This is because water is so thin and flows quickly, requiring the tongue and swallow muscles to work quickly. If your baby coughs when first learning to drink water, that’s okay. The oral motor skills required to drink from a cup or straw are very different from the movements required for sucking. Many times, the liquid is not well contained in the mouth, and a baby coughs and sputters. As baby’s skills improve with cup and straw drinking, this coughing and sputtering should subside with rehular practice.

So how much water can babies have?

Once a baby is 6 months of age, water may be introduced in small amounts in an open or straw cup as long a baby is growing and gaining weight appropriately.

What is a “small amount”? The American Academy of Pediatrics says it’s ok to offer up to 8 oz (227 ml) of water per day for babie 6 to 12 months of age, it is our opinion that water is best limited to less than 4 ounces (118 ml) a day to avoid displacing nutrition from breast milk or formula (particularly for the youngest babies in this age range).

If you’re concerned about hydration, monitor the number of wet diapers and energy levels, and contact your child’s medical provider. Generally speaking, babies should have 4-6 good, wet diapers every 24 hours.

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