When to give Water?

[Harmony83]

I wasn't sure where to post this! But I was just wondering when you start giving infants water?

Thanks

[Rainbowbrite]

Good question. I'd also like to know about that one :) Do I ever have to while I still breastfeed? :confused:

[drewid]

I wasn't sure where to post this! But I was just wondering when you start giving infants water?

Thanks

Hi there

There is no *need* to give a baby water when you are exclusively breastfeeding. No matter what the weather, or climate you live in, your milk will adjust to give them the right amount of water-y-ness. When you start giving solids its advised to offer water in between feeds to aid with digestion of the food.

But there is nothing wrong with offering water, its certainly not going to hurt them - some people will offer it to stretch out feed times, or at night to try to coerce bub to sleep through the night. But you just need to be careful that bub doesn't get filled up by water and doesn't ask for his milk feeds, cos then he will be full but not getting any nutrional content.

[Milly]

Hi there

There is no *need* to give a baby water when you are exclusively breastfeeding. No matter what the weather, or climate you live in, your milk will adjust to give them the right amount of water-y-ness. When you start giving solids its advised to offer water in between feeds to aid with digestion of the food.

But there is nothing wrong with offering water, its certainly not going to hurt them - some people will offer it to stretch out feed times, or at night to try to coerce bub to sleep through the night. But you just need to be careful that bub doesn't get filled up by water and doesn't ask for his milk feeds, cos then he will be full but not getting any nutrional content.

Yes, indeed. No need to give water if fully and exclusively breastfeeding. Also, if you are giving water to 'stretch feeds' you risk a drop in supply. However, there is some debate about even offering water before the intro to solids as being a risk to their immature digestive system, so there are some differing opinions on this. My ABA Group mentioned something about this at a recent meeting. But there is definetly no need to give water when fully and exclusively breastfeeding. My daughter did not have any water to drink until she was 7 months old. :)

[xkwzit]

Hi
I started giving my DDs water when I started them on solids, prior they had been exclusively bf and so there was no need for me to give them water.

Cheers

[jess09]

Hi i gave my little girl water at 2weeks of age and she loved it ,i think its just when you feel right i would try now

[monique]

My paed said to give water in the warmer weather - just 30-40mL especially if they sweat a lot. My son is a bit colicky and often has a good scream/cry session during feeds, which leaves him rather hot and sweaty.

We were told to give him water if he seems like he wants to feed and isn't due for a while, because he might just be thirsty, rather than hungry, or he might just want to suck. If you don't give it to them right on a feed, it won't fill them up and stop them from taking their full milk feed. The water won't do him any harm (as long as it has been boiled) and the paed seems to think it could get him used to drinking water so that he doesn't need to be given sweet stuff to get him to drink later on.

The only other thing to consider when giving water is that you get a lot more wet nappies!

[AM]

Water is completely unnecessary for a baby for at least the first 6 months, as breast milk is about 90% water anyway, and water has no nutritional value.
Even in the hottest weather, your milk adjusts for the baby's thirst, the foremilk being much thinner and thirst quenching than the fattier milk later in the feed.

Angie