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Start with small sips of water (2-3 oz per day) from an open cup or sippy cup after solid meals. Water is for practice and hydration, not to replace milk feeds. Gradually increase as solid intake grows.
⚠️ Caution:Do not give water to babies under 6 months — it can cause water intoxication and interfere with milk nutrition. Even after 6 months, excessive water can fill baby's small stomach and reduce milk/food intake.
Parents often worry about dehydration once solids start, especially in hot weather. Moms say small sips after meals are plenty — baby's kidneys are still maturing, and milk feeds provide most of the hydration they need.
Here's what moms in our community shared based on their own experience.
Our pediatrician said start with 2-3 sips after each solid meal. Use an open cup or 360 cup — it's good for oral development.
Don't stress about quantity at 6 months. Even if baby takes just 1-2 sips, it's enough. Breast milk or formula is still the main hydration.
We started with a small steel cup — baby loved it more than the sippy cup. Let them explore and play with water initially.
Boil and cool water for babies. We use a stainless steel sippy cup and offer after every meal and between meals on hot days.
Water is still optional/low priority until around 12 months because babies get hydration from breastmilk/formula, which remains the main source of nutrition. Don't let water replace milk feeds.
Offer just a few sips (2-3 teaspoons, around 30ml a day) with or immediately after meals to help them get used to a cup, wash food down and prevent constipation. One rough benchmark is 1 oz per month (~180ml at 6 months), but let the baby decide - monitor pee count and stool consistency for dehydration signs.
For tools, you can use a spout sipper (e.g. Philips Avent first 6m), a small silicone straw bottle/cup (EzPz, Munchkin), an open cup, a small steel bowl/glass with a rounded rim, a paladai-type traditional spoon, or even a syringe. Many babies take a week or more to learn the straw, and may spurt water out at first - it's hit and miss. My daughter only actively drank from a sipper after 8-9 months.
Many babies dislike water initially because of the new taste - making funny faces, using a colorful sipper, or keeping the sipper nearby helps them get used to it gradually.
If stool is getting hard, offer water in small frequent amounts and add hydrating/fibrous foods like pear, papaya, dragon fruit, muskmelon and watermelon, and loose khichdi.
The information shared on this page comes from real experiences of mothers in our community. While we strive to provide helpful insights, this content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with your pediatrician, healthcare provider, or other qualified medical professional for any questions regarding your child's health or development.
Last reviewed: March 20, 2026
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