Starting solids brings a whole new set of questions. What foods should you offer first? How much should your baby eat? And suddenly, alongside learning to eat, there's another little milestone to think about, learning to drink.

When can babies start having water? Do they need it with every meal? Should you use a sippy cup, straw cup or open cup? And when are they ready for their own water bottle?

The good news is that introducing water doesn't need to be complicated.

For the first six months, breast milk or infant formula provides the hydration babies need. From around six months, when solid foods are introduced, you can begin offering small sips of water alongside meals.

It's less about getting your baby to drink a certain amount straight away and more about gradually helping them develop a new skill.

Here's what you need to know.

When Can Babies Start Drinking Water?

For most babies, water can be introduced from around six months old, when they begin eating solid foods.

Before this age, breast milk or first infant formula is their main source of nutrition and hydration.

According to the NHS, fully breastfed babies don't need additional water before six months, even in hot weather. Formula-fed babies under six months may occasionally need small amounts of cooled boiled water during particularly hot weather, alongside their usual formula feeds.

Once your baby starts solids, offer small sips of water from a cup with meals. This helps them become familiar with drinking something other than milk while practising the coordination involved in using a cup.

Why Shouldn't Babies Under Six Months Drink Water?

Young babies have different nutritional and hydration needs from older children.

Breast milk and correctly prepared infant formula provide the fluid and nutrients they need during those early months.

Giving additional water unnecessarily can mean babies take less milk, reducing their intake of important nutrients. Excessive water can also disturb the body's sodium balance, which can be dangerous for young infants.

That's why water shouldn't be used to replace milk feeds or make a baby feel fuller.

If you're concerned that a baby under six months isn't getting enough fluids, particularly during illness or hot weather, speak to your health visitor or GP rather than routinely offering extra water.

How Much Water Should a Baby Drink?

One of the most common questions parents have is whether their baby is drinking enough water.

The answer depends on their age, how much milk they're having, what they're eating and their individual needs.

At six months, don't worry if your baby only manages a few sips or spends most of the meal exploring their cup.

Some babies take to drinking quickly, while others need plenty of opportunities to practise.

The aim is to make water familiar and accessible, not to encourage large volumes before they're ready.

Does a Baby Still Need Milk After Starting Water?

Absolutely.

Breast milk or first infant formula remains an important source of nutrition throughout your baby's first year, even as they begin eating more solid food.

Introducing water doesn't mean replacing milk feeds.

At first, your baby may only eat small amounts of food and take an occasional sip of water. Over the following months, their meals gradually become more established, but milk continues to play an important role.

From 12 months, whole cows' milk can be offered as a main drink if appropriate for your child, alongside water and a varied diet. Breastfeeding can also continue for as long as parent and child wish.

What Is the Best First Cup for a Baby?

When your baby starts solids at around six months, it's a good time to introduce their first drinking cup.

The NHS recommends encouraging babies to drink from an open cup or a free-flow cup without a valve, helping them learn to sip rather than suck.

There are several different cup styles available, each offering a slightly different experience.

Open Cups

An open cup encourages babies to practise sipping, controlling the flow of water and coordinating their mouth and hands.

You can begin by holding a small cup for your baby and gently helping them take a sip.

It will probably be messy at first, but that's part of learning.

Straw Cups

Straw cups can be a useful option as babies develop their drinking skills.

Learning to use a straw takes practice, and some babies find it easier than others. A lightweight cup with handles or an easy-to-hold shape can help them gradually become more independent.

Sippy Cups

Sippy cups are popular because they can make drinking more manageable while babies are learning.

However, not all sippy cups work in the same way. Some have valves that require babies to suck to release water, while others allow water to flow more freely.

The NHS recommends free-flow cups rather than non-spill cups with valves, so it's worth checking how a particular cup works.

A sippy cup can be a transitional option, but there's no need to rely on one long-term if your baby is happy learning with an open or straw cup.

Open Cup vs Straw Cup vs Sippy Cup: Which Is Better?

There isn't one cup that every baby will immediately prefer.

An open cup is a good starting point because it encourages sipping and is recommended by the NHS. A straw cup can offer another way to practise drinking independently, particularly when you're out and about.

A sippy cup may be useful during the transition, although it's best not to let valve-controlled cups become the only way your child drinks.

Rather than feeling you need to choose one forever, think about how different cups can support your baby's developing skills.

You might use an open cup with help at mealtimes, a straw cup as their coordination improves and a familiar transitional cup while they're still learning.

How to Teach Your Baby to Drink From a Cup

Like learning to eat, drinking from a cup is a skill that develops gradually.

Start with small amounts of water and keep expectations realistic.

1. Begin around six months. Introduce a suitable cup when your baby is developmentally ready for solids.

2. Offer water with meals. This creates regular, predictable opportunities to practise.

3. Show them how. Babies learn by watching, so let them see you drinking from your own cup.

4. Help them hold and tilt it. Support the cup while they practise taking small sips.

5. Expect spills. Pouring, tipping and dropping the cup are all part of learning.

6. Keep practising without pressure. Some babies need more time before drinking independently.

Avoid tipping water quickly into your baby's mouth or encouraging them to drink more than they want.

With time and repetition, they'll gradually become more confident.

When Can Babies Start Using a Water Bottle?

As babies approach their first birthday and become more confident drinking independently, you might begin thinking about a reusable water bottle for days out.

There's no particular birthday when every child suddenly needs one.

The important things are whether they can comfortably use the drinking mechanism, whether the bottle is suitable for their age and whether it can be cleaned thoroughly.

For younger babies, practising with an open or straw cup at home is still valuable.

As toddlers become more independent, a lightweight, easy-to-carry water bottle can be particularly useful for nursery, family outings, holidays and everyday adventures.

A personalised bottle also makes it easier to identify their belongings when they're spending time with other children.

What Should Babies Drink Besides Milk and Water?

For babies and young children, water and plain milk are the main drinks to focus on.

Fruit juice, squash, fizzy drinks and sweetened drinks aren't necessary for babies and can contribute to tooth decay.

Even drinks marketed towards babies or toddlers may contain added sugars or encourage a preference for sweet flavours.

Offering plain water from the beginning helps children become familiar with its taste as they develop their drinking habits.

What If My Baby Refuses Water?

It's very common for babies to show little interest in water when they first start solids.

Remember, they're learning an entirely new skill while also exploring unfamiliar foods and textures.

Try offering small amounts regularly, allowing them to handle their cup and modelling drinking yourself.

You can also experiment with different suitable cups to see which feels easiest for them to use.

Avoid turning drinking into a battle. If your baby is otherwise feeding well, producing their usual wet nappies and seems healthy, taking only a few sips during the early stages of weaning isn't necessarily a concern.

If you're worried about dehydration, particularly during illness, seek medical advice.

Baby Drinking Cups & Feeding Essentials

Choosing the right drinking cup can make learning to drink a little easier, but you don't need lots of different products for every stage.

From milk feeds in the early months to practising with a first cup and eventually carrying their own water bottle, these are some of our favourite JBØRN essentials to support growing independence.

BIBS Glass Baby Bottle Designed for milk feeds during those early months, this durable borosilicate glass bottle features a natural rubber latex teat with a slow flow and anti-colic air vent. A thoughtful feeding essential for parents using expressed breast milk or formula, with an optional matching protective sleeve for everyday use.	BIBS Baby Glass Bottle Complete Set
JBØRN 3-in-1 Drinking Cup Designed to grow with your child's drinking skills, this versatile 120ml cup transforms from a sippy cup to a straw cup and finally an open cup. Made from soft, lightweight, LFGB-tested food-grade silicone, with interchangeable lids and an easy-grip design, it's a practical way to support independent drinking as little ones develop confidence and coordination.	JBØRN 3-in-1 Drinking Cup | Baby Sippy Cup
JBØRN Personalised Stainless Steel Water Bottle Perfect for little ones becoming more independent, our lightweight 400ml stainless steel water bottle features a straw lid, playful hand-painted designs and optional name personalisation. Suitable from around 12 months, it's a practical everyday essential for nursery, family adventures and keeping water close at hand while out and about.	JBØRN Personalised Stainless Steel Kids Water Bottle
JBØRN Baby Weaning Full Essentials Gift Box Everything you need to support your little one's journey towards independent eating, beautifully brought together in one personalised gift box. Featuring a suction plate, bowl with lid, cutlery, 3-in-1 drinking cup, snack cup and silicone bib, it's a practical collection designed for the different stages of learning to eat and drink.	JBØRN Baby Weaning Full Essentials Gift Box

When Should You Stop Using Baby Bottles?

The NHS recommends introducing a cup from around six months and discouraging bottle feeding once a child reaches 12 months.

This doesn't mean every child will immediately become confident with a cup on their first birthday.

Instead, begin offering regular opportunities to practise, gradually making cups part of their usual drinking routine.

As babies become more comfortable sipping from an open or free-flow cup, the transition away from bottles can happen naturally.

Baby Drinking Water FAQs

Can a 4-month-old baby drink water?

Water isn't routinely recommended at four months. Breast milk or correctly prepared infant formula should provide their hydration. Formula-fed babies may need small amounts of cooled boiled water in particularly hot weather, alongside their usual milk feeds.

Can a 6-month-old drink tap water?

Yes. In the UK, babies over six months can generally drink water straight from the cold tap without it needing to be boiled first, provided the water is safe to drink. 

How much water should a 6-month-old drink?

Start by offering small sips with meals. There's no need to encourage large quantities while your baby is just beginning solids, as breast milk or first infant formula remains their main drink.

Is a straw cup better than a sippy cup?

Both can help children practise drinking, but the NHS particularly recommends open cups and free-flow cups without valves. These encourage sipping rather than sucking and are better for dental health.

Can babies drink water from a bottle?

Once your baby starts solids, it's better to introduce water using an open or free-flow cup rather than their usual feeding bottle. This helps them develop cup-drinking skills.

When can toddlers use a reusable water bottle?

Many toddlers begin using a suitable straw water bottle from around 12 months, depending on the product's age recommendation and their ability to drink independently. Continue offering opportunities to drink from an open cup too.

A Gentle Reminder

Learning to drink is another one of those little milestones that happens gradually.

At first, your baby might take one tiny sip, chew the edge of their cup or tip the whole thing over their high chair.

And that's okay.

The aim isn't to get them drinking perfectly straight away. It's to give them opportunities to practise, explore and become more confident at their own pace.

Start with small sips of water alongside meals, continue their usual milk feeds and choose drinking cups that suit their stage of development.

Before long, something that once felt like a whole new skill becomes another ordinary part of family life.