When did your baby get into drinking water? And other questions...

[BlueMoon33]

My baby is 7 months and we are mostly doing finger foods which he is doing well with. He’s breastfeed too, and until recently never had water.

He’s a total bottle refuser so have gone straight for the Sippy cup of water, which he’s giving a good go.

So my questions are, when did your baby regularly start drinking water? How much and how often did they have it? Should I be sterilising the Sippy cup often? How long can water sit in a Sippy cup before I refresh it?

FTM and got myself a bit het up about water!

There’s no need for him to regularly drink water at this age, it’s offered more to get them used to drinking from a cup and because BFing halfway through a meal is less convenient than them helping themselves to a sip of water

There’s no need to sterilise the cup, just hot soapy water or the dishwasher is fine. If the cup has contained formula, you would have to sterilise then.

I’m not sure how long the water can sit it the cup. If it’s a clean cup, I suppose there’s nothing wrong with it sitting there for a few hours.

It is tap water you’re giving isn’t it?

Good advice above

I would say a few hours too, especially as it has a lid on it.

Hah thank you @JiltedJohnsJulie ! I needed it spelt out nice and clearly like that.

Phew, I had got myself in a slightly neurotic mess that I’m failing to give my baby enough water!

No worries, I got myself in a bit of a tizz with my precious first born. We used to peel and cut up his grapes until he was about 3. We still laugh about it now

I’m not sure at what age my PFB will be allowed to even eat grapes...

The second one weaned herself by snaffling some food I was eating and scoffing far to quickly for us to get it back.

I believe from the Mums I know who have more than 2 that they are generally weaned by the older ones feeding them chocolate at 8 weeks or fighting the dog for the scraps on the floor

Mine started drinking water when she joined a gym. She was 18

Mine started drinking water when she joined a gym. She was 18

There’s still hope for my DD then!

She’s 11 and today has drunk juice, hot chocolate, squash, milk, milk and more milk and a bit of water, but only under duress...

I think you’re technically supposed to cut up grapes and cherry tomatoes for children until they’re 5, so I don’t think you were being too precious, Jilted

She hated water. She never had fizzy drinks either and she still doesn’t like them. Except tonic water in her gin 😊

I think you’re technically supposed to cut up grapes and cherry tomatoes for children until they’re 5, so I don’t think you were being too precious. It is now but perhaps not back when he was my PFB and that doesn’t quite explain us peeling the little fuckers either

Except tonic water in her gin 😊

I think I’m with your DD

I just use the basic tommee tippee first cup. I tend to just give it to him at meals and give a fresh cup every time. I don't sterilize it but I wash it inbetween meals because he's really messy and food bits get in. I don't think you need to worry too much if yours is anything like mine, everything goes in his mouth so I don't sterilize anymore

Once they are old enough to be crawling about there is no point sterilising utensils. They will be shoving their crawly hands and all manner of crap into their mouths do sterilising a soppy cup is pointless.

When to introduce water depends on the tone of the year. During hot summers they may benefit from some water whatever their age once they can hold cuppy things.

Yes, everything from the floor goes in the mouth so building up the immune system! It just feels different when what’s in the mouth is getting swallowed, but I’m extremely grateful for the advice not to sterilise and that’s just another faff of a job to do with a busy baby!!

The basic red Tommy tippee cup has been the best so far here too. I’m just offering it after food as he enjoys banging the cup on the high chair and would rather do that than eat!

Thank you for all the replies, I feel more positive that I’m not failing at this!

You’re definitely no too failing Blue. You sound like a lovely caring Mum who’s got your LO’s best interests at heart

It’ll be great if he’s happy to drink water when he starts school.

You have no idea how many parents tell us their child doesn’t drink water and has to bring in squash instead.