Your baby's body is about 75% water! Babies require
fluids to aid in digestion, to keep skin hydrated,
to feel healthy and energized, and to regulate body
temperature. How much fluid your baby takes in a day
depends on how active she is. But water remains the
most essential drink, especially for babies under
24 months of age.
Breastfed
babies get enough water from breast
milk but bottle-fed babies may need
small amounts of water because formula
tends to make them thirsty. In hot weather
some breastfed babies may require additional
water. |
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Water Matters!
As long as possible feed your baby water instead
of juice. For the first 2 years of life baby
needs to drink either milk or water. Offering water
from an early age will get your baby accustomed to
it and prevent the dependency on juice as a means
to quench thirst. Water offered to baby should be
clean and pure so ideally tap water should be filtered
before being boiled. Actually babies do not need juices;
baby juices are mostly made up from water, colorings
and sugar. But should you decide to introduce juice
after this period, ensure it is well diluted (one
part juice to 10 parts water). Give all fluids other
than milk in a trainer cup or beaker, not a bottle.
Also, keep the following in mind:
• Use water that has been freshly drawn from
the tap, then boil and cool it before serving. Avoid
giving your baby repeatedly boiled water as the level
of sodium will be higher, definitely not good for
your baby.
• Babies prefer just warm instead of cold water.
Do not add any flavorings as a thirsty baby will drink
water in its natural state.
• Do not give baby under 2 years of age sparkling
mineral water or water known as 'natural mineral water'
because of the high mineral content. Read labels carefully
and only use bottled water where the sodium content
is below 10mg per 100ml.
All
babies need water after solid foods
to help in digestion and elimination.
Offer plenty of water between meals,
diluted fruit juices with meals and
avoid squashes or fruit cordials. |
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Fruit Juices
Very diluted, unsweetened 100% juices (purchased or
home-made) can be introduced gradually if you like,
as early as nine months, provided there is no history
of allergies. It is good to start with apple juice
(orange juice can trigger reactions in some children).
Juices introduced earlier or later should be given
in limited quantities simply because water is better.
Besides, too much juice in your baby's diet will signal
to her that water is boring.
• Juice should be given preferably at mealtimes
to protect the emerging teeth. Juice tastes good because
of the sugar content and acids. Saliva created when
eating will help neutralize them.
• Remember to dilute one part fruit juice to
10 parts water and serve it in a cup or beaker. Prolonged
sucking from a bottle can cause the fluid to stay
longer in the mouth and leading to possible dental
erosion.
• Get into the practice of reading labels and
take note where sugar appears in the list of ingredients.
It can appear in different forms (maltose, sucrose,
fructose, corn syrup etc) and it may appear several
times on a list but under different names. The nearer
the ingredient is to the beginning of the list, the
greater the amount.
• Needless to say, avoid juices that contain
artificial ingredients such as aspartame as these
are not intended for babies or kids.
• Too much juice can cause indigestion, bloated
tummy, diarrhea or constipation apart from piling
on weight.
• Do not clean your babies teeth immediately
after she's had juice as the acid and sugar levels
is at the highest then and this can cause damage to
the teeth.
• Ready-made juices without preservatives (UHT
juices in airtight cartons) can contain many vitamins
and minerals as ready made freshly squeezed ones.
• For variation home prepared juices can be
made with vegetables such as carrots, celery combined
with apple and should be consumed as soon as possible
to benefit from the nutrients.
Tea or Coffee
• Beverages no matter how weak reduces the absorption
rate of iron and other minerals derived from food.
The caffeine in it acts as a stimulant, something
your baby can do without. Even if served with milk
sans sugar, it is not recommended for young children
below two.
• Kids over two can have a mild cup of tea diluted
in milk occasionally as tea contains antioxidants.
But coffee has too much of caffeine, definitely not
advisable.
• Hot chocolate drinks can contain quite a bit
of sugar and a caffeine-like substance known as theobromine,
which disrupts sleep. It should be given earlier in
the day and ensure it is a reputable brand.
Carbonated
mineral water is a no-no for babies
because it can cause gas and cramping. |
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