In the first few months of life, a baby’s diet consists exclusively of breast milk or formula. When it comes to infants, they should not be consuming anything other than breast milk or formula. An infant does not need additional water to stay healthy and hydrated; breastmilk is 88% water and provides all the nutrients that the baby needs.
Giving a young baby water can decrease his/her appetite and can prevent the baby from receiving the nutrients needed from the breast milk or formula. This decrease in appetite can lead to malnutrition, potentially leading to weight loss.
When first exposing your baby to water, it is important to make sure your baby is receiving the best water for better health! When filling a child’s bottle or sippy cup, make sure to have fresh spring water at home. If spring water is not readily available, try home water delivery in Atlanta to ensure your baby is getting the water they need. It is okay to use bottled water, but babies do need the minerals provided in spring water when their teeth are beginning to come in. So, when can babies start drinking water?
When can babies drink water?
Newborns around the ages of 4-5 weeks, should NOT be given supplemental water whether it be spring or purified water. Water supplements fill a baby up, it is very easy to overload your baby. Babies under 6 months of age who receive too much water can develop a condition called “water intoxication”. Giving a baby too much water can cause the baby’s kidneys to flush out sodium and electrolytes that are needed in the body.
Typically, after the age of 6 months, it is safe to begin to give babies water. Another rule to remember is that is it safe to give baby water whenever they begin to eat solid foods! When first introducing babies to a cup they often won’t take more than a couple sips of water.
Transitioning from a bottle to a sippy cup
There is no easy expert way to transition your child from a bottle to a sippy cup. Some babies take easily to the sippy cup, while others cling onto their bottles. The longer the wait to transition from the bottle to the sippy cup, the harder it will become for the child. Making this change doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are some easy steps to get the little one drinking out of a sippy cup in no time!
Trainer Cups
If your infant is ready to start drinking water or breast milk out of something other than a bottle, begin with trainer cups. “Trainer cups” are perfect for babies around the ages of 4-9 months. This cup has two handles, making it very easy for the baby to grip onto. These cups have to be tipped back to drink out of, similar to a bottle. This can be a good first step for transitioning from a bottle to a sippy cup.
Straw Sippy Cups
Many parents make the transition from a bottle straight to a straw sippy cup. Regular sippy cups and bottles have to be tipped back in order to work. Strawed cups are required to be held level for them to work. This can cause some confusion for the baby in determining why they aren’t able to figure out how to get the water or juice out!
Spouted Cups
The regular old spouted sippy cups! Most babies are ready to drink from their first sippy cup around the ages of 6-12 months. Many of these cups are spill-proof having a stopper inside the lip that allows liquid to only flow one way.
Learning to drink water is defiantly a process for most babies! The sooner they are exposed to a sippy cup from a bottle the easier the transition.
Lipsey Has the Water You & Your Baby Need
When you’ve made this transition to a sippy cup and are ready to give your child water, consider using Lipsey Water. We have fresh spring water that is tasteful and convenient for your family. Contact us today to learn how to get started!