Newborn and water???

Question

hiya i have a 7 week old baby who is formula fed,she drinks about 5-7 oz every 4 hours, of cow and gate,when i saw the health visitor at her 6 weeks she said she should be drinking water to as would be getting thirsty? so since have been trying but shes not interested at all,just retches then cries? i don't remember giving my others water at this age? is it something should persevere with or just carry on with just the milk?

thanks :-)

Answer 1

she doesn't need any more water,she is getting her fill with her formula

Answer 2

Sigh.... another bit of evidence that HV's get their certification from an ad in the back of "Rolling Stone" magazine.

Babies don't need water.  Young babies shouldn't HAVE water.  Water can be dangerous for young babies.  Her formula provides ALL the fluids she requires.  If she's thirsty, offer more formula. (Her intake is fine, so she can have more if she's thirsty.)

Answer 3

I'm not familier with "cow and gate".

But I do recall that new-borns ONLY need breast-milk or forumula for the first few months of life.  Because they are obtaining all of their nutriution via liquids, they not only do not NEED additional fluids, drinking water will in essence cut down on how much nutrition they are getting.

Answer 4

I'm really surprised that the health visitor suggested water.

Water is not necessary at her age at all.  I think I introduced a sippy cup of water around the same time as solids, six months.

Formula or breast milk have all the nutrients that an infant needs for the first six months of his or her life.  Water has no nutrients and will just fill up babies tummy.  Formula or breast milk will clench a babies thurst.  No need to give them water, especially if they don't want it!

Good luck!

Answer 5

It's too early for water.  It's not recommended until they're at least 6 months or so.  Stick to the formula - it's mostly water anyway - the baby won't dehydrate.

Answer 6

You can give cooled, boiled water to a baby from birth.Breastfed babies do not need water as the fore milk, which they receive at the beginning of every feed, acts as a drink and the hind milk as food.Bottle-fed babies do need a drink as formula milk is just a feed and not a drink. Offer bottle-fed babies water in between feeds, especially during hot weather. the fore milk, which they receive at the beginning of every feed, acts as a drink and the hind milk as food.

Answer 7

Try to offer it. Your mouth gets dry , right? Sometimes they just want a sip but have them get used to it. As your baby gets older, putting her to bed with a water bottle is ok, but not formula or juice. Bad for forming  teeth a.k.a. bottle mouth, rotted teeth

Answer 8

JUST MILK !

Answer 9

Infants need no water, thier bodies get everything from milk that they feed on..be it breast milk or formular...until ur child starts on solid foods and salts thats when the need for water might arise...for now just give the child milk.

Answer 10

Babies get plenty of water from their mother's breastmilk or formula. I don't see any need to give extra water and have never been told to do so by my baby's pediatrician.

Here is how you can determine if your baby is getting enough to eat/drink. Take her weight in pounds and multiply by 2.5. That is how many ounces of formula she should be getting per day, up to 32 ounces. For example, if your baby weighs 10 pounds, multiply by 2.5 to get 25, so your baby should be getting at least 25 ounces of formula per day. If your baby is getting significantly less than that, you should let her doctor know, but if she's eating 5-7oz every 4 hours, it doesn't sound like that should be a problem.

Answer 11

I would only be giving your baby formula, as it is all baby needs right now. Try the water again around 6 months when you start introducing solids.

Answer 12

She doesn't need any water. Formula or breast milk is all a baby needs for the first 6 mo. I never noticed my baby was "thirsty" just hungry.  

Answer 13

To me, that seems a bit early to be giving her water. If she is drinking her formula fine, then I see no reason to attempt the water.

My son had the hiccups constantly when he was a baby, and his doctor said that he could begin getting water around 6 months.

The formula is going to cover both food and thirst. So she's fine. =)