How Much Water Do Babies Need To Drink?
Do you worry about your angel’s water intake? Are you concerned that you might be giving her an inadequate supply of water? If you can relate to the situation, or you simply want to know how much water should infants drink, read our post. Here we talk about the optimum water intake for babies.
How Much Water Should Babies Drink?
Water is essential for all vital body functions. A lack of water can lead to many health problems. The need for water varies for every individual. It depends on many factors such as age, activity level, health, dietary habits, weather conditions etc.
What is the required infants water intake? When it comes to babies, breast milk fulfills their water requirement. Up to six months of age, infants require approximately 0.7 liters of water. From seven months to 12 months, the requirement increases to approximately 0.9 liters [1]. For babies up to six months, apart from breast milk, the water intake may also come from a formula. For up to 12 months, infants may get water from breast milk, formula as well as from juices and solid foods.
[ Read: Health Benefits Of Rice Water For Babies ]
Risks Of Excessive Water Intake In Babies:
It is important not to give your little one too much water until she starts eating solid food.
- Babies who are under six months of age may not eat well if their tummies are full of water. It may adversely affect your baby’s growth.
- Too much water intake can lead to seizures in infants. Excess water intake can upset the balance of sodium concentrates in the body, which in turn lead to swollen tissues.
- Excessive water intake also causes belly ache in babies.
Risks Of Inadequate Water Intake In Babies:
It is equally important to ensure that your little darling drinks enough water. Some of the risks of drinking too little water include:
- Dehydration:
Fever, diarrhea and vomiting can quickly dehydrate your baby. Pay attention to dehydration signs such as dry mouth, lethargy, cold skin, blue tinge or paleness to the skin. If you notice signs of dehydration in your baby, quickly seek medical attention.
In such cases, even if your baby is under six months of age, she may require additional water intake. Therefore, consult a doctor quickly and follow the course of treatment. The doctor may suggest you give her sips of water every hour or so until she is not at risking of dehydration any more.
[ Read: Ways To Treat Dehydration In Babies ]
Introducing Water To Your Baby:
Once your doctor gives you a go ahead to give your baby additional water, you may slowly introduce it to your baby.
- You can feed her water to your baby through a bottle or slip it into her mouth through a tiny spoon.
- Fresh and filtered tap water is perfect for babies. They don’t necessarily need mineral or bottled water. In some cases, the mineral content in the water may be a tad higher for babies. Bottled water also lacks fluoride, which is an essential mineral for good dental health. If the fluoride content is high in your area, give your infant a mix of tap and bottled water to prevent them from taking in fluoride in excess amounts. Excessive fluoride intake in babies can cause mild tooth decay [2].
[ Read: Is Mineral Water Safe For Babies ]
- After six or seven months, you can help your baby to drink water from a sippy cup. The right time to teach her is when she learns how to grip things well.
Hope you like our post on how much water should babies drink. As a mom, it is normal for you to worry about your newborn baby water intake. As you introduce her to solid food, you can also give her sips of water.
How did you introduce water to your little darling? Share your experiences with fellow moms in the comment section below.
