Proper body hydration determines its proper functioning. Therefore, it is not surprising that every parent wonders how much a baby should drink. How many milliliters of water for a baby will be just right? And what is best to drink? Let’s try to figure it out.
Baby Water Needs
How much liquid a baby should drink depends on its age and diet. According to the WHO recommendations, newborns and infants up to six months should take approximately 680 ml of liquid per day, which corresponds to 100-190 ml/kg of body weight. In children aged 6-12 months, the need for fluids is 800-1200 ml per day.
It is worth mentioning that in the case of exclusively breastfed babies, the need for fluids is fully covered by breast milk, and there is no need to give the baby water. It is similar in the case of babies fed with baby formulas, although sometimes they should be supplemented with water, for example, during hot weather outside. In children whose diet is expanded, the need for fluids is covered by milk, water, and food.
How Much Should a Baby Drink?
Let’s find an answer to the question, “can babies drink water?” Since exclusively breastfed babies up to six months do not need water, there is no need to ask how much water a newborn should drink. There is no need to supplement a breastfed infant with water since milk ensures adequate hydration of its body. Supplementing an infant with water could make it less willing to suck the breast, which could mean a problem with maintaining adequate lactation level, as well as the risk of malnutrition of the child.
If your baby starts expanding the diet, you can start offering it some water. It is difficult to say with great accuracy how much water a seven-month-old baby should drink or how much water an eight-month-old baby should drink since it all depends on the amount of milk it consumes and the water content of the diet. It is best to observe your little one. If he drinks less milk than the recommended 800 ml per day, you can try to offer him more water.
Children around 6 months and older should be given water with, before, or after meals. In order not to disturb the baby’s proper sucking reflex, it is better to serve water in a non-spill cup instead of in a classic bottle with a nipple. Water perfectly quenches thirst and is essential for the proper functioning of the body. In addition, it prevents constipation, which is quite common in infants at the beginning of expanding the diet. Shaping good eating habits in childhood affects the entire life, so it is worth giving your child the best.
Recommendations on how much fluid a baby should drink per day are general. This is because a child’s need for fluids may change depending on factors such as ambient temperature, fever, body weight, etc.
Bottled Water for Babies
For infants, bottled water is the best option. It should have an appropriate content of minerals. Children are recommended to drink low-mineralized water, i.e., containing less than 500 mg/l of minerals in general. Water given to infants should have a low content of sodium, sulfates, and fluorides.
In addition to low-mineralized water, you can also use spring water. Bottled water for children is a water of primary purity, obtained from deep springs, so it does not require boiling. Bottled water should be stored in a dry and cool place and used within 48 hours after opening.
