Water and other drinks

• After milk, water is the next best drink for your baby.
• Your young baby doesn't need extra water -if the weather is hot, offer an extra feed.
• Once your baby starts solid food, you can offer her a cup of water so she can begin to lean to drink from a cup.
• Don't offer your baby fruit juice - under 6 months, she may find it difficult to digest. If you do introduce her to juice, you may find that she rejects water and milk in preference to the sweetened stuff.
• Try to offer freshly cut fruit and a drink of water instead of juice.
• If you want to give her juice, dilute it with water as most juices are unnecessarily sweet.
• Don't let her have more than 1-2 little cups of juice a day. Milk and water should be her main drinks.

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This article was written by Ella Walsh for Kidspot. Sources include SA Government's Parenting and Child Health.