Drinks for babies: water, milk, juice and cups by age
5 min read
Quick answer
The best drinks for babies are breast milk or first infant formula until 12 months, plus sips of water from a cup with meals from around 6 months. From 12 months, whole or semi-skimmed cows' milk and water become the main drinks. Babies do not need juice, squash or other sweet drinks.
- Under 6 months, breast milk or first infant formula is all your baby needs
- From around 6 months, offer sips of water with meals in an open or free-flow cup
- Cows' milk can go into food from 6 months, but not as a main drink until 12 months
- Babies under 12 months do not need juice, and sweet drinks harm teeth
- UK and US advice differ on water amounts, juice, milk fat and cups
Does my baby need water before 6 months?
Usually not. Fully breastfed babies do not need any water until they start solids. In hot weather they may simply want to feed more often.
Formula-fed babies under 6 months may need a few small sips of water in hot weather, as well as their usual feeds. Any water you give a baby under 6 months should be tap water that has been boiled and then left to cool.
When can my baby drink water?
From around 6 months, when your baby starts solids. Offer a few sips from a cup at mealtimes. From this age, tap water no longer needs boiling first.
The NHS does not set an amount. Water is for learning to drink from a cup and for thirst alongside food, not a replacement for milk. US advice is more specific: the AAP suggests around 120 to 240ml (4 to 8oz) of water a day from about 6 months.
What milk should my baby drink before 12 months?
Breast milk or first infant formula should stay your baby's main drink for the whole first year. You can keep breastfeeding for as long as you both want.
- From around 6 months, cows' milk is fine in cooking or stirred into food, but cows', goats' and sheep's milk should not be a main drink before 12 months, as they do not have enough iron and other nutrients for babies
- Follow-on formula is not suitable under 6 months and is not needed after that
- Goodnight milks are not needed, and there is no evidence they help babies settle or sleep longer
- Only use soya formula if a health professional suggests it
When can my baby have cows' milk as a drink?
From 12 months. In the UK, pasteurised whole or semi-skimmed cows' milk can then become a main drink, offered in a cup. Aim for at least 350ml of milk a day, or 2 servings of dairy foods such as cheese or yoghurt.
US advice differs here. The AAP recommends whole milk from 12 to 24 months, then lower-fat milk from age 2. It also only recommends soya as a plant drink in place of dairy milk.
- Formula, follow-on, growing-up and toddler milks are not needed after 12 months
- Skimmed and 1% milk are not suitable as a main drink before 5, though they can be used in cooking from 1
- Unsweetened, calcium-fortified soya, oat or almond drinks are fine from 1 year in the UK
- Rice drinks are not suitable for children under 5, because of their arsenic levels
- Never give unpasteurised milk
Can babies have juice or other drinks?
Juice and smoothies are unnecessary for babies under 12 months. The NHS says that if you do give them, dilute 1 part juice with 10 parts water and only offer it with meals, to protect teeth. The AAP is stricter and advises no juice at all before 12 months.
Squash, flavoured milk, fizzy drinks, diet or reduced-sugar drinks, baby and herbal drinks, tea and coffee are not suitable for babies. Children aged 4 and under should not have slush ice drinks.
Which cup is best for my baby?
Start a cup from around 6 months. The NHS recommends an open cup, or a lidded free-flow cup with no valve, because it teaches your baby to sip rather than suck and is kinder to teeth.
Once your baby is 1, the NHS advises moving away from bottles. Only ever put breast milk, formula or water in a bottle, with nothing added. US advice allows a little longer: the AAP says sippy and straw cups are fine while learning, the switch from bottles can finish between 12 and 18 months, and children should use an open cup by about 2.
Sources
We check this guide against these sources. It is general information, not medical advice: speak to your health visitor, GP or paediatrician about your own baby.
Questions parents ask
Do I need to boil tap water for my 6-month-old?
No. Once your baby is over 6 months, tap water given as a drink does not need boiling first. Under 6 months, any water you offer as a drink should be boiled and then cooled. If you are unsure about the water where you live, ask your health visitor.
How much water should my baby drink?
In the UK there is no set amount. Offer sips with each meal and let your baby take what they want, since milk still provides most of their fluid. US advice suggests about 120 to 240ml a day from 6 months. In hot weather, offer sips of water more often, alongside usual milk feeds.
Can my baby have cows' milk on cereal before 12 months?
Yes. From around 6 months, pasteurised whole cows' milk can be mixed into cereal, porridge or mashed food, and used in cooking. It just should not replace breast milk or formula as your baby's main drink until they are 12 months old. Pasteurised full-fat cheese and plain yoghurt with no added sugar are also fine from 6 months.
When should my baby stop using a bottle?
The NHS advises discouraging bottle feeding once your baby is 1, and moving to an open or free-flow cup. Start practising with a cup from around 6 months so the change is easier. US advice from the AAP aims to finish the move off bottles between 12 and 18 months.
Is diluted juice okay for my baby?
It is not needed. Water and milk are the best drinks. If you choose to offer juice or a smoothie before 12 months, the NHS suggests diluting it 1 part to 10 parts water and serving it only at mealtimes, which helps protect teeth. In the US, juice is not advised at all before 12 months.