When can my baby have water, juice and cow’s milk?

Your baby may drink less milk as her appetite for solid food increases, but she still needs 600ml of her usual milk per day. Continue with breastmilk, formula or follow-on milk until your baby is one year old, as cow’s milk is too low in iron and vitamin D.

Milk is particularly important for calcium, which is necessary for developing bones and strong, healthy teeth. Make sure that up until the age of eight months, your baby drinks milk at least four times a day, especially if it’s likely that a bottle may not be finished at each feed. If the number of feeds is reduced too quickly, your baby won’t be able to drink as much as is needed. Some mothers make the mistake of giving their baby solid food when she’s hungry, when what she really needs is an additional milk feed.

The sooner your baby can drink from a sippy cup or ordinary cup, the better. There are lots of different sippy cups to choose from – one with a long spout that’s not rigid, makes a good transition from a bottle. Aim to dispense with bottles by the age of one year. Most milk feeds are better given in a sippy cup or ordinary cup, perhaps reserving just one bottle feed for before bedtime if it helps to settle your baby.

A guide to what to give your baby
• Cow’s milk can be used in cooking when your baby is six months old, for example, in her cereal, or in other forms like yoghurt or cheese sauce. Choose full-fat products as opposed to low-fat options, as babies need the calories for proper growth.
• Babies lose more water through their skin and kidneys than adults do, and also through vomiting and diarrhoea. Therefore it’s vital that they don’t become dehydrated. Ensure that your baby drinks plenty of fluids; cool, boiled water is the best drink to give on hot day – it’s a better thirst quencher than any sugary drink.
• Avoid bottled mineral water, as it can contain high concentrations of mineral salts, which are unsuitable for babies.
• It really isn’t necessary to give a very young baby anything to drink other than milk (breastmilk or formula) or plain water, if she’s thirsty. Fruit syrups, squashes and sweetened herbal drinks should be discouraged to prevent dental decay. If your baby refuses to drink water, then give her unsweetened baby juice or fresh 100% fruit juice. Dilute it according to instructions, or for fresh juice, use one part juice to three parts water.
• Fruit juices are high in natural sugars and they’re not good to have undiluted, as they’re not good for your teeth, due to their high level of acidity. However, since they’re a good source of vitamin C, if you serve them with food that contains iron that isn’t so easily absorbed, such as pulses, dark green leafy vegetables, or whole grain cereals, they help with the absorption of iron.

Mild signs of dehydration include:
• If your baby has only a few wet nappies in six hours or more.
• Few or no tears when crying.
• A dry mouth.
• Is cranky and irritable.
• Lethargy.





Annabel Karmel, water, juice, cow's milk