12/06/2026
☀️ Ahead of the upcoming heat wave, we’d like to offer some reminders about infant hydration during hot weather. ➡️
🤱 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗳𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝟬-𝟲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿. It is advised NOT to give them water as breastmilk adapts to infant’s needs, including for water which is a component of breastmilk. During a heatwave babies may want to feed little and often to quench their thirst. A breastfeeding mother may therefore want to drink more fluid than usual during hot weather.
🍼 Formula fed infants 0-6 months should not be given water routinely. This is to avoid displacing infant formula which provides necessary energy and nutrients, and because too much water can cause overhydration and water intoxication.
❗ However, the NHS advises that 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮-𝗳𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝟲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. Any water should be given in between usual milk feeds. For infants under 6 months, water (tap or filtered) should be boiled and cooled first to ensure it is sterile. Bottled water is not advised as it may contain too much sodium or sulphate.
💧 For infants over 6 months, both breastfed and formula fed babies can be offered water in a small baby cup or open-handled cup at mealtimes, once they have started solid foods. Drinking water for babies over 6 months does not need to be boiled.
There are no specific recommendations in the UK for how much water to give to babies aged 6-12 months. Other countries have recommendations to offer a total of 4-8 ounces of water per day. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘆𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗲𝘀’ 𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀. 𝗔 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝟲 𝘄𝗲𝘁 𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟰 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀.
👏 For more information on this, see our FAQ: What are the recommendations for giving water during infancy?
