93% of parents struggle to get their child to drink enough water, new survey finds

More than 9 in 10 parents struggle with children's hydration, while just 1 in 6 know how much water their little one needs.

toddler boy drinking glass of water

Published: October 20, 2026 at 4:52 PM

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A new survey has found that 93% of parents struggle to get their young child to drink enough water, with many unsure how much their little one should be drinking each day.

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The research, commissioned by baby lifestyle brand Munchkin, found that while more than 4 in 5 parents (81%) feel confident they know how much their baby or child should drink daily, just 1 in 6 could correctly identify the recommended amount.

So, how can you encourage your little one to drink more water, and when should you start moving away from bottles? Paediatric dietitian Lucy Upton shares advice on building healthy drinking habits from the early months.

Why getting children to drink enough water can be tricky

The survey of 1,000 UK parents of children aged six months to three years found that 70% struggle to get their little ones to drink plain water.

More than a third of parents admitted to adding squash or cordial to encourage their child to drink. However, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommended in 2025 that children under five should avoid drinks containing sugar or non-sugar sweeteners, including sugar-free squash.

Keeping children hydrated can be particularly challenging when they're busy playing, with 45% of parents saying they find it difficult to encourage their child to drink water during playtime.

Almost half of parents of three-year-olds said letting their child choose their own cup was a way to encourage drinking, while more than one in five admitted to letting their little one drink from an infant bottle rather than a cup to make sure they were getting enough fluids.

How much water do young children need?

Knowing how much a child needs to drink can be difficult, particularly when they're too young to recognise or explain that they're thirsty.

Paediatric dietitian Lucy Upton explains that hydration can easily be overlooked during the early years, when parents are often focused on what their child is eating.

“Hydration is often the forgotten friend of weaning and early childhood feeding. While we can see what our children eat, it's much harder to track the sips they take throughout a busy day. Even mild dehydration can contribute to symptoms like constipation, headaches, poor concentration and tiredness, which parents might not link back to drinking.”

The amount of fluid a child needs varies with their age, activity levels and the weather, so it's worth offering drinks regularly throughout the day, particularly during warm weather and active play.

When should babies move from a bottle to a cup?

baby drinking from sippy cup

The transition from bottle to cup is another common sticking point for parents. Three-quarters of parents who struggle with their child's hydration said they found this change challenging. Meanwhile, 51% felt their child should have moved on from a bottle sooner, and the same proportion wished they'd received more advice about making the transition.

Upton says learning to drink from a cup is an important developmental milestone, helping babies move from sucking to sipping and supporting their oral skills. It can also help protect teeth and prevent toddlers from filling up on milk as they move into their second year.

Her advice is to start early and keep the process relaxed.

“Offer sips from a cup consistently with meals from six months, model cup drinking for your little one, and let them get plenty of practice (there are many more skills than many realise to cup drinking)!”

Tips for encouraging your child to drink more water

If your little one is reluctant to drink, there are a few practical ways to help build their confidence and make drinking water part of their everyday routine.

New cups aim to make the transition easier

Learning to drink from a cup takes practice, and some babies may need more time and support than others. Munchkin's Grow with the Flow range is one option for parents navigating the transition, with three cups designed for different stages of drinking development.

The range includes a 7oz Miracle 360° Cup with handles, which allows babies to drink from around the rim, a 10oz version with a faster flow, and a Control Flow Cup with a removable valve to regulate the flow of liquid. The valve can be removed as a child's drinking skills develop, allowing them to practise with an open cup.

Upton recommends introducing free-flow or open-cup drinking from around six months, while recognising that it can take time for babies to get the hang of it.

“Grow with the Flow bridges that gap by offering a progression of cups with different drinking experiences and flow rates, allowing babies to build the skills they need step by step.”

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The survey was conducted by Censuswide among 1,000 UK parents of children aged six months to three years, between 24 August and 1 September 2026.

Authors

journalist and two young kids sat on a bench in France for a review of Eurocamp

Hollie BondSenior Digital Journalist

Hollie is Senior Digital Journalist at MadeForMums. She writes articles about pregnancy, parenting, child health and getting pregnant. She has written for a number of national lifestyle magazines and websites over the past 12 years including Family History Monthly, You and Your Wedding and Muddy Stilettos. She has two children aged 5 and 8 and hasn't slept since 2017!

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