PURPOSE: To obtain a safe water-absorptive polymer excellent in water absorptivity and water absorption rate for a salt-containing solution, by emulsion- polymerizing a mixture of acrylic acid, etc. with an alkali metal acrylate, etc. in the presence of a monosaccharide and/or an oligosaccharide.

CONSTITUTION: A compound of the general formula: CH2=CRCOOH [I] (wherein R is H or methyl) is emulsion-polymerized with a compound of the general formula: CH2=CRCOOM [II] (wherein R is H or methyl and M is an alkali metal) in the presence of a monosaccharide and/or an oligosaccharide and a crosslinking agent. Said polymerization is carried out preferably by emulsifying an aqueous solution containing the compounds of formulas I and II in an organic solvent in the presence of an oil-soluble nonionic surfactant and a polymerization initiator. Examples of said monosaccharides include trioses to hexoses such as glucose and fructose and examples of the oligosaccharides include maltose, sucrose and cyclodextrin.