What You Need to Know About Water for Infants?

A child’s proper diet is the foundation of his or her health and further development. And the earlier you help your child develop the habit of adequate water consumption, the easier it will be to maintain a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle in the future.

A child’s body consists of 80% water, while an adult consists of 60%. So, let’s look at how much water a child needs for healthy development, what kind of water is good, and how often should you offer your child to drink.

What is the first thing to remember? Your task – is to prevent dehydration of the baby’s body. The child, in no case, should not experience a lack of water, which the developing child’s body needs more than an adult. It is essential to understand if breast milk is enough or if there is a need to give extra water to the child.

What is the importance of water for a baby?

Maintaining the right balance of liquids in the baby’s body is no less important than sleeping and feeding. After all, how much we drink directly affects the digestive system, blood circulation, thermoregulation, and other vital processes. But there is an important nuance: a breastfed baby under six months does not need additional liquids. Moreover, if you start offering water to your baby early, it can lead to problems with weight gain in the baby and worsening milk production in the mother.

At what age can babies drink water?

When parents ask at what age an infant can drink water, pediatricians usually answer that water intake in babies depends on a number of factors:

  • the baby’s age
  • the type of feeding
  • the health of the baby
  • environmental conditions: weather, the room temperature in the apartment, and other things

Answering the question of whether a baby can be given water after six months old, pediatricians will say “yes.” From six months, when the first complementary food is introduced, water is given to the infant without fail, regardless of the feeding type. At this age, it is necessary for comfortable digestion and absorption of complementary foods.

Do babies under 6 months need water?

If a healthy baby is exclusively breastfed, the WHO recommends that babies do not need extra water in their diet. Breast milk is both food and drink for your baby. It provides all the nutrients your baby needs, and more than 80% of it consists of water. The water in breast milk is rich in electrolytes and other substances essential for the comfortable digestion of the baby. Breast milk “adjusts” its composition to the baby’s needs. The balance of these substances is as good as possible for your baby. If you give your little one water before 6 months for no reason, the ratio of nutrients changes, and your baby may have digestive problems.

If a healthy baby is on formula or mixed-feeding, pediatricians recommend giving your little one water in addition to baby formula. A formula-fed baby needs water because the formula contains more protein than breast milk. More liquid is necessary to break it down. Water supplementation is a great way to prevent constipation in such babies. It is also an excellent remedy for hiccups. What kind of water? Of course, special baby water that your doctor will advise. A specialist will help determine the amount of water. Babies can drink water between feedings. If the baby refuses, you should not insist until she or he is six months old.

If the baby is sick or external conditions make him or her thirsty, it is up to the doctor to decide whether it is necessary to give water to the infant. It is an individual decision. Be sure to talk to your pediatrician and discuss whether or not you need to give your baby water. Parents need to know that the necessity to provide water during illness or in a high fever is not related to the type of feeding. Some breastfed babies may be recommended by their doctor to give water during sickness or in hot weather, while others may not.

What drinks are safe for babies?

  • Water

Immunity in babies is gradually developed – in the first months of life, and the tiny body is especially vulnerable to germs and harmful substances. That’s why it’s best to start your baby’s experience with drinks with clean, room-temperature water.

  • Teas for babies

Baby teas for formula-fed infants are recommended from 5-6 months.

Many parents think there is no difference between baby tea and regular traditional tea. But this is a misconception. This special baby drink is not tea because it does not contain dried tea leaves; therefore, it is safe for the immature infant body. It includes a specially selected set of herbs, berries, and fruits. Natural herbal ingredients create a rich flavor and aroma of the drink and are beneficial, enriching the baby’s diet. You can be sure of raw materials’ quality and safety because all baby tea components are strictly controlled. Only natural products grown and harvested in ecologically clean regions are used in production. Such teas are not only rich in all possible vitamins but can solve a lot of problems, from bloating to poor sleep. The main thing is to read labels carefully and follow instructions.

  • Juices

Despite the fact that juices are considered a rich source of vitamins, introduce them into the child’s menu with great caution and not before 8 months. The truth is that they contain many allergens, and the baby’s body should get used to the new drinks gradually.

You should start with clarified juices; from 10 – 11 months, your baby can be offered juices with the pulp. As with the introduction of complementary foods, at first, preference should be given to single-component drinks (that is, from a single fruit): this is done in order to exclude a particular product from the baby’s menu in case of allergic reactions.

There is an optimal sequence of fruits for the baby: start with a green apple, then you can consistently give the baby try pear, peach, apricot, and plum juices.