Drinks for babies
Good fluid intake is an important part of your baby’s wellbeing and to keep your baby happy. It is easy to see why when you take into account that the body of a baby consists of about 75% water. In hot weather and in cases where your baby is unwell, drinking enough fluids becomes even more important! All fluids are however not suited to a baby’s needs, so it is important for you to understand this when choosing drinks for your baby.
Babies need no fluids other than breast milk, formula or water. The same is true for your toddler but you can also include a toddler nutritional supplement or cows’ milk alternative such as a toddler milk supplement as a drink.
You should never give your baby or toddler alcohol and should avoid drinks containing caffeine such as coffee or tea. When choosing drinks for your baby or toddler, select one containing little or no added sugar. One of the reasons for avoiding sweetened drinks is that it can foster a sweet tooth. If your child drinks excessive amounts of fruit juice, it may affect the intake of important nutrients, especially calcium, if it displaces milk intake. It can also cause some children to have loose stools, a decreased appetite, and can even have an influence on their weight.
The sugar content and acidity of fruit juices have a negative affect on the development of strong teeth. Some of these drinks are advertised as containing vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, but these drinks should also be excluded from your baby’s diet. It’s better to include vegetables and fruit to meet the vitamin C requirement of your baby. Settling a baby with a bottle of juice or sweetened drink is particularly concerning since the drink leaves the teeth bathed in sugar. Nor should a child be put to bed with a bottle of milk since milk contains a natural sugar, called lactose.
Tap water that meets the New Zealand water standards as well as commercially bottled water is usually suitable for baby’s but in cases where the town water supply is not available be sure to use effective sterilisation techniques and avoid any unsafe water supply. Also avoid mineral, carbonated and flavoured water. Any water given to a baby up to three months of age should be boiled and cooled before use.
A good indication your baby is getting enough fluids is checking the number of wet nappies they have in a day. A well-hydrated baby will have six or more very wet nappies per day. Clear or light-coloured urine indicates a sufficient fluid intake. If your baby is unwell or if the weather is hot, you can offer additional breast milk or fluids (for formula fed babies).
Keeping your baby well hydrated will make a valuable contribution to your baby’s wellbeing and encourages a happy thriving baby.