Water is essential for all of us (not just babies) but knowing when and why babies need water is an important topic that generates a lot of questions from parents.
In this post we’ll dive into why water is a great option for hydration. When it should be offered and briefly touch on how much at each age. What’s the deal with bottled water and what to do when it comes to travelling or going on holiday.
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.
Why do babies need water?
Why ?– While breastmilk / infant formula will be the primary drink during the first year of life, water is an ideal second drink option for infants and toddlers.
- Water is essential for everyone to keep hydrated. It also has several functions including carrying nutrients around the body, lubricating joints and regulating your body temperature and digestion.
- Water has a neutral pH with little flavour – the neutral pH means it’s ideal for teeth health.
- It’s free and in the UK we’re fortunate to have it readily available, clean & safe for babies and everyone to drink.
- Encourages good hydrating habits early on – When it comes to weaning, water should ideally be the only alternative drink offered to milk to encourage good habits early on. Drinks like smoothies, juices and fizzy drinks can be harmful for their teeth if given in excess and too frequently.
An interesting and important point to note is that children have a decreased thirst sensitivity compared to adults. Meaning that they aren’t able to recognize symptoms of thirst as well as we are. That’s why it’s important that we’re offering water regularly to help get them used to the practice of keeping hydrated.
When do babies need water?
0 – 6 months – Exclusively breastfed babies won’t need water until they start eating solid foods (from around 6 months). Breast milk provides all of the necessary hydration. Formula-fed babies may need additional water only during hot weather. 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 it to your baby. For babies over 6 months, there is no need to boil tap water anymore.
6 months + From around 6 months, when you start weaning it’s a good idea to introduce some water with meals. To get your baby used to the taste and also to encourage the use of a cup (read this blog for more on cups and beakers).
How much?
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. Generally speaking, drinks account for around 80% of fluid intake and foods 20%. Find further details on the amounts your baby or child actually needs you can check out this blog – How much water does my baby need?
Different types of “water”
What kind of water is good for infants?
Tap water – is best for your baby or child. If they are under 6 months then it needs to be boiled and cooled first, otherwise after 6 months it can be drunk straight from the tap.
Bottled – Is not an ideal option but If you do have to use bottled water, such as on holiday and whether for feeds or as a drink, make sure to check that the sodium (may be shown as ‘Na’) level is below 200 milligrams (mg) per litre and the sulphate level (may be shown as ‘SO’ or ‘SO4’) is below 250mg per litre.
Boiled water should reach a temperature of at least 70 C to prepare a feed, allowing it to cool before giving it to baby. Again, whether using bottled water for a milk feed or for a drink, best practice is to boil and cool it before offering it to a baby.
What water is not advised for babies?
Fizzy & flavoured water is not advised for babies, The Mummy Dentist touched on this in her post, so I’ll include her helpful information again here.
- Fizzy water – doesn’t contain sugar but it is ‘carbonated’: the process by which the bubbles are added involves a weak, carbonic acid. This means the pH of sparkling water is often reported as between 5-6 (neutral is 7).
Potentially this is a problem with regards to tooth enamel and erosion. Baby tooth enamel is relatively thinner and so more vulnerable, which is why no fizzy drinks are advised for young children.
- Flavoured water – or water with an added taste. Some of these contain sugar, some will be labelled ‘sugar free’. But the fruit flavourings are often created by using sweeteners (natural or artificial) and citric acid. A study reported that the average pH of fruit-flavoured waters to be 3.3 which can again lead to softening of the tooth enamel – increasing the risk of dental issues including erosion and decay.
Top tips for keeping them hydrated
Role modelling – setting an example by role modelling drinking plain water at mealtimes and other times will help to remind and encourage them to drink too.
Frequency -keep offering and drinks of plain water throughout the day, little and often. Having a cup or bottle filled up and accessible.
Routine – ensure you are offering water regularly at mealtimes and with snacks.
Water for babies and toddlers when travelling abroad
In the UK we’re lucky that safe drinking water is readily available. However this isn’t always the case when travelling abroad, which can make it a bit trickier with a little one in tow. Check out https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries for some useful information on recommendations in the destination you’re visiting. When travelling with a young child, make sure to look for baby friendly water brands. Such as Evian, where the salt and sulphate content is well below the recommended limits. There should be a label on the bottle signalling if it’s ‘baby friendly’ or not. But you can always check the back of the pack to see the levels of sodium and sulphate yourself.
In conclusion, water is essential for your baby’s health, helping with digestion, hydration, and overall growth. Introduce water to your baby at around 6 months, alongside breast milk or formula. Offer plain tap water as this is safe, free and has a neutral ph which won’t damage your baby’s teeth.
If you’re looking for ways to help your little ones stay more hydrated, see my blog on “How to Keep your Child Hydrated When they Don’t Drink Much”