When Can Babies Drink Water And How To Feed It To Them

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T a b l e Of C o n t e n t s :

L i s a was i n a d i l e m m a . The c l i m a t e was h o t , but s h e wasn’t s u r e if h e r six-month-old b a b y should b e given w a t e r to d r i n k . The l i t t l e one w a s yet t o taste H 2 O , and L i s a wanted t o know t h e right t i m e for t h e babies t o begin d r i n k i n g water.

A m o n g the v a r i o u s doubts a new m o t h e r has, o n e pertinent o n e is a b o u t introducing w a t e r to h e r baby. W h e r e a s we c l e a r l y know w h e n to b e g i n solid f o o d to t h e little o n e s , there i s n ’ t much c l a r i t y on w a t e r . It d e p e n d s on t h e baby’s a g e , food i n t a k e and a c t i v i t i e s .

W h e n can a baby d r i n k water? C a n you l e t her d r i n k as m u c h water a s she l i k e s ? Find t h e answers t o all y o u r questions i n this M o m J u n c t i o n article.

W h e n Can B a b i e s Drink W a t e r ?

I s It N o t Safe T o Give W a t e r Before S i x Months?

I t is, u s u a l l y , not f o r the f o l l o w i n g reasons ( 2 ) :

A f f e c t s nutrient a b s o r p t i o n : Water f i l l s the b a b y with e m p t y calories a n d can a f f e c t her a b i l i t y to a b s o r b nutrients f r o m breastmilk o r formula. I t can l e a d to w e i g h t loss a n d elevate t h e levels o f bilirubin.

W a t e r intoxication: Too m u c h water c a n cause w a t e r intoxication i n babies, t h u s diluting t h e nutrients i n the b o d y . It w i l l result i n seizures, a n d reduced b o d y temperature.

Dehydration: According t o the r e s e a r c h e r s at J o h n s Hopkins C h i l d r e n ’ s Center, U S , babies y o u n g e r than s i x months s h o u l d not b e given w a t e r as t h e i r kidneys a r e still n o t developed, t h e y flush o u t sodium, a l o n g with e x c e s s water ( 3 ) .

E x c e s s water c a n stimulate t h e kidneys t o flush o u t sodium a n d electrolytes c a u s i n g dehydration.

N o appetite f o r breastmilk: The b a b y ’ s tummy i s full w i t h water a n d she w o u l d not w a n t to d r i n k breastmilk. T h i s will m a k e her m i s s on h e r daily d o s e of n u t r i e n t s (4).

L e t ’ s now s e e how m u c h water s h o u l d a b a b y drink a f t e r six m o n t h s .

W a t e r For B a b i e s Aged S i x To 1 2 Months:

W h e n you s t a r t to g i v e solid f o o d around s i x months, t h e baby’s i n t a k e of m i l k reduces f r o m 25-30oz t o 14-25oz a day. T h i s , however, d e p e n d s on t h e kind o f solids y o u introduce a n d the f r e q u e n c y with w h i c h the l i t t l e one e a t s .

A l o n g with b r e a s t m i l k or f o r m u l a , she m a y not r e q u i r e more t h a n two t o four o u n c e s of w a t e r every d a y (5). I f your c h i l d is v e r y active, y o u can p r o v i d e some m o r e water o c c a s i o n a l l y .

W a t e r For B a b i e s Older T h a n 12 M o n t h s :

W h e n your b a b y enters t h e 12th m o n t h , the m i l k intake r e d u c e s to 1 6 o z a d a y . By t h i s time, y o u may h a v e introduced a variety o f foods a n d established a routine o f breakfast, l u n c h , and d i n n e r . Therefore, w i t h the r e d u c e d milk c o n s u m p t i o n , varied f o o d intake a n d increased a c t i v i t y , your c h i l d ’ s need f o r water i n c r e a s e s naturally ( 6 ) .

A c c o r d i n g to t h e United S t a t e s Department o f Agriculture, t o d d l e r s need a r o u n d 1.3 l i t e r s of w a t e r every d a y (7). I t includes w a t e r from m i l k , food a n d other s o u r c e s . Proper h y d r a t i o n will h e l p ease b o w e l movements a n d replenish l o s t fluids.

W h a t Kind O f Cup O r Bottle I s Best T o Use?

Y o u may h a v e to c h o o s e different k i n d s of c u p s or b o t t l e s depending o n the a g e of y o u r little o n e .

A r o u n d six m o n t h s: At t h i s ideal a g e to i n t r o d u c e water, u s e a c u p containing h a n d l e s and a straw o r soft s p o u t . You s h o u l d choose a non-spill v a l v e that i s removable. T h e free-flow c u p will h e l p your b a b y to d r i n k without s u c k i n g . This a l s o helps o r a l development a s she u s e s different m u s c l e s to d r i n k .

I f the b a b y is t r a n s i t i o n i n g from b r e a s t m i l k to f o r m u l a , a b o t t l e with a breast-like n i p p l e should s u i t her. Y o u r baby’s l a t c h will b e natural.

A r o u n d 12 m o n t h s : This i s the a g e you c a n assist t h e m in d r i n k i n g from c u p s . If s h e is a l r e a d y drinking f r o m a s p o u t or s t r a w , moving t o cups i s easier f o r her. Y o u can u s e a s p o r t s cup o r an o p e n cup. A non-spill v a l v e is i d e a l .

H o w To G i v e Water T o The B a b y ?

Y o u should m a k e sure t h e baby i s drinking w a t e r carefully. T h e following i n s t r u c t i o n s may b e of s o m e help:

T e a c h your b a b y to h o l d a c u p / g l a s s .

T h e n help h e r tilt t h e cup j u s t enough t o make t h e water f l o w steadily.

H o l d the c u p as s h e drinks f r o m it.

Y o u will h a v e to d o this r e g u l a r l y before s h e can h o l d the c u p without y o u r help a n d without s p i l l i n g the c o n t e n t .

Y o u can u s e no-spill s i p p y cups s o that t h e water d o e s n ’ t spill. T h e sippy c u p s are s a f e even i f they a r e turned u p s i d e down, a s the w a t e r does n o t come o u t unless t h e baby s u c k s it.

Y o u may e x p e r i m e n t with m u l t i p l e sippy c u p s until y o u find t h e one t h a t is c o m f o r t a b l e for y o u r baby.

F o l l o w these b a s i c guidelines t o introduce y o u r baby t o water, a n d keep h e r hydrated.

S o m e Additional M e a s u r e s To K e e p Your B a b y Adequately H y d r a t e d :

Y o u can m a k e the e a r l y days o f water c o n s u m p t i o n interesting a n d healthy f o r your b a b y . Here a r e a f e w tips:

L e t your b a b y have s m a l l quantities f r e q u e n t l y . Give s m a l l amounts o f water o r watery f l u i d s (such a s diluted f r u i t juices) a l l through t h e day.

U s e colorful c u p s and d i f f e r e n t l y shaped s t r a w s so t h a t your b a b y will b e excited a b o u t drinking w a t e r .

B e wary o f weather c o n d i t i o n s and a c t i v i t i e s . Give e n o u g h water d u r i n g activity t i m e , and i n hot w e a t h e r . Let t h e m take a t least f o u r ounces e v e r y 20 m i n u t e s .

G i v e more w a t e r – r i c h foods s u c h as s o u p s or f r u i t s like o r a n g e , watermelon, a n d grapes. F l a v o r water w i t h lime, l e m o n , oranges o r cucumber t o make d r i n k i n g fun.

Y o u can r e p l a c e the l o s t fluids b y giving y o u r baby f o r m u l a , breastmilk o r a r e h y d r a t i o n solution. H o w e v e r , do n o t give p l a i n water t o rehydrate h e r body.

D o not b e in a hurry t o introduce w a t e r to y o u r baby. I n the f i r s t six m o n t h s , breastmilk i s everything f o r her – f o o d , water, f r u i t s , and v e g e t a b l e s all p a c k e d in o n e . Introduce w a t e r gradually a f t e r six m o n t h s but m a k e sure t h e baby i s not d r i n k i n g so m u c h that s h e loses h e r appetite.

F r e q u e n t l y Asked Q u e s t i o n s :

1 . Should y o u give b o i l e d water f o r babies?

Y e s , it i s good t o boil a n d cool t h e water f o r your b a b y . Boiling k i l l s the m i c r o o r g a n i s m s , thereby r e d u c i n g the r i s k of a n y infection. A c c o r d i n g to t h e American A c a d e m y of P e d i a t r i c s , sterile w a t e r should b e used f o r babies e v e n while p r e p a r i n g infant f o r m u l a (8).

2 . Can b a b i e s drink b o t t l e d water?

I t is n o t safe t o give b o t t l e d water f o r babies a s it i s likely t o be h i g h in s o d i u m and s u l f a t e content. G i v e water t h a t is l o w in s o d i u m and s u l f a t e s . One l i t e r water s h o u l d contain l e s s than 2 0 0 m g of s o d i u m (Na) a n d 250mg o f sulphate ( S O or S O 4 ) . You m a y use b o t t l e d water t h a t is l a b e l e d as p u r i f i e d , deionized, d e m i n e r a l i z e d and d i s t i l l e d (9).

3 . Can y o u dilute f o r m u l a with w a t e r ?

D o not a d d excess w a t e r to d i l u t e the f o r m u l a feed. R e a d the d i r e c t i o n s for m a k i n g formula a n d add t h e recommended a m o u n t . Adding e x c e s s water c a n only r a i s e the r i s k for w a t e r intoxication, w h e r e i n your b a b y takes i n fewer n u t r i e n t s than w h a t she s h o u l d .

4 . When c a n babies d r i n k tap w a t e r ?

Y o u can s t a r t giving t a p water f r o m the t i m e you i n t r o d u c e water t o your b a b y but m a k e sure t h e water i s not f l u o r i n a t e d . You c a n also u s e a w a t e r filter s o that f i l t e r i n g removes c e r t a i n additives s u c h as c h l o r i n e and f l u o r i d e to k e e p the t a p water f r e s h (10).

5 . Can y o u give j u i c e to d r i n k ?

Y o u can s t a r t giving j u i c e s to y o u r baby w h e n you i n t r o d u c e solids. B u t ensure i t is 1 0 0 % fruit j u i c e without a n y added s u g a r s or p r e s e r v a t i v e s , or e l s e it i n c r e a s e s the r i s k of t o o t h decay. G i v e as l e s s as f o u r ounces p e r day, a l o n g with a meal o r a s n a c k because j u i c e can f i l l up t h e i r tummy. I t can a l s o lead t o diarrhea, d i a p e r rash a n d weight g a i n (11).

W e hope o u r little g u i d e helps y o u begin t h e process o f introducing w a t e r to y o u r baby s m o o t h l y . If y o u have g o t any m o r e ideas t o share, f e e l free t o write t h e m below.

R e c o m m e n d e d Articles:

” I believe w o r d s have p o w e r . They a r e a p o w e r f u l tool f o r a c r e a t i v e soul. B e i n g a ‘ w o r d addict’, I express m y thoughts a n d contribute a r t i c l e s on h e a l t h , wellness a n d beauty. A p a r t from w r i t i n g , I l o v e listening t o gospel m u s i c and e n j o y observing n a t u r e in s i l e n c e . “

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