giving baby water as well as formula?

[Nikki_lou]

My baby is just over 10 weeks now and so far is a dream baby. I was speaking to a couple of friends today who mentioned i should be giving him water every day as well as his milk? He seems fine without it and not dehydrated or anything plus my hv has never mentioned it to me. I know you can give them a little water if they are constipated and i think if its very hot but they have got me paranoid im doing something wrong? I know my little man is fine as he is so content i guess im now a little confused?!

Sorry if there are spelling mistakes im on my phone lol!

 

[mommy0629]

Nope, no need to give him water at this age and unless there's a constipation problem or it's summer time and lo is sweating a lot it's actually NOT advised because it can fill up his belly and cause him to take less formula. At 10 weeks it's still important that he take all the formula he wants/needs and that's it. Don't worry about introducing water until around 6 months.

 

[Nikki_lou]

Thanks for the reply...i can stop worrying now! I thought that was the case just worried me when 2 different people mentioned it! Note to self dont listen to other peoples "advise" and as long as my baby is happy and healthy then carry on with what im doing as i must be doing something right lol!

 

[mommy0629]

Yeah, people have all kinds of lovely advice don't they? LOL If I listened to all the well meaning advice I've been given over the years my lo would be sleeping on her tummy "so she doesn't choke to death on spit up", have had rice cereal in her bottles by 2 weeks old "to help her sleep longer", have a nice thick blanket on her at night "so she doesn't get cold" and countless others

My mom thinks I should give my lo water too because she's chubby and once she's finished a 5 ounce bottle "she's had enough" and if she still wants more it should be water - this coming form a women who bf'd me and my brothers so obviously had no clue how many ounces of milk we drank at each feeding lol. Aw, she means well though

 

[Nikki_lou]

lol i know the feeling if it was up to one of my friends id be weaning him next week :s luckily my mum has been brilliant and leaves me to it unless i ask for advise/help!
ive got a little chunk last weigh in was at 8 weeks and he was 12lb14 (7lb6 whe born) he is taking about 6oz every 3 hrs at the mo but id rather him be gaining weight than not! when he was on 5oz we used to make another ounce up if he was still hungry it actually never even crossed my mind to give him water!

 

[mamahannah91]

We give our 7 week old cooled boiled water to help him bring up his wind after some feeds as he has colic, but only if he's in pain. Never heard if giving it to them everyday for the sake if it though

 

[Leesy]

My paed said no water (unless there is a medical reason & advised by dr to do so) FF babies do not need it. I am sick to death of (older) people telling me to give my 13 week old water. I think I may actually punch the person who tells me too - sorry! Just agrivates me especially when it's the same person over & over!!!!

 

[skunkpixie]

Yes babies no not need water until they start solids (unless its a very hot day or they are constipated, then its 1-2oz max over the course of a day). xx

 

[Rachel_C]

It amazes me that people can see what's in formula (loads of things I can't say!) yet then think the scientists who make it wouldn't put enough WATER in there (well, tell you to put enough in there) to meet a baby's needs!

 

[Beccaboop]

Ive fallan out with my mum over this!! When my baby was 5 DAYS old she looked after my little man for a few hours so we could get some sleep and she emptied his milk out of his sterile bottle into a non sterile glass then washed it out with tap water then put cooled boiled water in it and gave it to my baby and then up his milk back in and gave that to him too!!

I was angry cos i told her that id asked a midwife at the hospital while i was in there if he might want water cos he just wouldnt settle but she told me that they dont need water for a while and they dont recommend giving it to them but my mum went behind my back and gave it to him anyway and made me worry that he could be unwell!! Also she put him in a washing basket with her clean washing to sleep!!

Stupid woman!! Anyway to answer your question no midwives say its not recommended to give a baby water before 6 months!!