Babies under six months shouldn’t drink water as it can result in health risks
While water is necessary for adults, it's not so with infants. They get meet their fluids needs in other ways. David Berger, M.D. founder and owner of Wholistic Pediatrics & Family Care, and founder of Wholistic ReLeaf, says that drinking water even at 6 months of age, is not entirely necessary. "Babies get all of the fluid they need through breast milk or formula," he continues. So if your 6-month-old only has a sip of water at first, rest assured that breast milk and/or formula will be enough to stave off any thirst. Baby Feeding Chart: How Much Infants Eat in the First Year Why Shouldn't Babies Under 6 Months Drink Water? Giving infants water before 6 months can pose some risks. Most notably, if a baby "fills up" on water, it might impede their ability to receive adequate nutrients. "Giving water to them at this stage puts them at risk of consuming less breast milk or formula, thereby not receiving all the nutrients they provide," explains Dr. Johns. It's important to keep up with regular feedings of formula or breast milk so that babies can grow up healthily, with all the vitamins their body craves.