Tips on how to keep baby hydrated!
In partnership with Pampers
Does my baby need to drink water? How much should they be having? Does it need to be boiled? These are questions I get asked a lot, so I wanted to provide my top tips on giving babies water as part of my #BabyNutrition series with Pampers.
When can I give my baby water to drink?
From 6 months, offer your baby a cup of water with every meal – not before as it could fill up that tiny tummy.
Don’t worry if your baby doesn’t drink too much at first as they will still be getting most of their hydration from breast milk or formula until at least 12 months. Remember that getting used to the new taste and art of drinking from a cup is another skill they must master on their weaning journey and most enjoy giving it a go!
There are no specific guidelines for how much water to give your baby. So long as you have a cup on hand and offer water regularly, your baby should let you know when they want to drink.
Can I give tap water to my baby?
From 6 months onwards, tap water is fine. There is no need to filter the water and avoid bottled water as this can contain too much sodium. The only time you need to boil tap water is when you’re using with formula to kill any bacteria which might be present.
Signs my baby or child isn’t drinking enough water
Dehydration can happen more easily when babies have diarrhea, vomiting or a fever, or during hot weather. Here are some signs that your baby may need more fluids:
1. Dry lips or mouth
2. Increased fussiness or irritability
3. Fewer wet nappies or darker coloured urine: those wet nappies are sure fire way of checking to see if your little one is nice and hydrated! Their urine will show their hydration level; if it is dark yellow or smelly, they are not drinking enough water.
4. Sunken soft spot: In more severe cases, dehydration can cause the fontanel (soft spot on a baby’s head) to appear sunken.
If you notice any of these signs, especially if accompanied by a decrease in appetite, it’s important to consult with your GP to rule out any other issues.
How much water should my child be drinking?
The amount of water every child needs will be individual and will depend on their age, their gender, how physically active they are, and the weather! Here are some general guidelines.
0-6 months: Milk will be your baby mainstay of hydration – offer extra feeds if you think your baby needs more fluid.
6-12 months: Offer sips of water in a cup as you introduce solids.
1-2 years: 3-4 cups a day (around 1.1 litres)
2-3 years: 4 – 5 cups (around 1.3 litres)
How can I get my child to drink more water?
1. Let them choose a fun water bottle and cup, and always keep it at their level.
2. Freeze fun shaped ice cubes to add to their drink.
3. Make fluids fun and flavour with orange, strawberries or cucumber and mint.
4. Practice what you preach and make sure that they see you drinking water up all day long!
Try these hydrating foods!
If you struggle to get your little one drinking enough water, try offering foods with high water content. Here are my favourite go-to hydrating foods for babies and toddlers. They all contain over 80% water!
And don’t forget that foods such as yoghurt, dips, sauces, cereal with milk, purees and ice lollies will all help to up their hydration levels too.
Try these hydrating foods!
If you struggle to get your little one drinking enough water, try offering foods with high water content. Here are my favourite go-to hydrating foods for babies and toddlers. They all contain over 80% water!
And don’t forget that foods such as yoghurt, dips, sauces, cereal with milk, purees and ice lollies will all help to up their hydration levels too.
Protecting baby’s skin during weaning
With baby’s hydration in check, a good nappy and wipes regime could help keep your baby’s skin dry and protected.
Pampers Premium Protection Nappies have a DermaComfort layer with 1000+ absorbent pores to instantly pull wetness and mess away from the skin. Plus, the STOP & PROTECT pocket helps prevent leaks from escaping at the back. And Harmonie Aqua Baby Wipes are soft and gentle on delicate skin. Cheers to that!
*Remember to bin your wipes and not to flush them.
The post Tips on how to keep baby hydrated! appeared first on Annabel Karmel.
