Which liquids to start offering babies first: tea or water?

One of the most frequent questions from parents is when it is possible to start adding other liquids to the baby’s milk. However, for a healthy and thriving infant, it is not recommended to include liquids other than milk, whether maternal or artificial, up to 6 months of age. He is able to cover all his fluid intake needs with sufficient milk intake. That is, only after this time, from the completed 6. months, it is necessary to start including other fluids as well. However, the primary goal here is to train drinking skills, the required amount drunk is minimal (in 1 year it is roughly 400 ml per day, including liquids used to prepare food). But which drink is appropriate to start with and how to prepare it for the child? Let’s take a look at the two most commonly discussed liquids: water and tea.

Water: from the tap or purchased?

A child’s primary source of fluids should be water. Its sufficient intake is essential for proper hydration and function of the child’s organism. But here comes the question of which water to choose: purchased baby water or tap water? Parents most often consider giving tap drinking water to infants because of concerns about the nitrate content. These can cause a life-threatening condition in infants, when the body loses its ability to supply oxygen to the tissues. The limit on their content in tap water was set precisely with regard to the prevention of nitrate poisoning, and this limit value is 50 milligrams per liter. Thanks to this, tap water in the Czech Republic and Slovakia should be safe for infants. However, you should always check the quality of the tap water with your drinking water supplier.

Compared to tap water, bottled baby water can offer higher quality. The main benefit is the lower limit for contained nitrates, which is only 10 milligrams per liter. In addition, bottled baby water has stricter limits for other dissolved substances such as sodium, magnesium, sulfates, fluorides, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, iron and others. However, with bottled water, it is necessary to draw attention to the risk of inappropriate storage (primarily the time and risk of sunlight when storing bottled water), which can have a negative impact on its quality. Because of this, bottled baby water cannot be considered the most suitable option for babies.

How to start with water

And how to start offering water to a child? The most suitable way is using an open container, i.e. a small “shot”, a plastic cup or another container that corresponds to the size of the child’s mouth. In the beginning, you need to protect yourself against frequent wet accidents, but the child often quickly understands the principle.

And what if the child doesn’t like the water?

Adding syrups or other sweeteners to water to improve its taste may seem like a tempting idea, but it’s not a good practice for several reasons. First, the introduction of sweet flavors early in life may predispose infants to a preference for sweetened beverages, leading to higher intakes of added sugars later in life. This is associated with various health problems, such as obesity or tooth decay. Additionally, sweetened water can disrupt a child’s natural ability to recognize and appreciate the taste of plain water, which is essential for proper hydration and overall health. It is essential to teach children to drink plain water from the very beginning, even if they initially show resistance or consume smaller amounts.

How about the teas?

Teas can be another interesting addition to your drinking regimen and can also provide solid mealtime rituals. A suitable option for children are fruit teas, which can offer a sweet variety without added sugar. Another species suitable for children is rooibos.

What to watch out for

Attention should be paid to what teas you offer the child. Above all, with regard to caffeine and possible effects of infused herbs in tea. Furthermore, it is advisable to offer them more diluted with water so that their taste is not so intense. Also, pay attention to the appropriate temperature of the tea to prevent possible injuries. Also pay attention to the method of sweetening the tea. Sugar and honey are not suitable for small children. Within a year, even in the case of tea, the priority is to expand the repertoire of flavors rather than the volume of liquid drunk. As with the taste of water, it is more valuable for us that the child gets used to the natural taste of tea, rather than focusing only on the amount drunk.

Herbal teas

When it comes to serving herbal teas, they should be handled with extreme caution. For example, it is advisable to give infants only herbal teas specifically intended for them, and in limited quantities, because the effect of herbs on the infant’s organism has not yet been sufficiently studied. At the same time, some herbs can negatively affect the absorption of iron, which is essential in infancy.

Black and green teas

As for black or green teas, they are also not suitable for infants and small children. They contain caffeine and, like herbal teas, also substances that can negatively affect iron absorption. An exception may be a situation where the child suffers from diarrhea or vomiting and does not tolerate the rehydration solution. In this case, your doctor may recommend black tea as part of rehydration therapy. However, it is important to choose decaffeinated black tea.

Tips for delicious teas for children

Leros: Children’s sea buckthorn tea

Sonnentor: Herbs for silt

dmBio: Organic children’s fruit tea

Babydream: BIO children’s good night tea

So which liquid to choose?

The main source of fluids for the child should therefore be water. At the same time, it is important to expand the child’s taste repertoire and get him used to other drinks as well. Keeping water as the most frequently offered liquid, but with the addition of its various flavors, as well as tea, appears to be the most suitable way of choosing drinks. Teas can help the child to establish fixed rituals, for example, warm tea every morning warms the child’s tummy and creates a pleasant awakening from breakfast. Tea will also help the child get used to different temperatures and colors of drinks. However, they should still make up a significantly lower share than water in the child’s repertoire of drinks.

Where to find more information

In the online program We start to drink, you will find a lot of other interesting information, including how to teach a child to drink from an open container or straw and what other drinks are and are not suitable for children.