All You Need To Know About Giving Water To Babies!

So you have started solids and also want to offer your bub water...but how? Do you need to boil it? Why? How much can they have?

Let's jump in and chat all things water for babies.

When:

You can offer a small amount of water from 6 months of age.

How much:

A great question! Sips of water with meals is a good place to start. We don't like giving specific amounts of water you SHOULD offer or aim for, because it will be different for each child and even each day. Remember that breastmilk or formula makes up most of your little one's fluid intake.

As a very rough guide:

6-9 months of age 50-150ml over the day.

9-12 months of age 150-200ml over the day.

BUT- you don't need to force it and many bubs will drink less than this, especially between 6-9 months of age.  Ensuring your little one is hydrated and getting enough fluid overall is what is important. Most hydration will come from milk feeds.... and as milk feeds slowly decrease between 6-12 months of age, water intake will naturally increase.

How do you know if they are getting enough fluid?

Keep an eye on the signs of dehydration which include:

• Sunken eyes or fontanelle
• Not having regular wet nappies
• Nappies are dark in colour and may have a strong smell
• Irritable
• Floppy or sleepy

If you see any of the above signs or are concerned about dehydration you should contact your GP or seek medical support immediately.

Can they drink too much?

Yes, it is possible for them to drink too much water. Excessive water intake can displace milk feeds/solids but also over hydration can dilute the electrolytes in the body, which can become a medical emergency. We don't want parents to be stressed about water intake and not offer it- but it is important to know that excessive amounts can cause issues.

How to offer it:

We suggest introducing a straw and open cup right at the start of your starting solids journey! Drinking from a cup is a new skill babies need to learn-the more we allow them to practice the faster they will develop these skills. Avoid any "no spill" or "sippy" cups for day to day use. We get that sometimes they are needed when you are out and about, but in general they can interfere with the development of eating and drinking skills.

Do you need to boil it and why:

Yes, you need to boil and allow water to cool until 12 months of age. At this time, you can switch to tap water. Make sure the water has cooled enough before offering it to bub. Boiling the water is important to kill off bacteria and make sure it is safe.

Can you boil and store it in the fridge:

Yes! this is a super easy way to ensure you have safe drinking water for your little one. You need to store the water in a sterilised bottle and discard it after 24 hours.So this is a good think do the night before for the following day.

How to clean and sterilise bottles:

There are five different ways you can clean and sterilise bottles:

• Boiling
• Antibacterial solutions (I.e Milton)
• Steam sterilisation
• Microwave sterilisation
• UV sterilisation

What if my baby doesn't want to drink water?

This is okay, remember that they are getting their fluid needs met mainly by breast milk or formula. We offer water early to help them learn the skills needed to drink from a cup. It can also help with constipation by increasing their overall fluid intake. You can:

• Continue to offer them opportunities to practice often
• Model drinking to them
• Let them play with cups and straws
• Practice pouring and drinking water outside if it is warm or in the bath (just try to avoid drinking bath water!)
• Embrace the mess

What cups are best?

Our Bubbie Cup is the perfect size for an open cup for babies to learn from, you can find it here. 

Our Baby's First Straw Cup is a 3 in 1 cup and it gives you the option to move between a straw cup with a lid and an open cup. The handles are also super easy for little one's to use and you can find it here.

Avoid bottles/cup with a valve that you need to bite down or or if you can, cut this off. It is really hard to drink from these. As we said earlier, any no spill cups tend should be avoided when you can.

Do you have any other questions about offering or your little one drinking water? Leave it below in the comments for us to answer!

References:

1. https://www.health.tas.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-02/DrinkingWaterForBabies_2023_1.pdf
2. https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/resources/boil-water-do-not-drink-notice
3. https://raisingchildren.net.au/newborns/breastfeeding-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/formula-making-storing-transporting#:~:text=You%20can%20put%20cooled%20boiled,a%20container%20of%20warm%20water.
4.  https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/water
5. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/nutrient-reference-values-australia-and-new-zealand-including-recommended-dietary-intakes