Drinking water is essential for children and adults, but the evidence for its need for children isn’t conclusive. However, the common belief among physicians is that healthy babies who receive a normal, balanced diet and who aren’t exposed to extreme weather conditions don’t need drinking water. There are several loopholes in that theory, and a baby who lives in a warm environment may need to supplement with drinking water. Babies with specific, rare health problems might need it as well.
The strongest theory states that a baby is obviously small and their digestive system can only hold onto a certain amount of fluid at one time. If your baby drinks water, they won’t have the same room in their stomach for formula or breast milk, but their body will still be burning calories to digest the water. Given that breast milk and formula are easily digestible liquids, it is a better idea for a baby to only have access to formula and breast milk for at least the first four months of life. Even after that, until their first birthday or beyond, don’t give them water without getting permission from their doctor.
What about When the Baby is Sick?
A common reason for people to give their baby water, or to consider it, is that the baby is or has been sick. Even a minor cold can be a big problem in a young baby and when they get sick, all too often they lose their appetite. Therefore, parents want to give them water to prevent dehydration.
This is the right idea, but the wrong way of doing it. There are several liquids available today that provide liquids and electrolytes. These are better at preventing dehydration, but also include at least a few calories, so that your baby will have some of the calories they need. They are available in several different flavors, and it’s usually possible for even the pickiest baby to find something that they like.
It’s very important to understand that the “sports beverages” designed for use by adults, teenagers and even athletes are rarely a good idea for an infant. They will have very high amounts of sugar, artificial flavoring and other ingredients that your baby is unlikely to need or to appreciate.
The Doctor said It’s Okay, What Now?
In most areas, the water you get from the tap in your kitchen is safe to drink. However, if you have well-water or you live in an area where you know that the water is not always ideal, you may want to consider either using bottled water or a purifier. It is also interesting to note that the minor differences of minerals in the tap water can be enough to upset a baby’s stomach. That means if you are travelling, you may want to bring water from home or buy sterile water to use on your trip, even if you just use that water to prepare formula or dilute juice.
