On hot summer days, we all need to keep hydrated, and you may wonder if your baby needs to have some water too.

With water playing such an essential role in our diets, it’s only natural to assume that a baby should also be getting their fill, but perhaps it isn’t as simple as all that. So, let’s find out!

Should I be giving my baby water?

Babies under the age of 6 months generally do not need to be given water. At this early stage of their lives, babies will receive all the hydration they need from their mother’s breast milk, which is 80% water, or from the formula milk they drink. Not only are these fluids mostly water, but they also offer a whole lot of nutrients that water alone does not. So, if they seem a little thirsty, first try offering them some more breast milk or formula milk.

Now, you may be wondering why, when breast milk and formula milk contain water, babies under six months are not usually offered water to drink alone.

So, why can’t babies drink water?

While unclean water can cause infection, the main reason we refrain from giving babies water is that we don’t want to fill them up on it instead of breast milk or formula, as this could lead to early weaning or malnutrition.

Early weaning. Breastfeeding is best done on demand, but if a baby fills up on water, they won’t drink as much breast milk, which could lead to a mother’s milk levels depleting. And this then leads to unintentional weaning off breastfeeding.

Malnutrition. During the first 6 months of their lives, it’s really important that babies get all of the wonderful nutrients they need from breast milk or formula. If they drink water, they will drink less breast milk or formula, meaning that they won’t take in the appropriate amount of nutrients, thus leading to malnutrition.

Water is also not always entirely clean, and while our adult bodies can generally handle it, the immune system of a baby still has some developing to do. So, unclean water can lead to infection, making a baby sick and potentially leading to diarrhoea. Diarrhoea can be dangerous for babies because it can quickly cause dehydration. This is why the general recommendation when making up a formula bottle is to boil your water first.

So we know why water on its own is unnecessary and even unsafe for babies under 6 months, but do they need to begin drinking it after that?

When should I introduce my baby to water?

Once they reach the age of six months, you can begin giving your baby water, but try to think of it more as an introduction. At this early stage, the idea is merely to introduce this all-important liquid and get them used to the idea of drinking it because they’ll still be getting most of the H2O they need from formula or breast milk. Once they reach the age of 1, water becomes as essential to their diet as it is to ours.

So, how do I introduce water to my baby?

From 6 months onwards, a baby can have 4–8 ounces of water a day, given to them in a cup (a straw is optional). Learning to drink from a cup takes practice.

When your baby starts sipping from a cup, they’ll probably spill most of it and only drink a little. This is all part of learning, so put a bib on them to catch some of the spills. Give your baby a small non-breakable cup that’s easy to grip and hold. Let your baby play with the cup first so that they get used to how it feels. Start off by guiding them and holding the cup too.

Put only a small amount of liquid in the cup at first. This helps to reduce spills. You can increase the amount of liquid as your baby gets used to drinking this way. At family meals, use a cup yourself to show your baby how it’s done. Babies love to copy their parents.

Between the ages of 1 and 2, babies should drink between 8 and 32 ounces of water a day.

Do babies need to drink water?

From Unii’s Baby Nutrition Journey, here’s what you need to know about your baby’s water needs.