Drinks to Avoid for Babies and Toddlers

What babies and toddlers actually need to drink

For the first six months, breastmilk or formula covers everything including hydration. From around six months, small amounts of water alongside meals are appropriate. After the first birthday, whole cow milk and water are the mainstays for most toddlers.

Almost everything else is either unnecessary or actively displaces nutrition — the printable lists them with the reasoning for each.

The main ones to skip

• Juice, including 100% fruit juice, under twelve months. It adds sugar without the fiber of whole fruit and trains a preference for sweet drinks.
• Sweetened drinks of any kind — sodas, flavored milks, fruit drinks, sports drinks.
• Plant-based milks as a milk substitute under twelve months. Most are far lower in protein and fat than cow milk or formula; fortified soy milk is the usual exception, and it is a conversation to have with your provider.
• Cow milk as a main drink before twelve months, though small amounts in cooking are fine.
• Caffeinated drinks including tea, coffee and anything containing them.
• Rice-based drinks, due to arsenic exposure concerns in young children.
• Honey-sweetened drinks under twelve months, because of the risk of infant botulism.

Why water is limited before six months

Extra water in a young infant can dilute sodium levels and interferes with the milk intake they need — which is why the guidance is small amounts with meals from around six months rather than free access from birth.