When Should I Give My Baby Water?

By Jasna Cameron

Water is essential for life. The human body needs water to function properly because it carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, protects body organs and tissues, and helps the kidneys and liver flush out waste products. Water essentially balances all our bodily systems. An adult should drink about 3 liters of fluid per day.

However, as counterintuitive as it may seem, babies under the age of six months should not be fed water; read on to learn why.

Why babies don’t need water

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, it's best not to give your baby water before six months of age. It may sound strange, but all the nutritional and hydration needs for your baby’s health and development are taken care of by the mother’s milk. Mother Nature designed breastmilk to provide all the key nutrients babies need in their first six months of life.

Doctors also remind us that water isn’t necessary for the beginning because breast milk (and formula) consist mostly of water (up to 80%).

Even on a scorching day in countries with very hot climates, water isn’t needed to cool infants down. Babies are sufficiently hydrated through their mother’s milk or formula.

Why is water bad for babies younger than six months old?

Giving babies under the age of six months water instead of breastmilk or formula may actually have a detrimental effect. Firstly, if babies are given water, they will miss out on all the key nutrients, calories, and protein found in breast milk, which are absent in regular water. This may impede their growth and development and even cause weight loss. 

Additionally, babies who are given too much water are at risk of a life-threatening electrolyte imbalance. Too much water can cause their kidneys to filter out the essential sodium and electrolytes, leaving them salt-depleted. This impacts a baby’s normal body functions, resulting in symptoms like low body temperature, drowsiness, irritability, swelling, and even coma or brain damage.

Why is giving water to babies not good for breastfeeding moms?

If you are breastfeeding, feeding your baby water may also have undesirable effects on your body. Babies who fill up with water won’t feel the need to breastfeed as much. Because breastfeeding is a supply-and-demand process, this may lead to a reduced supply.

When should you introduce water to your baby?

When your baby starts taking in solid food, his need for other liquids increases. Although you can start introducing solid food and water between 4 and 6 months of age, waiting until your baby is closer to 6 months is recommended.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that the focus should be on giving your baby small amounts of water and only if the baby is growing and gaining weight at a desirable pace. Water intake is not even completely necessary until 12 months of age as babies are still efficiently hydrated by their mother’s breast milk. Your baby’s water intake must also be very carefully monitored all the way up to their first birthday.

How do you start giving your baby water?

Start by giving your baby small amounts of water in a sippy cup rather than a bottle so that they can develop this skill early on. Also, drinking water from a bottle may lead to them drinking too much water as they are more used to drinking from a nipple.

Don’t fret too much if it turns out your baby will only drink water from the bottle initially, because it may be very overwhelming for her. However, you must monitor how much she drinks so that she doesn’t overdo it. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends only 4-8 ounces of plain drinking water daily, which is less than half a cup.

It is not easy for babies to learn how to drink water because water has a thin consistency and flows more quickly than breast milk. It is quite an adjustment from the thicker milk, which the baby can swallow slowly as it fills its mouth from the breast or bottle. There may be some coughing and sputtering in the beginning as your baby gets used to drinking water, but with some help, she will quickly hone her oral motor skills.

How do you get your baby to drink water?

Babies learn best by modeling their behavior, so start by leading by example. Once you have your baby’s attention, pour water into her new cup in front of her and drink it yourself. She will likely become interested and reach for the cup when you offer it to her. Don’t force the issue. It will come with time.