How much water for babies and toddlers: amounts by age, hot weather and tap water

How much water for babies? None before 6 months. HealthHub says a baby on breast milk or enough formula needs no extra fluids. From about 6 months, offer sips with meals, about 4 to 8 ounces a day until age 1, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says. After that, water and milk become your toddler's main drinks.

How to give your baby and toddler water, step by step

1. Give your baby only breast milk or formula until 6 months. HealthHub says they need no extra fluids.
2. Offer a young baby extra feeds on hot days, not water. If they seem extra thirsty, Cleveland Clinic says to offer breast milk or formula.
3. Mix formula exactly as the tin says. Cleveland Clinic warns against adding more water than the package calls for, and our formula guide has the steps.
4. Start water when solids start, at about 6 months. SingHealth's HealthXchange suggests a few spoonfuls of cool, boiled water with meals, or small sips between milk feeds.
5. Use an open cup, then a straw. HealthHub advises against sippy cups, and Cleveland Clinic says it's fine if your baby mostly chews the cup at first.
6. Keep it small until your baby turns 1. The AAP says 4 to 8 ounces a day is enough, since milk supplies the rest.
7. Make water and milk the main drinks from age 1. The AAP says children aged 1 to 3 need about 4 cups of fluids a day, water and milk included.
8. Leave out juice, soft drinks, teh and kopi. HealthHub lists sugared drinks, juice and caffeinated drinks such as coffee or tea as ones to avoid for babies, and the AAP says no juice at all before age 1.
9. Pack a water bottle for outdoor play and preschool. MOH's heat advisory suggests childcare centres keep drinking water within reach and encourage drinks before, during and after exercise.
10. Check nappies and pee. HealthXchange says six to eight wet nappies a day means your baby doesn't need more water, and the AAP says an older child's pee should be very light yellow.

How much water by age

Each row names its source. Some figures count water only and some count every drink, so read the last column with that in mind.

The KKH dietitian's figures count every drink: milk, soup, barley water and chrysanthemum tea all add up. The dietitian's worked example is a 14 kg toddler, who needs about 1,260 ml of fluid a day. The AAP adds that needs go up with activity, high heat and humidity.

For the milk side of the day, the milk feeding calculator works out amounts by age and weight. Our cow's milk guide covers the switch at 1.

Why babies under 6 months don't need water

Breast milk is about 87% water and formula about 85%, Cleveland Clinic says. So your baby gets plenty with every feed. A young baby's stomach is small, and water leaves less room for the milk they need to grow.

Too much water can also dilute the sodium in a baby's blood. When sodium drops too low, it can lead to seizures, Cleveland Clinic says. The AAP also advises against extra water at this age.

If a grandparent or helper feeds your baby, tell them the plan: milk only until 6 months, then sips with meals. Not sure your baby is ready for solids? Our starting solids guide covers the signs.

Water for babies in hot weather and outdoor play

Under 6 months, heat doesn't change the rule. Offer breast milk or formula more often. From 6 months, offer water with meals and take a cup on outings.

For toddlers and preschoolers, MOH's heat advisory sets out what it suggests for childcare centres. Children drink before, during and after active play, water stays within reach, and outdoor sessions are short with rest breaks. MOH also suggests loose, light-coloured clothes, shade, and less sustained outdoor play between 11am and 4pm, the hottest part of the day.

Kids at play often find it hard to stop, the AAP notes, so call the water breaks yourself. If your child gets overheated, the AAP says to move them somewhere cool, give cool water, dress them in light clothes and use cold towels. Talk to your doctor if the symptoms worry you or last more than an hour. A named bottle belongs on the preschool packing list.

Tap water, boiled water and other drinks

PUB says Singapore's tap water is safe to drink straight from the tap, with no filter needed. If you use a filter anyway, PUB says it can breed bacteria unless you clean or replace it regularly. For a baby just starting solids, HealthXchange suggests cool, boiled water. Formula has its own steps, set out in our guide to preparing formula.

Cold or warm? A KKH dietitian says it's personal preference, with no nutritional difference. So if your toddler only drinks it cold, or Ah Ma insists on warm, either is fine.

HealthHub says fruit juice isn't recommended for babies, because its sugar can disrupt their appetite. It also says flavoured milk has added sugar that can cause tooth decay. The AAP's limit for ages 1 to 3 is no more than 4 oz of juice a day. If you buy barley water at the kopitiam, ask for it without sugar. Bubble tea gets its own guide.

The AAP says being a role model helps. Drink water yourself, serve it with meals and snacks, and pack bottles before you head out. A few slices of cucumber or lemon in the jug can help. If your toddler is constipated, water is only part of the fix: see our toddler constipation guide.

When to see a doctor

Dark pee and fewer wet nappies are signs your child needs more fluid, the AAP says. Get help for any of these:

• Fewer wet nappies than usual, or a sunken soft spot on your baby's head. The AAP says to call your doctor straight away if you're worried your baby isn't drinking enough.
• Poor feeding, or vomiting so often your child can't keep fluids down. KKH lists this for its Children's Emergency.
• Unusual drowsiness, irritability, nonstop crying or confusion (KKH Children's Emergency list).
• After time in the heat: extreme tiredness, no response, vomiting, no sweating or bad tummy pain. The AAP says go to the emergency department.
• Heat illness signs such as headache, dizziness, fainting, a fast heart rate or dark pee. MOH says to see a doctor.
• Any illness in a baby under 3 months (KKH).
• Pale, ashen or blue skin, trouble breathing, a seizure, or a child you can't wake. Call 995, as KKH advises in an emergency.

For most worries, start with your GP or polyclinic. KKH says they're trained to treat common conditions in young children. For urgent problems, go to KKH or NUH Children's Emergency. If the trouble started with a stomach bug, our food poisoning guide covers fluids at home. To find a doctor near you, use the paediatrician map.

Frequently asked questions

When can babies drink water?

At about 6 months, when solids start. Before that, HealthHub says breast milk or formula covers your baby's fluids. Begin with a few spoonfuls or sips from an open cup at meals.

How much water should a toddler drink?

The AAP says children aged 1 to 3 need about 4 cups of fluids a day. Water and milk both count. A KKH dietitian puts it at about 90 ml per kg of body weight, with milk and soup included. Offer more on hot, active days.

Do babies need extra water in hot weather?

Not under 6 months. Offer breast milk or formula more often, as Cleveland Clinic advises. From 6 months, offer sips of water with meals and on outings, and keep your baby in the shade.

Can babies drink tap water in Singapore?

PUB says Singapore tap water is safe to drink straight from the tap. For a baby starting solids, HealthXchange suggests cool, boiled water. Formula needs its own steps, which our formula guide sets out.

Should my toddler drink warm or cold water?

Either is fine. A KKH dietitian says there's no nutritional difference between cold and warm water. Go with whatever your child will drink.