

PREGNANCY BABY PARENTING

Parenting  Baby  Reference

What You Need to Know

About Water for Infants
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

 Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on November 27, 2021

IN THIS ARTICLE

How Infants Stay Hydrated

When Babies Can Start Drinking Water

Making Sure Water Is Baby-Safe

Risks of Water for Infants

Water as Your Baby Grows

If you have a baby, you’re probably concerned

about making sure they have enough water and
nutrients to stay healthy. Even though your baby
drinks breast milk or formula, is that enough to
keep them hydrated? Yes. Here’s what you need to
know.

A DV ERTI S EM ENT

Search for

1. SAFEST BOTTLED WATERS ›

2. TOP 5 ELECTROLYTE DRINKS ›

3. THE 5 BEST BOTTLED WATER OF 2023 ›

4. TOP 10 BOTTLED WATER BRANDS ›

5. 10 FOODS THAT RELIEVE CONSTIPATION ›

How Infants Stay Hydrated

As an adult, water is the most hydrating thing you

can drink. It quenches your thirst and helps all of
your systems stay balanced.

But children under a year old don’t need water like

adults do. It can actually be dangerous for them.
Babies get all their hydration from breast milk or
formula.

When Babies Can Start Drinking Water

A baby should drink only breast milk or formula

until they’re six months old. It has all the hydration
and nutrition they need in the early months.

Even when you start giving them purees or table

food at around 6 months of age, breast milk and
formula are still more important than water. But
you can begin to introduce it.

When babies are between 6 and 12 months of age,

breast milk or formula continues to be a priority
over water. But if you offer breast milk or formula
first, you can then offer water, 2-3 ounces at a time.
At this age, 4-8 ounces a day of water is enough.
More than that may lead to water intoxication.

Recommended

Baby Eczema: Symptoms,


Treatments

Depression in Children:

Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Depression in Children 

A DV ERTI S EM ENT

Search for

1. SAFEST BOTTLED WATERS ›

2. 10 BEST BOTTLED WATER ›

3. TOP 10 BOTTLED WATER BRANDS ›

4. THE 5 BEST BOTTLED WATER OF 2023 ›

5. COCONUT WATER FOR WEIGHT LOSS ›

Making Sure Water Is Baby-Safe

Before using water to mix baby formula or offering

a baby water for the first time, consider testing
your tap water. While tap water may have fluoride
that helps prevent tooth decay, it could also contain
levels of lead that are unsafe for babies.

A DV ERTI S EM ENT

Search for

1. SAFEST BOTTLED WATERS ›

2. TOP 5 ELECTROLYTE DRINKS ›

3. THE 5 BEST BOTTLED WATER OF 2023 ›

4. TOP 10 BOTTLED WATER BRANDS ›

5. 10 FOODS THAT RELIEVE CONSTIPATION ›

Most tap water in the U.S. is safe, with a few

exceptions:

If you have untested well water.

If your water source has recently been

contaminated.

If your baby has low immunity.

If you’re worried about lead exposure and traces of

chemicals in your water, install a filtration system
or use distilled water instead which can be easily
purchased.

Considerations for mixing formula with water. If

you use tap water to mix formula, mix only one
bottle at a time. Don’t use tap water to mix formula
in bulk amounts.

A similar rule applies to water that you’ve boiled.

Refrigerate boiled water within an hour, and throw it
away if you don’t use it within 24 hours. Always
allow the water to cool completely before mixing
the formula. Hot water can burn your baby.

When you purchase formula, carefully follow the

instructions on the container for mixing it with
water. Instructions vary by brand. This will ensure
your baby gets the right amount of nutrients and
hydration.

Mixing in too much formula may lead to

constipation or dehydration. Mixing in too little
formula may lead to malnutrition or water
intoxication.

Risks of Water for Infants

Drinking too much water at a young age is very

dangerous. Water causes an imbalance in sodium
levels that may lead to:

Seizures

Brain damage

Coma

Death

Water intoxication leads to changes in behavior

such as:

Confusion

Drowsiness

Muscle cramps and twitching

Nausea and vomiting

Difficulty breathing

Weakness

Watch for signs of water intoxication and call your

doctor immediately if you have any concerns.

Water as Your Baby Grows

Between the ages of 1 and 3, your toddler needs 4

cups of liquid per day. This is a transitional period
that should include both water and breastmilk or
formula. The older your child gets, the more water
they need. There are several ways you can
encourage your older child to drink enough water.

Flavor water with fresh fruit. Water is healthier

than juice since many children’s juices are full of
sugar. If your child prefers the taste of juice, use
fresh fruit to flavor their water. Lemon, berries,
mint, and cucumber are great additions.

Offer more fruits and vegetables. Encourage your

child to eat more fruits and vegetables with high
water content. These help them stay hydrated
without forcing them to drink more water than they
want. Hydrating vegetables include cucumber,
tomato, zucchini, celery, and iceberg lettuce.
Hydrating fruits include strawberries, watermelon,
blueberries, cantaloupe, and grapefruit.

Make creative ice cubes and popsicles. Puree your

fruit of choice with water and freeze it into ice
cubes or popsicle molds.

Provide special drinkware. Use a fancy cup with

favorite colors or characters. When you find ways
to make water fun, your child is more likely to enjoy
drinking it.

SHOW SOURCES Share

© 2021 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

View privacy policy and trust info 

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Your Baby's Bowels and

Constipation

Baby Diarrhea: Causes,

Treatment, and More

Baby Development: Your 7-

Month-Old

Giving Baby Finger Foods at 7-

8 Months

Your Newborn's Skin and

Rashes

Foods to Eat or Avoid When

Breastfeeding

Newborn Skin Care

Baby Milestones: Eating and

Development

Get Pregnancy & Parenting Tips In Your Inbox

Doctor-approved information to keep you and

your family healthy and happy.

Pregnancy & Baby Bulletin

Parenting & Children's Health

Enter your email address

SUBSCRIBE

By clicking Subscribe, I agree to the WebMD Terms & Conditions &

Privacy Policy and understand that I may opt out of WebMD
subscriptions at any time.

More from WebMD

5 Tips to Help With Relapsing MS

How to Thrive With Narcolepsy

Relief for Blocked Hair Follicles

Psoriatic Arthritis and Your Sleep

What Psoriasis Feels Like

First Psoriatic Arthritis Flare

Talking to Your Doctor About RA

Crohn's: A 'Full-Body' Disease

Avoiding Crohn’s Flares

Health Benefits of Hemp Seed Oil

Live Better With Psoriatic Disease

Types of B-Cell Therapy for MS

5 Health Benefits of Hemp

Why Prostate Cancer Spreads

Living with Advanced Breast Cancer

Where Breast Cancer Spreads

Related Links

Pregnancy Home

Pregnancy News

Pregnancy Medical Reference

Getting Pregnant

First Trimester

Second Trimester

Third Trimester

Labor & Delivery

Pregnancy Complications

All Pregnancy Topics

Ovulation Calculator

Pregnancy Calendar

Pregnancy Related Topics

Baby Home

Baby News

Baby Medical Reference

Toddler Milestones

Child Development

Child Safety

All Parenting Topics

Children's Health

Children's Vaccines

Parenting Home

Parenting News

Find a Pediatrician

More Parenting Topics

Logo for WebMD

POLICIES

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Editorial Policy

Advertising Policy

Correction Policy

Terms of Use

ABOUT 

OUR APPS 

FOR ADVERTISERS 

TRUSTe

© 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC, anERTI

A DV Internet Brands company. All rights
S EM ENT
reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
See additional information.