Extra Water

[maydr]

Hi,

Has anyone given their bottle fed bub an extra water to avoid constipation? If not, what else to do to avoid constipation.

DS is just 3 weeks old, not yet constipated but is having hard time to poo sometimes. MIL keep asking me to give extra water but I remember doc told me before with my first child that no need to give extra water.

:confused:

[meggs]

There is no need for a breast fed bub to need water but I used to give it to my FF bub for constipation...if it got really bad id add half a teaspoon of brown sugar or some boiled prune juice... make sure the water is boiled then cooled...

Im not sure if i gave it as young as 3weeks though so maybe just check...

[sarsjovi]

Hi, I also FF my DS who is 6wks old now, and i wanted to give him water, but my Health Nurse told me he could not drink plain water until he was 6mths old, so i wouldn't advise the water at thia early stage, or maybe just check with your nurse/doc first.

[bubbies4me]

DD was badly consitpated a few weeks ago and now i put an extra 10 ml in each bottle and now she poos every day not every couple. On really hot days she might have a sml bottle of cooled boiled water.

[Seacretsquirrel]

I didn't give DD any till after 6 months - when she started solids. With Ds he has some cooled boiled water from 4 months but we live in Darwin so it is very very hot and I didn't want him permanently attached to me:D Both mine were BF though.

Don't forget it is a learning curve for pooing (like everything) so though they may be straining it isn't necessarily constipation just them learning how to actually push the poo out rather than it being more involuntary like in utero and in the early days. so if the cocsistency is fine not too firm (sort of smooshy) then it is okay I think (not that I am an expert though)
HTH

[Mae001]

A small amount of cool boiled water can be offered after a formula feed to keep your bub hydrated and to stimulate the bowel. You'd be better off giving it in a separate bottle rather than adding extra mLs to his feed, other wise you'll dilute the milk too much. A good tip too, is when you're making up the bottles, make sure the powder isnt compacted in the scoop (that can lead to dehydration & constipation) - so no tapping scoop on side of the can or leveling off inside the tin :)

[Bell & Bug]

I used to give my DD infants friend and that helped a lot with bowel movements :) you can buy it from most chemists in the baby section.