Babies and Drinking Water
Drinking water – is it necessary and recommended for a baby?
Short answer: Under 6 months - it is not recommended. It can even be dangerous.
In more detail:
You don’t need to give your baby water until they’re 6 months old. They get all the hydration they need from breastmilk or formula milk. Having water earlier than that could put them at risk of water intoxication… Your little one — if under 6 months old — receives both nutrition and hydration from breast milk or formula, not water. This is because babies’ bodies aren’t suited for water until several months after birth… Tiny tummies and developing kidneys put them at risk for both nutrient loss and water intoxication.
from the Healthline website (healthline.com), updated on their website on September 5, 2025.
Actions that help protect, promote and support breastfeeding include:
– implementation of the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” specified in the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, including:
— not giving babies additional food or drink, even water, unless medically necessary;
from the website of the World Health Organization (WHO.int)
If your child is 6 to 12 months old, you can offer them: Water (4 to 8 ounces a day).
from the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.gov)
The American Academy of Pediatrics is pretty strong with their recommendations that babies in the first several months should only have breast milk and/or formula. Not water,” says pediatrician Joanna Buckingham, MD. “Babies get all the hydration they need from formula and breast milk — more than that can be risky.
Breast milk or formula (when prepared according to the directions on the package) contain plenty of water to keep your baby healthy. Breast milk is about 87% water. Formula is about 85% water.
Unless advised by a child’s healthcare provider, like their pediatrician, adding more water to the equation isn’t just unnecessary — it can be dangerous. Most little baby bodies just aren’t ready for any extra water.
What are the risks of diluting formula or giving a baby a drink of water? Dr. Buckingham shares the two big reasons to keep your baby water-free.
from the website of the Cleveland Clinic (health.clevelandclinic.org)
What аre the main risks associated with giving water to a baby under 6 months old?
Short answer: Potential calorie deficiency and potential blood dilution (“water intoxication”), dilution of sodium levels in the body, which may lead to seizures and other even more serious consequences.
In more detail:
Water fills up little tummies
“Giving babies water dilutes their calorie intake,” Dr. Buckingham clarifies. “Proper weight gain is such an important indication of your baby’s health in those first few months. We want them to be getting those calories.”
Risk of water intoxication
“When you give a baby water, it can dilute the sodium in their bloodstream. That can cause a condition called hyponatremia, or what some people may call ‘water intoxication,’” Dr. Buckingham says.
Among other things, your kidneys help remove excess fluid by filtering it into your bladder (aka, allowing you to pee it out). That essentially keeps your system from flooding with water. Newborn kidneys, on the other hand, are about the size of a grape. So, it’s easier for your baby’s kidneys to get overwhelmed.
When a baby’s (or adult’s) body is overloaded with water, it can begin to dilute their blood. That’s when things get dangerous. Because waterlogged blood lowers the sodium content in your body.
When your baby’s sodium content goes too low because of taking in too much water, it can lead to serious symptoms, like seizures and even coma and permanent brain damage.
When can babies have water?
Typically around the time your baby is 6 months old, their healthcare provider will start suggesting a bit of water as a part of their diet.
“Usually, that’s the time parents can start to offer babies a bit of water, but it should be in small amounts at a time,” Dr. Buckingham advises. Six months is typically the age that babies start to eat some solid foods, too.
from the website of the Cleveland Clinic (health.clevelandclinic.org)
* Most of these materials are sourced from original English-language sources. The translations were created with the help of Google Translate and ChatGPT. For the most complete and accurate information, please always refer to and verify the original source first.
Check the latest information on the topic yourself
Cited Sources
- Why You Shouldn’t Give Your New Baby Water — and When They’ll Be Ready for It healthline.com
- Infant and young child feeding WHO.int
- Foods and Drinks to Encourage CDC.gov
- Babies Shouldn’t Drink Water — Here’s Why health.clevelandclinic.org
Do you have 2 free minutes?
Fill out the questionnaire for a promotional price
Other Materials on the Same Topic
