Breastfeeding Mums, do you give your baby water in warm weather?

Question

This is more of a survey than a question as I know babies don't need water but am fighting a constant battle convincing my partner of this.

He has asked the health visitor and been told our son doesn't need it and today started an argument about it when we were registering our son's birth - to the point the registrar told me "Ah, it won't hurt him even if he doesn't need it - maybe Daddy wants a go"!

Honestly, he's driving me nuts!

Do any breastfeeding mums give baby a little water - if so why?

Answer 1

I don't. No need.

My husband tried to make me give him, but i stayed strong. He also tried to make me give him tea, formula, more breast milk expressed & whatnot.

You know? As annoying as he can be, i am glad he is so involved =] We're lucky to have loving daddies, i'd much rather deal with this, than have to beg him to hold our son, or to have an uninterested father.

My son is almost 7months now & i have given him some in his sippy, but he had NO water until he was over 6months old.

Good Luck!! & patience my dear, you'll need it if your hubby is anything like mine, hehe.

God Bless

Answer 2

I live in a very hot country and have not given my 5 month old water at all.  She has only ever had me and has thrived on it!!

Good luck with solving this one!!!

Answer 3

I've nevr given my 4 month old daughter water and I won't until she is well past the recommended 6 month mark and I feel it is necessary.  She gets everything she needs from my breastmilk right now.  Also I am very worried about the water intoxication issue.  Please read the following article from http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Much-Water... .  It explains it well.

"While drinking more water is a good idea for everyone,

especially during hot summer months, too much water can be

harmful to infants 6 months old and younger. According to a

study in Clinicians Reviews a 1997 survey of new mothers

found that nearly 25 percent give their babies water at

least 3 times per week in the first month of life.

Water intoxication is rare in children and adults who are

able to judge their own water needs by thirst and activity.

But babies are not able to do this. Also, the kidneys of

newborns filter more slowly than those of older infants,

causing sodium levels in the blood to be diluted.

According to doctors, 24 cases of water intoxication were

reported at the St. Louis Children's Hospital in the years

1989 to 1991. The problem seems to be increasing since only

10 cases were reported from 1985 to 1988. In the cases

reported the otherwise healthy babies were 4 to 5 months old

and drank three 8-oz. bottles of water within 6 to 12 hours.

Symptoms of water intoxication include pale urine, using

more than 8 diapers a day, and baby sleeping more than usual

and being difficult to wake up.

Mothers should be advised that healthy infants get all the

water they need in breast milk or formula.

A baby can get water intoxication as a result of drinking

several bottles of water a day or from drinking infant

formula that has been diluted too much.

Water fills baby without adding calories, so water

supplementation can result in weight loss or insufficient

weight gain for the baby.

Pediatricians advise feeding babies 2 to 3 oz. more than

their age in months at each feeding. For example, babies 4

months old would be fed 6 to 7 oz. three times a day. More

than 8 oz. at any one feeding rarely necessary. The usual

proportions of milk to water should be about two-thirds milk

to one-third water. With these proportions, the baby

receives about 8 oz of water equally spaced over a 24 hour

period. If the formula is diluted, mild should not be less

than 50 percent.

Only around seven months of age, when baby has started

eating solid foods, should a little water be introduced in a

cup.

Water intoxication can be prevented by following your

physicians instructions."

I know you weren't asking for all this info but I notices a lot of people said they had given water and I wanted to share this info.

Answer 4

I always gave water and health visitor said it was o.k

Answer 5

babies DO need water as a feed is just food to them and not thirst quenching. So in very hot weather i give my baby some water with a little bit of sugar in it. if he doesn't want it he just spits his bottle out. but i have given him a couple oz before and he's drunk it all.

Answer 6

I dont, my son is nearly 7 months and has started solids.

Ive tried him on cooled boiled water but hes not interested at all, and still breastfeeding well so I dont think its a problem.

Answer 7

i gave mine water

Answer 8

All my kids are winter babies (november, january, and february), so they were at or past the 6 month mark when the weather got warm. My youngest is 33 months old, so it has been a while since this issue came up. I think he first started getting something other than breastmilk to drink when he started grabbing my water bottle. Back then I always had one at arms reach to where I was. by 7 or 8 months he occasionally got 2% milk or juice when he swiped a cup from the older kids and took a gulp.

Answer 9

my son is 11 weeks now and so far i have given him 2 oz max of water (in total) and only cos i was desperate.. his doc advised me not to cos they say they shouldnt have anytin but breastmilk or formula, but the summers here are so hot and he wasnt comfortable cuddling close to me. i dnt see the prob if babies have a lil water now n again, though if ur breastfeeding then he's got enuf there :)

too much water can result in water intoxication (what i read) so i suggest that unless YOU think he rly needs it then i would advise not to. good luck x

o ye n it has to be pre boiled drinking water! i never gave him tap water or any other way..

Answer 10

I never gave my daughter water.  I figured she was on a liquid diet and was hydrated enough.  I never even thought about it and the docs never told me any different.

Answer 11

This ones rumbling on for Mr Cranberry and yourself isn't it? Lol bleedin men :-)

Firstly I only b/f for a couple of months but I did give mine water due to pressure from my mother, who I have to say seems to be akin to your fella. I know you've mentioned before that he has older kids that he did this for. So I suppose a little bit of it may be 'there was nothing wrong about the choices I made for my other children' .

It isn't going to harm babs if you do unless he guzzles it so much that he declines feeds. ( unlikely ) I know you are galled because you are given the correct advice and why should you want to do anything different from what is recommended?

But in this case I think you may gain a bit more than peace and quiet!

I'd give in on this one and next time when it's something more important you will find him more willing to compromise. And there will be MANY differences of opinion on whats best for the little one..

That will teach him to make babies with a feisty woman :-)

Answer 12

my daughter gave my grandson a little water as well as breastfeeding - it will do no harm especially if the weather is warm  

Answer 13

I probably shouldn't answer this as ideas have changed so much, I gave both my babies water, no harm came to them, they are both are fit healthy strapping men. I think in the end it comes down to personal choice do what you think is right.

Answer 14

giving water to a baby under 6 months is not good for them.   Also no mare than 6 ounces a day for children 6-12 months.  Water triggers babies' immature kidneys to flush away sodium that is necessary for normal bodily function.  This can disrupt normal brain activity and even cause seizure.

The smaller the baby, the smaller amount of water it takes to do them harm.  They are perfectly hydrated with breast milk or formula.  And you should not dilute their formula with extra water.

Answer 15

no breastfeed baby needs water until he/she is over 6 months of age and eating solids already.