What age can you give baby water?

Question

Doctors say wait till age 1, but everyone else says anytime after 6 months, what are your thoughts on give baby sips of water?

Answer 1

Never give a baby water until s/he is 6 months of age (unless otherwise directed by your pediatrician for a special condition; N.B. premie babies may be on a different timeline - check with your pediatrician). While it is true that adults require water and it is one of the most healthy substances we can intake, the same is not true for babies. They get plenty of water from breastmilk/formula and don't need more water until 6 months of age. To give a younger baby more water than what they take from their breastmilk/formula can be harmful. At 6 months of age, you can start offering 4oz/day of water - at this age your baby can handle the additional water and may actually need it, and it's also important to start getting them used to the taste of water - otherwise you might have difficulty giving them water down the line (same concept as starting them on baby foods to get them used to the taste).

When you do start giving them water, do NOT use distilled water. While it is true that distilled water is the purest water form, to drink it as such will be harmful (even for adults). Distilled water has no electrolytes in it, and when a baby (or an adult!) drinks it, it will cause the electrolytes to move out of your body into the intestine and it will cause diarrhea & electrolyte imbalance. Using distilled water for baby's formula, however, is fine because you're mixing the water with formula (which as plenty of electrolytes). When you're ready to give baby water to drink by itself, buy the baby drinking water - they purify the water by distillation and then add back electrolytes so that it won't cause diarrhea. This is very different from just plain distilled water. Tap water has lots of contaminates so I wouldn't recommend giving that to baby (or even adults).

One last word about giving water to babies: when your baby gets a tummy virus and had diarrhea, do NOT give your baby water to drink. While it is important to rehydrate a baby with diarrhea, water will make it worse. The best thing to give a baby with diarrhea is Pedialyte - it contains extra electrolytes that actually help the baby reabsorb water.

Answer 2

This is one of those thing sthat comes and goes. They used to say babies had to have water now they should wait. I didn't hear anything about waiting a year ago when I had my son. Think of it this way if you were formula feeding and you thought the baby was a little dehydrated you thin the formula with Water. Wow. Everyone has a different opinion, and they change constantly if you feel better waiting six months great, they can have juice which is Watered down then. If you want to wait a year that's good too. Tap water is the only thing I'd worry about, you don't know how clean it is and babies are sensetive but bottled water is as basic as it comes. Good luck with your little one

Answer 3

I gave my baby water from birth. I realize the docs now say that's not good, but, it didn't hurt my baby none. The only reason I can think of that you shouldn't give a baby water is to ensure they get enough breatmilk or formula. So, if they are eating vigourously, I see no problem with the water. But, I am not a doctor.

Answer 4

My doctor said the same for my baby(that she'd get too much water and have diarrhea).

So, I never gave her water and tried giving her some when she was around 12 or 14 months. She now gives me pure hell to drink it. I have to trick her and all kinds of crazy things to get a drop in her mouth. It's awful, in my opinion you should give your baby 4 oz of water a day. Just give your baby a little water so she can get used to it or regret it later.

Answer 5

Anytime after 6 months. But only water.

Do not give babies sugar water. There has been a link between juvenille diabetes and giving babies food or liquids like sugar water too early.

Answer 6

i've never heard that, and i doubt it's healthy - the body needs water in order to function properly. we gave our son most of his water mixed half and half or more w/ apple juice - mostly because he didn't seem to like the plain water, and wouldn't drink it otherwise. some babies are fine with it. the one thing you shouldn't do is give your baby tap water - too many pollutants. this can cause all sorts of developmental probs. use distilled water with your formula and juices. distilled is the only true
'pure" water. also, if the baby has gas issues, or trouble digesting formula, switch to soy formula. our nutritionist friend told us that the walmart brand soy formula was every bit as good as the more expensive brand name formulas, and not to waste our money that way:) good luck with your baby!

ps. every baby is different, but they dont require much water so dont overdo it!

Answer 7

At anytime. In the newborn nursery we give sugar water. The reason they tell you not to give water is because it is just a filler and has no nutritional value for infants.

Answer 8

i think it's depend to your baby, you will know if she is ready to take it. just a few drops.because when my baby is just 2weeks old i gave her some water and it's make her hard to breath something really terrible happen, it's good that i pump the water out from his mouth. huuuuh thanks God! i was really scared that time. and that is my first child so many things that i really don't know.i knew that my child don't like it but the doctor told me to give her some. so as a mother fallow your guts you know your child needs. there is nothing wrong to listen to your doctor, ask some mothers and do some searching like this it's really a big help.

Answer 9

If your baby is breastfed, then (s)he doesn't need any extra water, as long as (s)he is allowed to nurse as often as (s)he wants to. Formula fed babies can have a little water (between 4-6oz per day) with solid food. Visit http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/giving-water-to-baby.html for more advice.

Answer 10

Doctors say nothing but formula or breastmilk until 6 mos.
After that babies can have small amounts of water.