Giving Baby Boiled Water??

[missie_mack]

My sister in law is still breast feeding our nephew (7 months) and when we were babysitting the other day and it was hot I asked if she gives the baby water thats been boiled and chilled- you know cause everyone drinks more when its hot. She told us breast milk is the only drink that is appropriate to give him. Now its her baby and she can do as she pleases but I thought this wasnt a forbidden act or anything and since mentioning to MIL she says that could explain why the baby is sooo big (wearing snuggly a size 1!) Can anybody advise for my own info?

[Peaceangels]

Boiled water (chilled) is fine for babies of any age, they say it is best to do this until they are 12mths.

On hot days a few sips of water is all they need, because most babies will feed more regularly to hydrate themselves.

Boiled water has to be ok, afterall bottle fed babies are drinking it all the time (boiled water + formula).

[Kajja]

I breast fed my two older boys and am now in the process of breastfeeding my twins. The nurses told me that breast milk is all a baby needs on hot days, and that the breast feed will be just like having a drink, but that I didn't need to do a full feed as it's only a 'drink'. In saying that, I have given all of my four children at various stages of their lives cooled, boiled water. I live in the outback and it's very hot and it's draining on me to breast feed both babies on hot days - so water it is! My babies or older children don't have any health problems so I'm sure it is fine!

[reAllytee]

Yes boiled water is an option on hot days but its not that big a drama to either keep bf bubs when they want it due to thirst or hunger & same with formula.
Breastmilk will actually give the baby what it needs as in if its hungry it will be thicker or ifs its wanting a "drink" then it becomes watery ! This is why it is amazing stuff !
It really is the more appropriate thing to be giving him as using a bottle can often cause nipple confusion leading to the baby weaning which is not what is wanted at this stage & why bother when the bm will change according to bubs needs !?
Babies never over feed they will vomit it up if they have & trust me this has happened to me with my ff bubs ! So bubs isnt "big" for his age because he is feeding too much ! Its more than likely a genetic thing.
Some babies are chubby its as simple as that & not a bad thing either !
Once he starts moving around more either crawling or walking it will start to evaporate as he uses it all up !
My nephew was the chubbiest thing you would ever have seen we called him " chub bub " he is now a very very skinny 10yr old ! Why because my sister & his dad were chubby as bubs themselves & he has now taken after his dad who is skinny as a rake ! Genetics plays more a role than anything else.

[clairereid]

I only breast fed for 3 days (not a very good attempt) But my DS had collic quite a bit. My midwife told me to give him cool boiled water, aparently it is good to help them fill their nappy more regular and stop them getting sore tummies. ??
I tried and tried with the water until DS was about 3 months, but he would never take it and just spat it out. Now he is 14 months and has only started drinking water, but he gulps it down like he has been living in the desert all his life!
If milk is all they need, then I guess thats all they are use to. I am a big water drinker myself so I would always try and give a baby water from an early age. Dont know if that theory works!

[xkwzit]

Hi Missy

Maybe she's worried about giving the baby a bottle, not necessarily the water (doesn't want to risk nipple confusion). It is true that BM is all a baby needs, but I started offering DDs boiled water when I introduced solids at 4 and 5 months (they were already used to EBM in bottles, so I wasn't concerned about nipple confusion).

Some mothers feel that if they are going to have something to drink, it should be BM for its immunological and other benefits, rather than water (which has none of these qualities). If babies are only thirsty, they will only have a short feed, so it will be mainly the watery fore milk, not the fattier, creamier hind milk. I doubt that your SIL's baby is bigger because he drinks only BM, he's just bigger :D .

Cheers

[Milly]

A fully breastfed baby does not need water. Breastmilk will quench their thirst as well as satify their hunger. They may just feed more frequently. The boiled water thing only came about as a blanket thing during the formula drives of the 50s and 60s and this is now outmoded as research has proven it it not necessary for the breastfed baby. A breastfed baby does not need water until they start experimenting with solids at around 6 months of age. My daughter did not have water until she was 6 months.

My son who is a peak summer baby has also not had any water. He is well hydrated and my breastmilk quenches his thirst. We just feed regularly and on demand he is fine. We are in humid Queensland too.

If you have any concerns about keeping baby cool in summer, I suggest that you contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association. Their website is www.breastfeeding.asn.au and they will have any other advice for you too and they also have a booklet on this very topic called "Keeping Baby Cool" which is available through their Mother's Direct section.

[missie_mack]

Sorry I should have clarified this baby drinks from a bottle as she often expresses and this is a 7 month old baby and is on solids. Since posting this she has advised us that the breast feeding nurses have told her she should be starting to ween him off the breast as she only has one that works ie. hasnt dried up and they dont think the quality of the milk is there. Theres other concerns that everyone has but that of course is another story and judging on some responses may stir up some controversy.

Thanks all for your advice and opinions