What Can Babies Drink? A Guide to Water, Juice and Formula by Age

Wondering what your baby should drink as they grow? Breast milk or formula provides the nutrition babies need early in life, but recommendations change as they get older. Learn when babies can drink water and juice, when they can stop drinking formula and how to make healthy drink choices for your child.

When Can Babies Have Juice?

• Under 1: No juice
• Toddlers age 1-3: 4 ounces daily
• Children age 4-6: 4-6 ounces daily
• Children age 7-18: 8 ounces daily

“These are guidelines from the AAP for parents to follow,” Dr. Andrew Cyr, MD, UnityPoint Health says. “That being said, juice is in no way a requirement for a healthy balanced diet.”

While many parents think fruit juices are healthy, they are not a good substitute for fresh fruits, and they are loaded with extra sugar and calories. Dr. Cyr says most of the benefit of eating whole fruits comes from the fiber content, which helps promote intestinal health and makes you feel full. The process of making most juices eliminates the fiber content, so you are left with just sugar.

“The high sugar content in juice can be difficult for little ones to absorb in their intestines and can lead to acute or chronic diarrhea. Lots of sugar contact with teeth can also significantly increase your risk of cavities,” Dr. Cyr says.

Why Isn't Fruit Juice Recommended for Babies?

There are plenty of baby and infant juice products on the market. They are typically marked with labels touting extra vitamins and minerals like “made with real fruits and vegetables” or “100% juice” or “no sugar added.”

“Even products labeled as “100% juice” or “no sugar added” still often have as much sugar as a can of soda. The reality is there isn’t a great nutritional reason to use any of these products for baby or infants.”

Dr. Cyr says if you are concerned about vitamin and mineral intake, talk with your doctor about your child’s requirements. A daily multivitamin is likely just as effective in providing extra nutrients if needed, without all the unwanted sugar.

If you’re concerned with products like Pedialyte, Dr. Cyr says don’t be. They are actually very different than most juice and sports drink products. The sugar content in Pedialyte is much less and has more salt and electrolytes than most other sports drinks and juices.

“This makes it an ideal drink to help with dehydration when your child has a stomach bug. I would recommend staying away from juice and sports drinks during these types of illness because their high sugar content can actually worsen diarrhea.”

When Do Babies Stop Drinking Formula?

Dr. Cyr says breast milk and formula should be the primary liquid offered to babies until solid foods are introduced around the 4 to 6 month mark.

When Can Babies Drink Water?

“Breast milk and/or formula provide the most appropriate mix of protein, fat, carbohydrates and electrolytes. It is okay to begin giving small amounts of water between 6 to 9 months of age if your child would like something to drink during meals,” Dr. Cyr says.

Talk to Your Pediatrician 

Have questions about what your baby should eat or drink? Your child’s primary care provider can help you make age-appropriate choices based on their growth, nutrition and individual needs. Find a pediatrician or primary care provider near you.

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