HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD CHILDREN DRINK EACH DAY?

Sometimes, the smallest habits can make the biggest difference in a child’s growth and development. Parents often carefully choose the right milk and plan nutritious meals, but amid the busyness of daily life, monitoring how much water a child drinks can easily be overlooked. It is often only when children become tired, less focused, or irritable that we realize they may simply be dehydrated.

In this article, Dr. Tran Thi Tu Hang will guide parents through the important benefits of proper hydration in children and share age-appropriate recommendations to help children stay healthy and thrive every day.

1️⃣ Why is water so important for children?

Water does much more than quench thirst — it plays a vital role in helping children stay healthy and develop properly. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, drinking enough water provides many important benefits, including:

🔸 Better focus and learning ability
▪️ Proper hydration helps children stay alert, improve memory, and concentrate better.

🔸 Supports normal body functions
▪️ Helps transport nutrients
▪️ Aids digestion
▪️ Prevents constipation
▪️ Helps remove waste products from the body

🔸 Protects dental health
▪️ Unlike sugary drinks, water does not cause tooth decay and helps keep the mouth clean.

🔸 Helps maintain a healthy weight
▪️ Choosing water instead of sugary drinks may reduce the risk of childhood obesity.

🔸 Regulates body temperature
▪️ Especially important when children are active or during hot weather.

🔸 Improves mood
▪️ Dehydration can make children feel tired and irritable.

2️⃣ How much water do children need each day?

▪️ Babies 6–12 months: about 120–240ml of water daily, since most fluids still come from breast milk or formula.

▪️ Children 1–3 years: around 4 cups of water or milk per day (1 cup ≈ 240ml, total ≈ 960ml).

▪️ Children 4–8 years: around 5 cups daily (≈ 1200ml).

▪️ Children over 8 years: around 7–8 cups daily (≈ 1600–2000ml).

💡 Note: Children may need more water if they are physically active or living in a hot and humid environment.

3️⃣ What should children drink at different ages?

🔸 Babies under 6 months
▪️ Babies under 6 months only need breast milk or formula.
▪️ Breast milk and formula provide all the essential nutrients needed for growth and development.

🔸 Babies 6–12 months
▪️ Breast milk or formula should remain the main drink until 12 months of age.
▪️ Small amounts of plain water can be introduced from 6 months using a cup.
▪️ Drinking from a cup helps children learn cup-drinking skills.

Note: Water is only a supplement and should not replace milk. Fruit juice should be avoided.

🔸 Children over 12 months, older children, and teenagers
▪️ After 12 months, milk and water should remain the main beverages.
▪️ Children under 2 years old should not drink low-fat milk because healthy fats are important for growth and energy. After age 2, low-fat milk may be introduced.
▪️ Fruit juice should be limited, and sugary drinks or soft drinks should be avoided.

5️⃣ How can parents encourage children to drink enough water?

Here are some helpful tips:

▪️ Make water the main drink for the whole family. Children are more likely to drink water when parents set a good example.

▪️ Keep water easily accessible by giving younger children their own water bottles and teaching older children how to get water themselves.

▪️ Serve water during meals and snack times.

▪️ Keep cold water in the refrigerator and add fun-shaped ice cubes to make it more appealing.

▪️ Bring filled water bottles whenever going out with children.

Golden rules for parents and caregivers:

✔ Keep it simple: children mainly need water and milk.
✔ Encourage children to drink regularly throughout the day, not only when thirsty.
✔ Parents should lead by example.

👉 When it comes to your child’s health, you do not have to manage everything alone. CarePlus is always ready to support your family with safe, personalized, and professional healthcare solutions to help every child grow up healthy and strong.