When Can Babies Drink Water? A Parent’s Guide for Australian Families

For new parents living in Australia, a commonly asked question is: when can babies start drinking water? It is important for babies to be hydrated, but the right time for introducing water is important. Babies need to be fed the right amount of water, and failing to do so may affect their nutrition and health.

This guide discusses when babies can start drinking water, why babies do not need water immediately, and the type of water to give your baby.

Babies are not advised to drink water before they are six months old. In the first six months, babies get all the required nutrients from breast milk or baby formula.

Breast milk and baby formula are comprised of the best combination of:

• Fluids
• Calories
• Vitamins
• Electrolytes

Drinking water before they are six months old may cause babies to reduce the intake of milk, which affects their nutrition.

Babies are born with very small stomachs, and they require adequate nutrition. Milk provides babies with the required nutrients for growth. Milk is comprised of the best combination of nutrients and fluids.

Breast milk is comprised of immune factors, including antibodies and colostrum, which play an important role in protecting babies from illness. As milk provides babies with adequate hydration and nutrients, they do not need water before they are six months old.

A baby’s kidneys are still developing and are not yet able to cope with large volumes of water. Excessive water consumption may result in a condition called water intoxication (hyponatraemia) , where sodium levels in the bloodstream get diluted. Water intoxication is a serious condition that may even be life-threatening to a baby. Australian health authorities recommend that water should not be given to babies under six months.

It is recommended that around six months is the right time to start introducing water to a baby. It is during this period that a baby starts eating solid foods. It is then appropriate to start introducing small sips of water during meals. The digestive system is well developed to cope with water at this period, but breast milk or formula should remain a baby’s main source of hydration until they are 12 months old.

A baby is ready to be introduced to water when they:

• Can sit upright with little or no support
• Have started eating solid foods
• Show interest in drinking from a cup

These signs usually occur when a baby is around six months old.

In Australia, tap water is safe for drinking and is strictly regulated. However, it may contain small amounts of chlorine, sediment, and trace metals that parents may prefer to avoid, especially for their babies.

Parents may prefer to use filtered water or reverse osmosis (RO) water as it is extra-pure water that is suitable for their baby’s drinking water.

RO water reduces:

• Chlorine and unpleasant tastes
• Heavy metals, such as lead
• Bacteria and viruses
• Chemical residues

It is clean, fresh-tasting water that is gentle on the baby's digestive system.

Start by having just a few sips at a time. Let your baby get used to drinking water. There is no hurry. The best way to do this is to start slowly.

Click here if you want to learn more about Can You Drink Distilled Water?

The best time to give your baby water is during meal times. This way, your baby gets used to drinking water as part of the meal. A training cup is best used when giving your baby water.

After introducing water into your baby’s meal plan, milk is still essential. Do not replace milk feeding with water. Until your baby is one year old, water is only to be used as a complement to regular feeding.

As a parent, it is important to know when to introduce water into your baby’s meal plan. For Australian parents, the best time to start your baby on water is when the baby is about six months old. At this time, your baby can be introduced to filtered water.

Filtered water can be an added advantage to your baby’s health. However, do not forget to stick to milk as your baby’s main source of nutrients.