It is possible to start giving water to the baby. But be careful, not with just any, and not just any how! Quality, source, mineral water, tap water, bottled water, at what age … We tell you everything there is to know.
Babies, although they are often associated with milk, also consume water. Yes, it is completely possible to give baby water! You just have to respect a few conditions. A toddler cannot drink just any water. The source, the quality, the nitrate content… Everything is important to hydrate baby correctly.
Babies need to be properly hydrated. Indeed, infants lose a great deal of water from sweating in hot weather, and through perspiration, an insensitive evaporation on the surface of the skin. What's more, babies' kidneys are very fragile and therefore produce a lot of urine to flush out toxins. So he needs to drink!
Remember, babies do not have the same resistance to bacteria and heavy metals as adults. You can swap a bottle of milk for a bottle of water, but with quality water!
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The conditions to be respected to give water to the baby
In infants under 6 months, the water should be low in nitrates, less than 15 mg / liter. Water that is too concentrated in nitrates can lead to the so-called "blue baby" disease in the baby, caused by a disturbance in the oxygenation of the body's cells.
The water should also be minimally mineralized, less than 500 mg / liter. Otherwise, a baby's immature kidneys may be overloaded. The beverage must obviously be pure: that is to say, free from germs and lead. Nothing should disturb the baby's immune system.
Can we give baby tap water?
This is generally not recommended, although it all depends on the quality of the water in your area, or even in your building.
For example, the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) advises against providing tap water routed through the pipes of an old building, that is to say whose construction predates 1948. Many pipes are made of lead, which can expose young children to lead residue.
Risks associated with lead pipes
Lead is a toxic metal because it is not completely eliminated by the human body. The adult eliminates about 90%, but the child eliminates only half. This lead causes the disease known as lead poisoning. The resulting neurological and digestive disorders are heavy on unborn babies, infants and toddlers. Water too loaded with lead can affect children's mental and intellectual faculties.
It is therefore not advisable to give tap water conveyed through the pipes of an old building whose content could exceed 10 micrograms per liter.
Risks for babies related to nitrates
It is indeed necessary to take into account the level of nitrates contained in tap water.
The nitrates in our food or drinking water are converted into nitrites in our digestive tract. This produces really harmful effects on the health of the infant.
An excessive amount of nitrates in drinking water therefore poses a risk of poisoning during the first 6 months of a baby's life. It is during this period that the microbial flora responsible for the transformation into nitrites is most important in the body. Subsequently, the body is less sensitive to the toxic effects of these products.
How do I know if my tap water meets this level?
In France, tap water is required not to exceed a nitrate content of 50 mg / L, which is the limit recommended by WHO for an adult weighing 70 kg. This is 5 times more than the acceptable dose for an infant. It is therefore recommended to avoid hydrating infants with tap water in the first six months of life.
With regard to Paris waters, the average nitrate level displayed is 29 mg / L, which is significantly higher than the threshold recommended for an infant.
These nitrate contents can be even higher. Depending on the period and area: nitrate peaks are observed at 35 mg / L in the 20th arrondissement or at more than 40 mg / L in the 15th arrondissement. That is 3.5 to 4 times more than the admissible dose for young children.
You must also pay attention to its sodium content, which can reach 200 mg / liter, and its hardness. Hard water is considered to be too mineralized.
Can we give baby filtered water?
This is strictly discouraged by ANSES, which prohibits "water which has undergone filtration (filter jug for example or any other type of filtration treatment at home) or which has undergone softening, because these systems can promote the multiplication of microorganisms”. A bacterial risk which can have serious consequences for infants.
Can baby drink bottled water?
This is recommended if the label on the water bottle reads "suitable for infant feeding". This label guarantees low water mineralization, a nitrate level below 10mg / L and the absence of lead residues.
Pediatricians recommend mineral water with very little mineral content, i.e. a content of less than 500 mg / liter. It is therefore possible to give an infant water such as Volvic, Evian, Thonon, Mont Roucous, Valvert. They are perfect for baby!
Waters and ages
- Up to 4 months of baby, milk feed is enough to properly hydrate baby. Infant milk requires water to dissolve, and breast milk contains enough. No need to give bottles of water!
Of course, each baby is unique and has special needs. You must imperatively seek the advice of your pediatrician. In hot weather, illnesses like diarrhea, fever … baby may need more water.
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In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
- Between 4 months and 1 year, baby needs to drink more because of food diversification. Of course, you just need to give it pure water. If baby has a balanced diet according to the rules of diversification, 1 bottle of water is enough!
Remember to follow all of the above rules. We choose the purest water possible!
- Between 1 and 3 years, the food is much more solid, therefore less concentrated in water. Specialists recommend 500 ml of water per day (to be balanced according to the baby's activity).
There you go, you know all about water consumption in babies! You never thought you had to know so much about something as simple as water, right?