How much water should kids drink?
The amount changes a lot between a baby, a toddler and a teenager. Here's every age on one page, in cups.
Written from AAP, federal and National Academies guidance and checked against each source. Medical review by a pediatric registered dietitian is in progress. Updated November 2026.
Quick answer
Babies under 6 months need no water at all. Toddlers need about 1 to 4 cups of water a day plus milk. School-age kids need about 5 to 8 cups of drinks a day, and teens about 8 to 11, mostly water.
1 cup = 8 oz. Ages 0 to 5 follow the 2019 consensus from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Heart Association and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Ages 6 and up use the National Academies' daily intake for drinks. Sources
The full chart
For ages 0 to 5, these are the amounts from the 2019 expert consensus on healthy drinks for young children.1 For ages 6 and up, they're the National Academies' daily intake numbers for all drinks, including water.3
| Age | Water | Plain milk | 100% juice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 6 months | None needed | Breast milk or formula only | Not recommended |
| 6 to 12 months | ½ to 1 cup (4 to 8 oz) | Breast milk or formula. No cow's milk yet | Not recommended |
| 12 to 24 months | 1 to 4 cups (8 to 32 oz) | 2 to 3 cups whole milk | ½ cup (4 oz) max |
| 2 to 3 years | 1 to 4 cups (8 to 32 oz) | Up to 2 cups skim or 1% | ½ cup (4 oz) max |
| 4 to 5 years | 1½ to 5 cups (12 to 40 oz) | Up to 2½ cups skim or 1% | ½ to ¾ cup (4 to 6 oz) max |
| Age | All drinks per day, mostly water | Total water, including food |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 8 years | About 5 cups (1.2 liters) | About 7 cups (1.7 liters) |
| Girls 9 to 13 | About 7 cups (1.6 liters) | About 9 cups (2.1 liters) |
| Boys 9 to 13 | About 8 cups (1.8 liters) | About 10 cups (2.4 liters) |
| Girls 14 to 18 | About 8 cups (1.8 liters) | About 10 cups (2.3 liters) |
| Boys 14 to 18 | About 11 cups (2.6 liters) | About 14 cups (3.3 liters) |
Food counts. Fruit, vegetables, soup and milk all supply water, which is why the "total water" column is bigger than the drinks column.
When kids need more
- Hot days and sports. Sweat adds up fast. Offer water before, during and after play. See sports and heat.
- Fever, vomiting or diarrhea. Sick kids lose fluid quickly. Call your pediatrician and see signs of dehydration.
- Dry indoor air and long car rides. Easy to forget, easy to fix with a water bottle in reach.
An easy check
Most healthy kids who drink when they're thirsty and get water at meals are doing fine. Pale yellow pee and a normal energy level are good signs. Dark yellow pee, few bathroom trips, or a dry mouth mean it's time for more water.
Getting kids to actually drink it
- Put water on the table at every meal, before anyone asks.
- Give them their own bottle and let them pick it out.
- Add fruit slices, cucumber or mint for flavor without added sugar.
- Keep sugary drinks out of the house so water is the easy default.
- Drink water yourself. Kids copy what they see.
- Try a water tracker chart. Coloring in a cup is surprisingly motivating.
Common questions
Does milk count toward water?
Yes. Milk is mostly water and counts toward a child's fluids. That's why young kids who drink their full amount of milk need less plain water.
Can a child drink too much water?
It's rare in healthy kids, but it can happen, especially in babies. That's why babies under 6 months shouldn't get water, and why formula should always be mixed exactly as the label says.
Does sparkling water count?
Plain sparkling water with no added sugar or sweeteners counts as water. The federal Dietary Guidelines list both still and sparkling water as good choices.