Sip, Sip, Hooray!

What Should Your Baby Be Drinking?

When it comes to drinks for your little one, the simplest choices are the best. For the first six months of life, breast milk or infant formula provides all the hydration your baby needs. As you start introducing solid foods, you can also begin to offer small amounts of water. Let's explore the best drink choices for your growing child.

The Best Drinks for Your Baby

Breast Milk or Formula: This remains the most important drink for babies under 12 months, providing essential nutrients and hydration.

Water: From around 6 months, you can start offering small sips of plain, boiled (and cooled) water from a cup with meals. This helps your baby learn to sip and gets them used to the taste of water.

Whole Cow's Milk: After your baby turns one, you can introduce full-fat cow's milk as a main drink. It's a great source of calcium and vitamin D.

Introducing a Cup

Around 6 months is the perfect time to introduce a cup. Using an open cup or a free-flowing sippy cup (without a valve) helps your baby learn to sip rather than suck, which is better for their dental health. It might be messy at first, but it's a valuable skill for them to learn. Be patient and offer a little water with each meal.

Drinks to Limit or Avoid

In many cultures, special drinks are a part of family life, from sweet chai in South Asia to herbal teas in East Asia or sweetened bissap in West Africa. While these are often enjoyed by adults, they are not suitable for babies and young children. Here’s a list of drinks to avoid giving your little one.

Drinks to Avoid

Fruit Juice & Smoothies: These are very high in sugar and lack the fibre of whole fruits. The high sugar content can damage emerging teeth and may fill up little tummies, leaving less room for nutritious food.

Sweetened Drinks: This includes squash, fizzy drinks, and flavoured milks. They offer no nutritional value and contribute to tooth decay.

Tea and Coffee: These drinks contain caffeine and other compounds that can interfere with the absorption of important nutrients like iron. They are not suitable for babies or young children.

Rice, Oat, or Nut Milks: While these are popular, they should not be used as a main drink for children under two years old as they lack the essential nutrients found in breast milk, formula, or whole cow's milk.

A Note on Tradition and Health

It can be tempting to share a taste of a traditional family drink with your baby, but their health and development come first. By sticking to breast milk/formula, water, and eventually whole milk, you are setting them up for a lifetime of healthy habits. You are teaching them to appreciate the simple taste of water and to get their nutrients from food, not from sugary drinks. This is a gift of health that transcends all cultures.