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A survey commissioned by baby lifestyle brand Munchkin found that 93% of 1,000 UK parents of children aged six months to three years struggle to get them to drink enough water. The poll also found a gap between parents’ confidence about daily fluid needs and their ability to identify the recommended amount; it does not establish how much water children in the survey actually drank.
A survey commissioned by baby lifestyle brand Munchkin found that 93% of 1,000 UK parents of children aged six months to three years said they struggle to get their child to drink enough water. The poll also found that although 81% felt confident they knew how much their child should drink each day, only one in six could identify the recommended amount, pointing to uncertainty around hydration needs in early childhood.
The research was conducted by Censuswide between August 24 and September 1, 2026, among parents of children aged six months to three years. According to the survey findings reported by MadeForMums, 70% said their child struggled to drink plain water. The results describe parents’ reported experiences and knowledge; they do not measure children’s fluid intake or diagnose dehydration.
More than a third of respondents said they add squash or cordial to encourage drinking. The source report notes that the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition recommended in 2025 that children under five avoid drinks containing sugar or non-sugar sweeteners, including sugar-free squash. The survey also found that 45% of parents had difficulty getting children to drink water during play.
Moving from a bottle to a cup was another reported challenge. Three-quarters of parents who said they struggled with their child’s hydration found the change difficult; 51% said they felt their child should have left the bottle sooner, and the same share wished they had received more advice. Among parents of three-year-olds, nearly half said letting the child choose a cup could encourage drinking, while more than one in five said they let the child use an infant bottle to help ensure fluid intake.
Hydration Habits in Early Childhood
The findings highlight a practical gap for families: parents may feel sure they know what their child needs while still having difficulty identifying the recommended amount. The poll also points to everyday barriers, including busy play and the skills involved in learning to use a cup. These results matter as a snapshot of reported parental concerns, but they do not show that the children surveyed were dehydrated or that any particular approach would work for every child.
Paediatric dietitian Lucy Upton told MadeForMums that hydration can be overlooked while families focus on food. She said that it can be harder to keep track of drinks than meals during a busy day, and that symptoms such as constipation, headaches, poor concentration and tiredness may be associated with mild dehydration. These are her comments in the source report, not findings measured by the survey; parents concerned about a child’s health should seek advice from a paediatrician or other qualified clinician.
Upton’s guidance, as reported by MadeForMums, is to offer drinks regularly, including during active play and warm weather, and to practise cup drinking in a relaxed way. The report says she recommends offering small sips from a cup with meals from around six months and letting children practise at their own pace. Individual fluid needs vary with age, activity and weather, so the survey’s headline percentage is not a guide to a specific child’s daily requirement.
children's water bottles with spill-proof cap
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What the Poll Measured
The survey was commissioned by Munchkin, a baby lifestyle brand, and fielded by Censuswide. Its sample consisted of 1,000 UK parents with children aged six months to three years, surveyed over the stated period in late August and early September 2026. The findings were reported by MadeForMums alongside advice from Upton on drinking routines and the move from bottle to cup.
The source report also describes cup drinking as a developmental skill that takes practice. It says Upton recommends introducing free-flow or open-cup drinking from around six months, with regular opportunities at meals. Munchkin’s report discusses its own Grow with the Flow cup range, but the survey figures do not establish that a particular product improves hydration or makes the transition easier.
““Hydration is often the forgotten friend of weaning and early childhood feeding.””
— Lucy Upton, paediatric dietitian, as quoted by MadeForMums
Limits of the Survey Findings
The reported results are based on parents’ answers; the source does not say that researchers independently measured children’s daily water or total fluid intake. It also does not provide enough detail here to assess the poll’s margin of error, participant recruitment method, or whether the sample represents all UK families. The headline figure therefore describes respondents’ reported difficulty, not the share of all children who drink too little.
The source gives no single daily fluid target applicable to every child. It says needs vary with age, activity and weather, but does not break out the survey findings by age or other characteristics. It is also unclear whether the reported challenges changed children’s hydration or health. Parents with concerns about a child’s fluid intake or symptoms should consult a paediatrician or qualified health professional rather than relying on a poll or product advice.
Practical Guidance for Families
The source report offers everyday suggestions rather than a new clinical recommendation: make water available regularly, offer small sips with meals, demonstrate drinking water, and allow time to practise with a cup. Upton says the shift from bottle to cup can take time and recommends keeping practice relaxed. Families should follow age-appropriate guidance from their child’s health professional, especially if they have specific concerns.
No further survey follow-up, independent clinical assessment or additional findings were included in the report. The next useful information would be clearer, age-specific guidance on fluid needs and evidence about how common these reported difficulties are beyond the surveyed group. Until then, the poll is best read as a measure of parental perceptions and reported challenges, not a diagnosis or a measurement of children’s hydration.
Key Questions
What did the survey find?
A survey commissioned by Munchkin found that 93% of 1,000 UK parents of children aged six months to three years said they struggle to get their child to drink enough water. It also reported that 70% struggled to get their child to drink plain water.
How many parents knew the recommended daily amount?
Although 81% said they felt confident about how much their child should drink daily, only one in six respondents could correctly identify the recommended amount, according to the survey findings reported by MadeForMums.
Does the survey show that 93% of young children are dehydrated?
No. The poll asked parents about their experiences and confidence; it did not measure children’s fluid intake or determine whether they were dehydrated.
What did the source report say about moving from a bottle to a cup?
Paediatric dietitian Lucy Upton advised offering sips from a cup with meals from around six months and giving children time to practise. The report says the change can take time; parents should seek individual guidance from a paediatrician or health professional if they have concerns.
Who conducted the survey and when?
Censuswide conducted the poll for Munchkin among 1,000 UK parents of children aged six months to three years, from August 24 to September 1, 2026.
Source: rss
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