Region: United States

How much water do kids need?

The amount of water each child needs might vary from day-to-day based on how active she is, the weather, or the amount of fluids she gets from other beverages like milk or foods like soups and applesauce. It also depends on age:

  • 0-6 Months: No water
  • 6-12 Months: Once solid foods are introduced around 6 months, you can offer a few sips of plain water at mealtimes. It helps babies develop cup-drinking skills and learn to like the taste of water, which takes time.
  • 1-3 Years: Toddlers should drink 1 to 4 cups of water daily to get enough fluids.
  • 4-5 Years: Preschoolers should drink 1.5-5 cups of water daily to get enough fluids.

Avoid waters with added sugar or low-calorie sweeteners. If you want to add a little flavor and fun to water, try adding fruit.

Cheers!

Learn more at www.healthydrinkshealthykids.org.

What should my preschooler drink?

From ages 4-5, your preschooler only really needs two things: Water & Milk. Water is a great go-to drink throughout the day (1.5-5 cups of water per day). Low-fat (1%) or fat-free (skim) milk is great for mealtime (up to 2.5 cups of milk per day). If your kid can’t have dairy, talk to your health care provider about unsweetened alternatives. What about juice? If you choose to serve juice, use 100% fruit juice and no more than 4-6oz per day. Cheers!

4-5 years

Drink:

Water

  • Children 4 to 5 years old should drink 1.5 to 5 cups of water a day.
  • The amount of water each child needs might vary from day-to-day based on how active s/he is, the weather, or the amount of fluids s/he gets from other beverages like milk or foods like soups and applesauce.

Milk

  • Children 4 to 5 years old should drink plain, pasteurized fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1%) milk. The recommended amount is up to 2.5 cups a day.

Limit:

100% Fruit Juice

  • Children ages 4 to 5 years old should drink no more than 4-6 ounces of 100% juice per day. Adding water to 100% fruit juice can make a little bit of juice go a long way.
  • As much as possible, children should meet their daily fruit intake by eating fruit in fresh, canned, or frozen forms without added sugars, rather than by drinking juice, as this is the best option.
  • If this is not possible, then a combination of whole fruit and 100% juice is okay, as long as a child does not drink more than the upper limit of 6 ounces per day.
  • This is because juice, even 100% fruit juice, can contribute to dental cavities, and if kids drink more than is recommended, it can have other negative health impacts such as weight gain.

Avoid:

  • Children 4 to 5 years old should not drink flavored milks (e.g., chocolate, strawberry), “transition” or “weaning” formulas (sometimes called toddler milks, growing up milks, or follow up formulas), plant-based and non-dairy milks (e.g., almond, rice, oat), caffeinated beverages (e.g., soda, coffee, tea, energy drinks), low-calorie sweetened beverages (e.g. “diet” or “light” drinks, including those sweetened with Stevia or Sucralose), or sugar-sweetened beverages (e.g., soda, fruit drinks and fruit flavored drinks, fruit-ades, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened waters, and sweetened coffee and tea beverages).
  • Plant milks/non-dairy beverages are not recommended for exclusive consumption in place of milk. Evidence indicates that, with the exception of fortified soy milk, many plant-based/non-dairy milk alternatives lack key nutrients found in cow’s milk. Our bodies cannot absorb nutrients in these non-dairy milks as well as they can from regular milk. Non-dairy milks may be a good choice if a child is allergic to dairy, lactose intolerant, or is in a family that has made specific dietary choices such as abstaining from animal products. Be sure to consult with your health care provider to choose the right milk substitute to ensure that your child is still getting adequate amounts of the key nutrients found in milk, such as protein, calcium, and vitamin D, which are essential for healthy growth and development.

Learn more at www.healthydrinkshealthykids.org.

What should my baby drink in the first year?

From 0-6 months, your baby gets all of the nutrients he needs from breastmilk or infant formula. Once solid foods are introduced around 6 months, you can offer a few sips of plain water at mealtimes. It helps babies develop cup-drinking skills and learn to like the taste of water, which takes time. Cheers!

0-6 months

Drink: Young infants need only breast milk or infant formula to get enough fluids and proper nutrition.

Avoid: Infants younger than 6 months should not drink juice, milk, flavored milks (e.g., chocolate, strawberry), “transition” or “weaning” formulas (sometimes called toddler milks, growing up milks, or follow up formulas), plant-based and non-dairy milks (e.g., almond, rice, oat), caffeinated beverages (e.g., soda, coffee, tea, energy drinks), low-calorie sweetened beverages (e.g., “diet” or “light” drinks, including those sweetened with Stevia or Sucralose), or sugar-sweetened beverages (e.g., soda, fruit drinks and fruit flavored drinks, fruit-ades, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened waters, and sweetened coffee and tea beverages).

6-12 months

Drink:

  • Infants between 6 and 12 months should still rely on breast milk or infant formula to get most of their daily nutritional needs. Breast milk and/or infant formula also provide all of the baby’s fluid needs during this time.
  • Once solid foods are introduced, which is typically around 6 months, try adding in a couple of sips of water during meal times. It helps babies develop cup-drinking skills and learn to like the taste of water, which takes time.

Avoid: Infants younger than 12 months should not drink juice, milk, flavored milks (e.g., chocolate, strawberry), “transition” or “weaning” formulas (sometimes called toddler milks, growing up milks, or follow up formulas), plant-based and non-dairy milks (e.g., almond, rice, oat), caffeinated beverages (e.g., soda, coffee, tea, energy drinks), low-calorie sweetened beverages (e.g., “diet” or “Light” drinks, including those sweetened with Stevia or Sucralose), or sugar-sweetened beverages (e.g., soda, fruit drinks and fruit flavored drinks, fruit-ades, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened waters, and sweetened coffee and tea beverages). These beverages can be big sources of added sugars in young children’s diets and provide no unique nutritional value beyond eating a balanced diet and sticking to water and milk. And, avoiding these kinds of beverages at a young age helps to create and maintain healthy habits down the road.

Learn more at www.healthydrinkshealthykids.org.

The First 1,000 Days: The Case for Paid Leave in America

The United States is one of the only countries in the world without a national policy in place to provide mothers with paid time off to care for their health needs during and after pregnancy or to care for their newborn. As a result, nearly 1 in 4 women return to work within just 2 weeks of giving birth – a reality that has serious consequences for their health and that of their children. In a first-of-its-kind analysis, 1,000 Days builds the case for paid leave as a public health imperative and calls for a comprehensive paid leave policy that ensures all workers can take the time they need to care for themselves or their loved ones without jeopardizing their economic security.

Nutrition in the First 1,000 Days: A Foundation for Lifelong Health

The 1,000 day window, between a mother’s pregnancy and her child’s second birthday, is a critical time that helps set the stage for the child’s future well-being. During this period, proper nutrition is crucial for supporting rapid brain development, building the immune system, and other essential functions. 1,000 Days, with support from Zero to Three and their Think Babies Campaign, has created this resource, Nutrition in the First 1,00 Days, to focus on the importance of investing in nutrition during this foundational period.

Toddler – Food and Feeding

Based upon evidence​, a number of desired eating behaviors were identified as critical to helping families foster healthy active living for their toddler. For each desired behavior explore the evidence, learn what parents said about these behaviors, identify opportunities to promote healthy behaviors at the point of care, review how to start conversations and access messages and resources to support families.

What is a good first food for your baby?

As your baby transitions from breast milk and/or formula to now trying foods for the first time, it may have you wondering: What is a good first food to feed my baby?

Foods that are rich in iron and zinc make great first foods. This is especially important for breastfed babies since babies will start to require more iron than found in breast milk alone. Iron is a key nutrient that is important for your baby’s growing body and brain.
Iron-rich first foods include:

  • Meats like chicken, turkey or beef. Animal meats contain iron that is easy for your baby’s body to absorb.
  • A variety of infant cereals that are fortified with iron and zinc, including oat, barely and multigrain cereals. Look for infant cereals that are labeled “Fortified with iron and zinc.” It’s important for babies to eat different types of infant cereal – like oat, barely and multigrain – so of feed your little one a variety of grains, not just one kind.

While there is no specific order to introducing foods, it is important to introduce your baby to foods that are rich in iron and zinc.
And remember, talk to your child’s pediatrician or health care provider about any questions or concerns.
To learn more, check out these additional resources related to this topic:

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No-cook first foods

Not all homemade baby foods require cooking. Try these easy, no-cook first foods for babies. All you need is a fork for mashing.

Banana
Simply peel a ripe banana and mash it with a fork. Add water, breast milk or infant formula for a smoother texture.

Avocado
Cut and peel the avocado. Mash it with a fork. Add water, breast milk or infant formula for a smoother texture.

Canned Beans
Open a can of beans, rinse them under water, and put some in a bowl. Mash them with a fork. Add water, breast milk or infant formula for a smoother texture.

 That’s it! Enjoy! And remember, talk to your child’s pediatrician or health care provider about any questions or concerns.

To learn more, check out these additional resources related to this topic:

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn More