Keeping kids hydrated can feel like a guessing game with so many options available. It can be hard to know if they are getting what they need. Your baby’s bottle could lead to ear infections and developmental delays, and that so-called “kid’s drink” you bought might not have the vital nutrients they need to grow.
While milk and water might seem straightforward, leading health experts are urging parents to rethink what—and how—their children are drinking. Research shows that the beverage habits established from birth through age 5 have a major impact on a child’s health, both now and for years to come. And as Utah spring turns to summer, staying hydrated is important in a dry, warm climate.
To help families navigate early childhood nutrition, experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Heart Association, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics have outlined clear solutions to prevent these concerns.
How much water to offer:
- Babies under 6 months do not need any water.
- Older infants only need about 4-8 oz per day.
- Toddlers (1 to 3 years) only need about 1-4 cups of water per day and young children (4 to 8 years) only need about 5 cups of water per day.
- You can tell if your baby is hydrated by counting their diapers. If they have fewer than 5-6 diapers in 24 hours, it may be a sign they are dehydrated.
- For older children, their urine should be a pale yellow color, like lemonade. If it is darker, they may need more water
Master the open mouth cup early:
- Parents should introduce an open cup (without lids, spouts, or straws) at around 6 months of age, once the baby can sit up without support.
- Start by letting them play with an empty cup to learn its feel, then add just 1 to 2 ounces of water to minimize spills while they practice.
- Teaching babies to drink from an open cup helps them develop the mouth and jaw muscles crucial for learning to talk and safely eating solid foods.
- Using a bottle past 18 months is linked to preventable health issues, including cavities, low iron levels, ear infections, and developmental delays.
Serve the right milk for the right age:
- Babies under 12 months should not consume cow’s milk or plant-based milks.
- Between 12 and 24 months, toddlers specifically need whole milk because the extra fat is essential for proper brain development and growth.
- Once a child turns 2, parents should transition them to low-fat (1%) or non-fat milk, which provides the exact same 13 essential nutrients—like calcium and vitamin D—without the unnecessary fat.
Skip the sugary “kid’s drinks”:
- Drinks like fruit punch and sports drinks fill young children up with empty calories, which prevents them from getting the actual nutrients they need.
- Babies should only have water, breast milk, or formula.
- Toddlers ages two to five should be limited to just 4 ounces (½ cup) or less of 100% juice per day.
For Utah families, understanding hydration guidelines is important because it affects our daily routines, grocery shopping habits, and early childhood development. When you teach a baby to drink from an open cup, it helps them develop the mouth and jaw muscles needed to learn how to talk and safely eat solid foods. As a child completely weans off of a bottle and onto an open cup by 18 months of age, it can protect them from preventable issues like cavities, tooth decay, ear infections, low iron levels, and developmental delays.
Parents face daily decisions about what milk to buy. We know that children between 12 to 24 months old need the extra fat in whole milk to support vital brain development. Meanwhile, children aged 2 years and older, as well as adults, should switch to low-fat (1%) or non-fat milk. Children can learn to love healthy drinks and using an open mouth cup when they are young gives them habits that will have an impact on their lifelong health.