below refer to the total intake which includes both food and drinks. Generally speaking, drinks account for about 80% of fluid intake. While food accounts for another 20%.


How much water for (0-6 months)?
Babies get their fluid intake from their breast or formula milk, so they don’t need extra water to drink. However if the weather is very hot you may find they want to breastfeed more as their thirst increases.
Giving them extra water at this age can cause them to drink less breast or formula milk and because formula milk is essential for them to get enough energy, nutrients and vitamins at this stage, we don’t want water displacing the nutrition in their milk.
How much for (6 months – 1 year)?
Little sips – they need no more than little sips to begin with at 6 months or when they start eating solids. As they progress with eating more meals their intake of water will increase. Try simply getting them into the habit of drinking water by offering it alongside meals and role model drinking it in front of them yourself!
How much for 1 year +?
From 1 year upwards it is recommended to have 6 – 8 glasses a day. The amount of fluid in each glass increases as they get older – see the table below.
The table below shows the recommended total fluid intake and what this means in household measures:


Age | Total Fluid Intake from Food & Drinks (ml/day) | As cups |
6-12 months | 800-1000 | Sips with meals |
1-2 years | 1100 – 1200 | 6-8 glasses (~120ml each) + food |
2-3 years | 1300 | 6-8 glasses (~150ml each) + food |
4-8 years | 1600 | 6-8 glasses (~200ml each) + food |
Do I need to boil and cool tap water for my baby?
When offering water to babies under 6 months, tap water is not suitable as it’s not sterile. It should be boiled first and then allowed to cool before offering to a baby. For babies over 6 months, there is no need to boil tap water anymore and you can offer water straight from the tap. This is the advice in England.If you’re looking for more information on fluid intakes or drinks in general, check out my other blogs on this topic; on drinks overall, and specifically on milk.
How should I offer water to my baby?
With meals – once they start weaning around 6 months you can start to offer a little water with meals. It will only be sips to begin with so no need to offer large amounts. Around 1- 2 oz is fine so it doesn’t displace breast or formula milk.
Start with an open cup – from 6 months they can start with an open cup to get them used to sipping. Find out more here about which cups are best for babies.
As they get older you can introduce more. From 1 year, they can be offered it throughout the day as they come off milk as their main drink.
Water from food – if you are having trouble with getting your child to drink much then introducing lots of foods with a high water content can really help. Fruits and vegetables are the best sources for this. If you’re struggling to get your little ones to drink enough water, check out this blog on How to keep your child hydrated when they don’t drink much for tips and reassurance.


Foods with water
Fruits, vegetables and milk are all good food sources of water and so a diet rich in these can contribute a higher amount of fluid to the overall intake. (https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1459)
Some good ideas include;
- Tomatoes
- Spinach
- courgettes
- cucumber
- watermelon
- soft berries like strawberries
- fruit juices or smoothies (but no more than 1 glass a day) after 1 year of age
- Homemade fruit juice lollies – after 1 year
Find more ways to keep your child hydrated here.
The graphic below shows some of the top foods for offering hydration and the amounts!


What are the signs of dehydration in babies?
Babies can become more easily dehydrated than adults because they often get illnesses such as vomiting and diarrhea that causes water to be lost. If they do get sick, ensure you keep them well hydrated if possible.
Some signs of dehydration to look for include:
- Fewer or lighter wet nappies
- Darker yellow urine
- Dry mouth
- Irritability
- Extreme thirst or seeming more thirsty than normal
- Lethargic and not as energetic
If you are worried at all then please seek advice from your health visitor or GP.
Useful links
- Water for Babies
- The Best Drinks & Cups for children
- Cups and Beakers for Toddlers
- What should my Baby or Toddler Be Drinking
- How much water does my baby need?https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/drinks-and-cups-children/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/weaning-and-feeding/drinks-and-cups-for-babies-and-young-children/


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