Drinks for babies 0 to 12 months (2024)

FAQs

Drinks for babies 0 to 12 months? ›

Breast milk or formula are the only drinks your baby needs in their first year of life. These drinks have all the right nutrients to help babies grow. (If your baby is 6 months or older, your doctor may also say it's OK to give plain water.)

Breast milk is the only food or drink babies need in the first 6 months of their life. It should continue to be given alongside an increasingly varied diet once you introduce solid foods from around 6 months. The World Health Organization recommends that all babies are breastfed for up to 2 years or longer.

Whether your baby is 4 months, 6 months, or even 9 months old, it's not recommended for them to have juice if they are under 12 months of age. One-year-olds can drink juice, such as 100 percent orange or apple juice, but they should have no more than four ounces of juice in a day.

Breast milk or formula are the only drinks your baby needs in their first year of life. These drinks have all the right nutrients to help babies grow. (If your baby is 6 months or older, your doctor may also say it's OK to give plain water.)

Wondering if and when babies can drink juice? Most experts—including those at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)—note that fruit juice shouldn't be given to children under the age of one.

If you cannot find infant formula and you usually give your child a regular infant formula, you can give your 6 month to 12 month old child some pasteurized (not raw), unflavored, whole cow's milk. Cow's milk should only be given for a short time (no more than a week) as instructed by your child's doctor.

Breast milk or formula is the only food your newborn needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months after birth. But by ages 4 months to 6 months, most babies are ready to begin eating solid foods as a complement to breast-feeding or formula-feeding.

Because of this, it's best not to give juice to children under a year old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP used to consider it fine for children as young as 6 months to drink juice with their regular meals or snacks. However, they changed their recommendations in 2017.

What liquids can a 7 month old drink? ›

If your baby refuses water and you feel she needs a non-milk drink, stick to plain, unsweetened fruit juice, which has been diluted with water. At this age, it's recommended that you give her one part juice mixed with 10 parts water, and alongside meals, not in between.

6 to 11 months old:

Avoid serving juice as a drink, unless recommended by the child's healthcare provider. Breast/human milk, formula, and small amounts of water are the only drinks that baby needs to meet their nutritional and hydration needs at this age.

It's okay to offer some juice in moderation, but make sure it's 100 percent juice (such as apple, orange, cranberry or pomegranate), which can provide some nutrients to a busy, picky toddler. Remember, too, that your tot shouldn't be toting a sippy cup filled with juice all day long.

Honestly, a 100% orange, apple, grape, or any 100% fruit juice is the best juice for kids in addition to water or milk as their primary beverage.

Cranberry juice is safe for most people and has several potential benefits. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting fruit juice intake in toddlers and children and advises against giving babies juice.

Feeding Your 10-Month-Old Baby

If you're wondering about your 10-month-old's feeding schedule, go with three main meals and two snacks between those meals each day. During the main meals you'll want to offer your 10-month-old around two to four ounces of breast milk or formula alongside solid food.

For children six months to 1 year, give undiluted breast milk or formula. If your baby keeps vomiting, switch to a rehydrating solution that contains sugars and salts. For children six months to 1 year, it's important not to use water. For children older than 1 year, use diluted apple juice or sports drink.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is changing its stance on fruit juice for children. The statement says fruit juice doesn't offer any nutritional benefits to children under the age of 1 and should not be included in their diet.

While Gatorade should never be used as a substitute for milk, infants and toddlers can safely drink Gatorade beverages once they are weaned off breast milk or formula and begin consuming food, fruit juices, and other beverages.