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Many parents wonder if it is okay to give your newborn baby water to drink. Keeping your baby hydrated is important, especially in hotter weather, however your baby’s nutritional and fluid needs are very different from that of older infants and children.
Breast milk or infant formula provides all the hydration and nutrition your newborn baby needs, as both breast milk and prepared formula, are made up of more than 85% water. The medical recommendation in Australia is that no other fluid should be given to an infant under 6-months old, even in hot weather. An infant’s developing stomach and kidneys are very small, putting them at risk of water intoxication if consumed. Offering an infant water at this age may also cause them to drink less breastmilk or infant formula and can affect their growth.1
Once your baby reaches six months of age and starts eating solid foods, you can offer them small amounts of boiled and cooled water. Try offering water in a cup, which allows your infant to practice holding and drinking from a cup. However, at this age, breast milk, formula and food should remain the primary sources of hydration and nutrition until your baby is at least one year old.
Once your baby has reached 12 months, you can offer fresh tap water without boiling it.2
Help your baby drink from a cup by trying the following:3
If the weather is particularly hot or your baby is sick (with a fever, vomiting, or diarrhoea), they may need more fluids. However, it is important to continue to prioritise breast milk or formula as their main hydration, with the addition of small amounts of cooled boiled water.
Healthy hydration signs in your baby include:4
Dehydration in babies at any age is serious. Please see your healthcare professional if you are concerned they may be dehydrated.
As your baby gets older and begins eating more solids, you can gradually increase the amount of water, but remember that breast milk or formula should remain the primary source of hydration, even during hot weather or if they have a fever.
For babies under six months, they may need or demand extra feeds and breastfeeding mothers should also make sure they drink plenty of fluids. For bottle fed babies, the number of feeds may also need to be increased.5
Avoid fruit juices
Fruit juice offers no nutritional benefit for infants younger than 6 months and no nutritional benefits over whole fruit for infants older than 6 months and children.6
Fruit juice can contribute to tooth decay and gastrointestinal issues. The best fluids for babies are breast milk, formula, and small amounts of water after 6 months of age.
No tea, caffeine or sugary beverages
Babies should never be given tea, soft drink, or any other caffeinated or sugary beverages. These can interfere with hydration and overall health.
Breast milk or formula for the first six months
Your baby doesn’t need water during the first six months if they are exclusively breastfed or formula-fed. These fluids provide enough hydration for your baby, even in hot weather.
Small amounts of water after six months
Once your baby is six months old and eating solids, introduce small amounts of cooled boiled tap water, but continue to prioritise breast milk or formula as the main source of hydration. Moderation is the key: Start with small sips from a cup, and gradually increase as your baby gets older.
Watch for signs of dehydration
Check on your baby regularly for signs of dehydration, especially in hot weather or when they’re sick. If your baby shows signs of dehydration, consult your Health Care Professional.
If you are able to breastfeed, breastfeeding is best for babies. Breastfeeding has many benefits, such as protecting your baby from infection while their immune system develops. It is important that you eat a healthy, balanced diet in preparation for and during breastfeeding.
Infant formula is designed to replace breast milk when an infant is not breastfed. Combining breast and bottle feeding in your baby’s first weeks of life may reduce your supply of breast milk and reversing a decision not to breastfeed is difficult. The social and financial implications of using infant formula should be considered when choosing a method of feeding.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when preparing and using infant formula, including proper sterilisation of bottles and using boiled water. Improper use of an infant formula may make your baby ill.
We recommend that you consult your doctor, midwife, or health care professional for advice about feeding your baby.
