01/23/2026
Hydration tips for children:
Use this handy picture to determine if you child is drinking enough based on the color of their urine.
https://assets.childrens.com/m/3aca57c66762092/original/CHVC240716_Hydration-Tips-Flyer-CS-1464-_FINAL-1.pdf
An approximate recommendation for how many 8-ounce cups of water a child should drink per day, based on their age, is ( for children drinking milk subtract out cups of milk from water recommendations below):
1-3 years old: 4 cups of water per day
4-8 years old: 5 cups of water per day
9-13 years old: 7-8 cups of water per day
14-18 years old: 8-11 cups of water per day
Babies under 6 months old do not need to drink water, they stay hydrated with breast milk or infant formula. Babies over 6 months old can typically have small amounts of water along with breast milk or formula.
Children playing sports or spending a lot of time outside in hot and humid weather may need more water. Have them drink a few extra cups of water before a sports event or going outside and encourage them to drink at breaks and throughout the day.