How much water should a 14 month old drink

Q: How much water should a 14 month old drink a day?

On average, its best to strive for around 2 to 4 cups (16 to 32 ounces) of water per day for toddlers ages 1 to 3. Along with their milk intake and the fluids in their foods, this will provide enough liquid to meet their needs.

Parents take great care of their baby’s diet and nutritional needs. However, water is also equally important for your growing toddler. It is required for the proper functioning of the brain and the muscles. Many-a-times parents undermine the importance of water thinking that their toddler can compensate his water intake by drinking other fluids, and thus they may skip feeding water to their toddler. Though other fluids make up the body’s fluid intake, they cannot be substituted for water at all times. So, how much water should your little one drink every day? Read on to know about it.

How Much Water Should Your Toddler Consume in a Day?

Water is very important for the growth and development of your toddler. Therefore, parents should get their children into the habit of drinking water from a young age. A child between 1 and 3 years old needs about 5-6 cups of water in a day. This water may come from milk, fruit juices or from the food they feed. The water requirement of a toddler also depends on the climate. If you are staying in a hot and humid climate, then your toddler may require more water to prevent dehydration and exhaustion. Also, if your toddler is very physically active, he may need more water to keep his body hydrated. The same follows for toddlers who are sick; they must also be fed sufficient water, especially if they have a cold, the flu or diarrhoea Our body loses fluid as it makes mucus and it drains away. Moreover liquid helps loosen up the mucus in the nose and head. But don’t overdo giving water.

How to Know Whether Your Toddler Is Drinking Enough Water

Water is an essential requirement of a human body, and your toddler requires adequate amounts of water for his body and brain to function properly. In case you feel your toddler is not having enough water, you should look out for the following signs:

1. Urine and Bowel Movements

A toddler who drinks an adequate amount of water may urinate five to six times a day. However, if your child is not drinking enough water, he may not urinate frequently, and you would also notice the colour of his urine changing from pale yellow to dark yellow. Your toddler could also experience trouble in passing stools, and he could become constipated. Darker urine and harder bowel movements indicate that your toddler is not having enough water.

2. Mood

Water is a basic requirement for all our body parts to function properly. In the dearth of water, your toddler may appear tired and low on energy. You may also notice a change in his sleeping pattern, and he may appear to be more sleepy and sluggish. Lack of water can make your baby irritable and fussy too.

3. Physical Appearance

Inadequate water intake can become evident from your toddler’s physical appearance also. A healthy toddler has shiny skin and bright eyes. On the other hand, a toddler who isn’t drinking ample water may have dry and flaky skin. His eyes may appear sunken and lack healthy shine. His mouth may appear parched and dry, and he may shed very few or no tears while crying.

If you’ve noticed your little one hasn’t been drinking enough water, you need to up your game and encourage him to drink more. The next section will help you with some interesting ways to feed your toddler water.

How to Encourage Your Toddler to Drink Water

Toddlers need to be introduced to water, just like you do for other foods. As parents, you would also have to encourage them to drink an adequate amount of water every day. Here are some tips to encourage your little one to drink enough water through the day:

1. Lead By Example

Your little one loves to follow you and most of the times; he will do things that you do. Therefore, if you want your toddler to get into a healthy habit of drinking water, the best you can do is lead by example. Drink water often in front of your toddler, and he will surely follow you.

2. Get a Fun Cup

Buy a cup/sippy cup with your toddler’s favourite cartoon character icon it and use it every time you feed him water. Getting him his own cup and letting him have easy access to it may just do the trick.

3. Add Some Flavour

Boring things do not appeal to toddlers. Make things interesting, and you will get your toddler’s attention. Throw in a slice of lemon or an orange wedge for some added flavour to the water. You’ll be surprised to see how your little one will drink up his whole cup in no time.

4. Make Water Accessible

It can be a good idea to get one/two extra sippy cups and keep water for your toddler at places he can easily access. He can then drink water all by himself whenever he is thirsty. Ensure you refill the cups as and when required.

5. Water Drinking Games

Get your toddler involved in some fun and exciting games that involve sipping water. If there are other kids in the house, you can have a competition too. It is a great way of making your toddler drink. However, ensure he drinks just the right amount of water. Too much water can make him throw up.

6. Fun With Ice-Cubes

You can set some interesting ice-moulds and freeze water in them. Throw in two to three cubes in your toddler’s sippy cup. The fun and interesting shapes will lure your toddler into drinking up from his cup. You may skip this idea if your baby is sick or not at all used to drinking cold fluids.

As mentioned earlier, other fluids can be substituted to maintain fluid intake. If your kid doesn’t drink water even after trying the tips given above, you may want to look for alternatives. Read on to know them.

What Types of Drinks Can Be Given to a Toddler Besides Water?

If your baby doesn’t drink an adequate amount of water every day, you may choose to feed him other foods/fluids that still hydrate his body and mind. Here are some of them:

1. Fruit Juices

Freshly squeezed fruit juices made at home are a great option to fulfil your toddler’s daily water intake. It is recommended to feed juice to your little one in its original form and refrain from adding any sugar. You may give pomegranate, orange, sweet lime or various other fruit juices to your toddler. You may choose to add a little water to dilute the juice if your baby tends to have an upset stomach after drinking it.

2. Clear Soups

Clear soups are a great way of increasing your toddler’s water intake. Feed them warm soups as and when required to keep them hydrated and provide nutrition too.

3. Milk and Curd

Milk and curd are healthy alternatives to water. Most toddlers love to have milk, and thus it eases your worry of feeding fluids to your toddler. However, refrain from feeding too much milk or milk products to your toddler. Curd or buttermilk can be a good option for those kids who are lactose intolerant but make sure it is not cold.

4. Juicy Vegetables and Fruits

Consuming fresh vegetables and fruits that have high water content can be a great idea to make up for the daily water requirement of your toddler. They also provide ample nutrients, including fibre which can aid your baby’s digestive system. Cucumber, watermelon, cherries, sweet lime, oranges, apples, etc. are some of the options you can try.

Now that you know the alternatives you can use to keep your toddler hydrated, here are some dos and don’ts you must remember while feeding your little one fluids.

Dos and Don’ts

These dos and don’ts will keep your baby hydrated and healthy, too.

Always feed water or other liquids at regular intervals. Do not feed him large amounts of water at one go.
Sipper cups are a great way of making the transition from the bottle to cup. Introduce it when your toddler is able to hold things better.
Keep the water cup handy wherever you go for you to feed your little one water whenever he is thirsty.
You may add flavours to plain water if your toddler resists plain water.
Do not give sugar-based juices or drinks to your toddler. Avoid packaged juices too as they are processed and have large amounts of sugar and preservatives, which could lead to obesity and other health conditions.
Do not feed caffeinated beverages or drinks to your little one as caffeine is known to induce anxiety and insomnia. Also, it is very easy to get addicted to this stimulant, and children too can have withdrawal symptoms if it is suddenly cut down from the diet.

As a parent, it is your duty to pay heed to how much water your toddler is drinking. Water is essential for your little one’s growth and development. Use the tips given in the article above to keep your baby hydrated and healthy. Having said that, if you have any concerns regarding the same, you should consult a paediatrician and seek medical advice.

How much water should a 14 month old drink a day?

On average, it's best to strive for around 2 to 4 cups (16 to 32 ounces) of water per day for toddlers ages 1 to 3. Along with their milk intake and the fluids in their foods, this will provide enough liquid to meet their needs.

Can a 14 month old drink too much water?

But can your baby drink too much water? The American Academy of Pediatrics says yes, warning that introducing water too early or giving your baby too much water can actually cause a hazardous condition called water intoxication.

How much should a 14 month old drink?

After 12 months of age, toddlers may not get enough iron because they no longer drink iron-fortified formula and they may not get enough iron-rich foods in their diet. To help prevent iron deficiency: Limit your child's milk intake to 16–24 ounces (480–720 milliliters) a day.

How much water should a 1 year old drink per day?

To stay well hydrated, children ages 1-3 years need approximately 4 cups of beverages per day, including water or milk. This increases for older kids to around 5 cups for 4-8 year olds, and 7-8 cups for older children.