Babies require a special amount of care. One of the things that needs the most supervision and consideration is what they can drink. It has to be nutritious, and it has to be safe for them.
Let’s go over some of the safest drinks for infant children. These are the most beneficial, infant-friendly drinks for children 6 to 12 months old.
Safest Drinks for Children
The best drink, and often the only drink your child needs as an infant, is breast milk. However, there are a few more liquid alternatives that your baby can handle.
1. Breast Milk
The most important drink your infant children should be drinking is breast milk, and it is the only drink your child should be drinking from 0 to 6 months.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding for the first two years of their lives. It prevents tooth decay, strengthens bones, and is the most digestible liquid for your little angels.
You should be breastfeeding them as they transition to solid food. You can only phase breast milk out once your children comfortably move to solid foods.
At that point, you can introduce cow’s milk or other milk substitutes that they can handle and digest.
2. Infant Milk Formula
The second-best drink for infants 6-12 months old is infant formula. This form of cow’s milk is designed to give kids the proper nutrients, same as breast milk.
It’s a good ally for mothers who find it difficult to breastfeed. It also allows fathers to help out with the feeding process. Formula-fed babies also don’t need to eat as much as breastfed children. If you are struggling to find the best suitable infant milk for your little one, don’t worry themilkybox.com has everything that your baby needs.
The only downside of using powdered formula is how messy it can get to prepare. If you have trouble with that, it’s best to consider what baby wipes you will use.
3. Water
Babies who are fed breast milk do not tend to need water, but children who drink infant formula do need a glass on a hot day. It is best to give them cooled, boiled water for the first 6 months.
Children do not need cooled boiled water after 6 months, although it is still recommended for mixing with infant formula. Better to be safe.
When using bottled water, find the lowest sodium content possible and boil the water as well.
4. Non-Cow’s Milk
Other animal milk like goat milk may also work for your children, as they have the same nutrition levels as regular cow’s milk. Goat milk is more digestible and more similar to human milk than cow’s milk.
However, it is still not suitable for children with cow milk allergies because of the proteins.
5. Oral Rehydration Solution
Young children are sensitive and may develop illnesses easily. Dehydration and diarrhea are the most likely illnesses young kids can get because of their small size.
In situations like this, you will need to give your kids ORS electrolyte solutions like Pedialyte. Just make sure you will give the right Pedialyte dosage for your child.
6. Other Milk Alternatives
Soya drinks like fortified soy milk can be given as milk alternatives if your pediatrician approves. This is because fortified soy milk has equivalent nutrient content as cow-based milk formula.
Babies can also consume nut milk like almond milk, although it is not recommended as an alternative. The best option for children is still breast milk or infant formula.
The only milk alternative that children below 5 years old cannot drink is rice milk because of the arsenic content.
7. Fruit Drinks
Fruit juices and smoothies are not recommended for infants, but it is safe for them in the right conditions. The proper way to serve it is to dilute 1 part juice to 10 parts water.
You can give them the taste and some vitamin C without tooth decay risks. It is also important to only serve it at mealtime.
Drinks Not Safe For Children 6-12 Months
These drinks are not to be given to your infant children. They still can’t physically handle it, and it will negatively impact their teeth.
1. Caffeinated Drinks
You should avoid hot drinks with caffeine, specifically coffee and tea. Herbal drinks are also not suitable for children.
They can ruin sleep and increase headaches and irritability. You should also avoid hot drinks because they will burn your baby’s small mouth and stomach.
Any sugar added will also ruin their teeth. Steer clear of caffeine.
2. Soft Drinks
Fizzy, sugary, and carbonated drinks are not for children, especially infants. The sugar content can rot developing teeth and create diabetes and childhood obesity conditions.
It can also lead to loose bowel movements and diarrhea. Carbonated drinks were not made for small children.
3. Non-Infant Milk
It is also best to avoid pasteurized milk not specifically formulated for infants. Their stomachs will not be able to handle the bacteria potentially inside like E. Coli.
Unpasteurized or raw milk is even riskier for children for the same reasons. Their sensitive stomachs can easily pick up nasty bacteria and lead to many sicknesses.
Conclusion
The safest drinks to give your child are breast milk and infant milk formula when in doubt. These are the safest, most vital drinks for children 6-12 months old.
While other drinks and milk substitutes are digestible for kids, it is best to save them after your kid’s first birthday.
Whatever drinks help your child grow strong and healthy, and whatever gives them more appetite are the kinds of drinks you should give them.