Water. Milk. That's how kids hydrate.
A one-page poster for waiting rooms and exam rooms. Print it on letter or tabloid paper.
| Age | Drink this | Skip this |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 months | Breast milk or formula. No water yet. | Water, juice, anything else |
| 6 to 12 months | Breast milk or formula, plus small sips of water (4 to 8 oz a day) | Juice, cow's milk |
| 1 to 3 years | Water, plus plain milk (whole at 1, skim or 1% from 2) | Soda, juice drinks, flavored milk, sports drinks, sweeteners |
| 4 to 8 years | Water first. Plain milk with meals. | Sugary drinks, energy drinks, caffeine |
| 9 to 18 years | Water first, 7 to 11 cups of drinks in all. Plain milk with meals. | Sugary drinks, energy drinks, caffeine |
Limit 100% juice: none under 12 months, 4 oz a day at ages 1 to 3, 4 to 6 oz at ages 4 to 5. Whole fruit is better.
Sick or hot? Kids need more fluid. Call us if your child can't keep fluids down, or seems very sleepy or dehydrated.
Based on the 2019 consensus recommendations (AAP, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry), the 2025 to 2030 Dietary Guidelines and National Academies water intake values. Not produced or endorsed by those organizations. General education, not medical advice.
healthyhydrationforkids.com · Sponsored by ShineWater.