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| |    How to Tell If Your Infant Is Getting Enough Fluids by Mary Silva, M.S., R.D. reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. Many parents are concerned about their infants getting enough fluids. They'll often ask if their babies should be given water. The truth is, infants get plenty of fluids from breast milk or formula. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants less than six months of age not be given fluids other than breast milk or formula. If a baby is formula-fed, parents can get a good idea of whether or not she is drinking enough by noting the volume of formula she consumes. The average daily amount of formula for a baby is between 20 and 32 ounces. While this is adequate for most infants, some larger babies may drink a little more and a handful will drink less. It may also help to know that infants need approximately 11/2 ounces of fluid for each pound of body weight. Is it OK to give my baby juice? Traditionally, fruit juice has been given to babies around five to six months. However, recent findings suggest that giving juice to babies offers no real nutritional benefit, and it can, in fact, cause dental caries, diarrhea, and poor eating. If you give your baby fruit juice, keep in mind that the AAP recommends that infants drink no more that four to six ounces of juice a day and that it be given to babies only in a regular cup. This is because bottles, sippy cups, and juice boxes all expose a baby's teeth to damaging sugars for prolonged periods of time. As an alternative to juice, babies can be given mashed or cut-up fruit. Note the baby's diapers Monitoring the number of wet diapers a baby has is another good way of monitoring whether or not your infant is drinking enough fluids. Check with your baby's healthcare provider about how often to expect your baby to urinate. This varies quite a bit from baby to baby, and even from day to day. You will soon get a feel for what is normal for your baby. If her urine is dark colored or strong smelling, it's another sign of inadequate fluid intake. The best solution Babies who are not meeting their fluid requirements should be given more breast milk, formula, and water. Using other drinks such as punch is not a good idea, since these provide no nutrition and can lead to a bad habit of drinking these instead of the more nutritious options. Some babies who experience vomiting or diarrhea also benefit from an oral rehydration solution, such as Pedialyte. Weight ------- Fluid Required 10 pounds -- 15 ounces 11 pounds -- 18 ounces 14 pounds -- 21 ounces 16 pounds -- 24 ounces 18 pounds -- 27 ounces 20 pounds -- 30 ounces 22 pounds -- 33 ounces 24 pounds -- 35 ounces 26 pounds -- 36 ounces 28 pounds -- 38 ounces 30 pounds -- 39 ounces
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