How to make your infant drink water

Making your infant drink water is one of the hardest thing for few moms. Water should be started for a baby only after 6 months as per medical science. If offered before, it can lead to electrolyte imbalance as well as decrease the apetite for milk in an infant. There are variety of ways in which you can start water for your baby. Every child might prefer a different mode of drinking water. You can try and persue the method which suits your child. 

How to offer water to an infant?

1. Open cup/bowl

The best method for parents is to offer water from an open cup/ bowl. However, babies mostly find it difficult to drink water from a cup or bowl because it requires oro-motor coordination. Mostly, babies drink water too fast and develop coughing. Too frequent coughing can discourage them from trying water again. However, the coughing will decrease with time as their coordination improves. This method will improve his/her drinking skills in long time and decrease the spilling too. You can choose colourful, rattle cup to bring attention of your baby towards th cup. 

Baby's aften start blowing bubbles while drinking water initially. This decreases their intake of water. However, dont be discouraged as this habit will fade with time.

2. Sippy cup 

Other commonly used method is to offer water from a sippy cup. This is convinient as it does not take much coordination from baby 's side and does not induce a cough reflex. However, if your baby becomes dependent on this mothod, he may find it difficult to switch to an open cup in future. This method is easier but not prefered by orthodontists. 

3. 360 degree cup

The better alternative is a 360 degree cup which is a midway solution. This method improves oromotor coordination as well as does not induce cough reflex. However, many babies dont prefer to drink water from this cup as they might need to lie down for it. 

4. Straw cup

Straw cup are another good option but require some practicing from baby's end. It is a talent that is aquired with time. 

      Tips to encourage water drinking

• If you are facing difficulty through one mode, you can try switching to another to find out which mothod works best for your baby. 
• Make it as a fun activity rather than stressing about it. Water requirement is not much in the  first year. Your baby is getting enough water through feed as well. 
• Offer each time after meals so that it becomes a ritual for them. This way, they know that is is a part of meal rather than an option. 
• Let them play with their cup for a while. Leave the cup somewhere your baby can reach out for it. 
• You can try some attractive colours and shapes. Cartoons and neon shapes attract babies and they will be curious to tey them out.
• Fruit infused water is another good option if you baby is resiting water. You can even cut some fruit slices and put it inside the water. Some babies love that tangy flavour. 
• Become a role model for drinking water. You should drink water from the same cup first to help them try it. This will also boost their confidence in the cup. 
• You can show your baby some rhymes about drinking water. They learn fast when they observe something.