How much water to give a 6 month old baby who is formula fed?

rwhite · Sep 30th, 2010, 22:44 PM

Hey everybody,

After much consideration I've come to the hard decision that I am going to make the switch to formula. We have been giving Lachlan formula for last meal of the day for quite a while now, and obviously with breastmilk he didn't need any extra fluid once he started having solid food..

So I'm just wondering how much water do you give your baby who is formula fed and on solids? I'm completely lost here

Thanks everybody xx

ellie27 · Oct 1st, 2010, 03:23 AM

They still dont need water now they are on solids - its just that they might want a few sips of something to wash the solids down.

We weaned Anna at 6 months and now at 8.5 months she is still not interested in water/juice!

rwhite · Oct 1st, 2010, 03:36 AM

Aw cool, that's good to know! Thanks hun

**OmarsMum** · Oct 1st, 2010, 04:37 AM

Once they'r taking more animal protien they need more water. Omar started recently to drink a decent amount of water. He used to take few sips 1st thing in the morning & with his meals. At 6-9 mnths he was only taking around 1-1.5 oz. Now he goes for 2-3 oz. xx

bubbles123 · Oct 1st, 2010, 14:07 PM

I don't think there's any hard and fast rules really. Remember also, he will get a certain amount of moisture in his food too (depending on what he's eating). I give my son a beaker of water with lunch and tea (about 3ozs), as he has no milk with these meals any more. He will drink a little, maybe an oz or so. I'd just offer a few ozs in his beaker and see if he wants it. If he's thirsty he'll drink it. Good luck with the switch!

rwhite · Oct 1st, 2010, 16:58 PM

Thanks girlies, great advice

He is currently guzzling down his morning bottle, great success xx

Lara310809 · Oct 2nd, 2010, 11:53 AM

I don't agree that FF babies don't need any extra fluids, which is something you see written a lot here. I have been giving my LO up to 6oz extra water each day, because we live in a warmer climate, so they can get dehydrated easily. But in the UK in summer they can too, so you should offer your LO water IMO, and let them take it if they want it.

bubbles123 · Oct 2nd, 2010, 14:37 PM

I agree babies on just formula don't need extra water (unless they live somewhere very hot) but once solids are introduced/established they drop milk feeds and therefore liquid intake - my LO will go from 5 to 3 bottles a day. Therefore I feel I should offer water at meals because he's dropped 7ozs of milk to have solids instead, so that liquid should be replaced with something. I don't know if they need it, but I think that water should be there in a beaker if they want it, depending on if they are thirsty or not. I just wouldn't worry if they drink it or not.

Louise N · Oct 2nd, 2010, 16:58 PM

My HV said that it's a good idea to offer the water but if they don't drink it not to worry as it's because they don't need it. If they need the hydration they'll drink it!

I've been offering cooled boiled water to my LO for a while now, I think it's a good habit to get them in to.

**OmarsMum** · Oct 2nd, 2010, 17:12 PM

Omar's Dr. said that giving water is not advisable before 6 mnths/weaned. Water can take the place of milk (formula or BM) & introducing more water can also stop their bodies from absorbing nutirents from milk & might lead to an imbalance of electrolytes.

ETA: So unless they's dehydrated or constipated it's better not to introduce water before weaning

Sep 30th, 2010, 22:44 PM	#1
rwhite Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 5,044	How much water to give a 6 month old baby who is formula fed? Hey everybody, After much consideration I've come to the hard decision that I am going to make the switch to formula. We have been giving Lachlan formula for last meal of the day for quite a while now, and obviously with breastmilk he didn't need any extra fluid once he started having solid food.. So I'm just wondering how much water do you give your baby who is formula fed and on solids? I'm completely lost here Thanks everybody xx

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Oct 1st, 2010, 03:23 AM	#2
ellie27 Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: uk Posts: 10,624	They still dont need water now they are on solids - its just that they might want a few sips of something to wash the solids down. We weaned Anna at 6 months and now at 8.5 months she is still not interested in water/juice!

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Oct 1st, 2010, 03:36 AM	#3
rwhite Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 5,044	Aw cool, that's good to know! Thanks hun

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Oct 1st, 2010, 04:37 AM	#4
OmarsMum Mum (Mom) BabyandBump Team Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UAE Posts: 17,149	Once they'r taking more animal protien they need more water. Omar started recently to drink a decent amount of water. He used to take few sips 1st thing in the morning & with his meals. At 6-9 mnths he was only taking around 1-1.5 oz. Now he goes for 2-3 oz. xx

Status: Online

Oct 1st, 2010, 14:07 PM	#5
bubbles123 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 2,564	I don't think there's any hard and fast rules really. Remember also, he will get a certain amount of moisture in his food too (depending on what he's eating). I give my son a beaker of water with lunch and tea (about 3ozs), as he has no milk with these meals any more. He will drink a little, maybe an oz or so. I'd just offer a few ozs in his beaker and see if he wants it. If he's thirsty he'll drink it. Good luck with the switch!

Status: Offline

Oct 1st, 2010, 16:58 PM	#6
rwhite Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 5,044	Thanks girlies, great advice He is currently guzzling down his morning bottle, great success xx

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Oct 2nd, 2010, 11:53 AM	#7
Lara310809 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Gibraltar Posts: 7,865	I don't agree that FF babies don't need any extra fluids, which is something you see written a lot here. I have been giving my LO up to 6oz extra water each day, because we live in a warmer climate, so they can get dehydrated easily. But in the UK in summer they can too, so you should offer your LO water IMO, and let them take it if they want it.

Status: Offline

Oct 2nd, 2010, 14:37 PM	#8
bubbles123 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 2,564	I agree babies on just formula don't need extra water (unless they live somewhere very hot) but once solids are introduced/established they drop milk feeds and therefore liquid intake - my LO will go from 5 to 3 bottles a day. Therefore I feel I should offer water at meals because he's dropped 7ozs of milk to have solids instead, so that liquid should be replaced with something. I don't know if they need it, but I think that water should be there in a beaker if they want it, depending on if they are thirsty or not. I just wouldn't worry if they drink it or not.

Status: Offline

Oct 2nd, 2010, 16:58 PM	#9
Louise N Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: England Posts: 1,414	My HV said that it's a good idea to offer the water but if they don't drink it not to worry as it's because they don't need it. If they need the hydration they'll drink it! I've been offering cooled boiled water to my LO for a while now, I think it's a good habit to get them in to.

Status: Offline

Oct 2nd, 2010, 17:12 PM	#10
OmarsMum Mum (Mom) BabyandBump Team Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UAE Posts: 17,149	Omar's Dr. said that giving water is not advisable before 6 mnths/weaned. Water can take the place of milk (formula or BM) & introducing more water can also stop their bodies from absorbing nutirents from milk & might lead to an imbalance of electrolytes. ETA: So unless they's dehydrated or constipated it's better not to introduce water before weaning

Status: Online

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