I thought I heard you should not give breastfed babies anything other than breastmilk/formula for the first 6 month. Is that true?
2006-09-02 18:10:04 · 17 answers · asked by G Gomez 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Babies shouild not have water before six months. They get plenty of "free (in the chemistry sense)" water in breastmilk. Giving a baby water would be for the mother and the nation's craze for water. If babies are thirsty they need to be fed breastmilk or formula- NOT WATER!! They need the calories. Breastfed babies DO however need floride (not in breastmilk) until drinking water with floride in it and mothers should continue taking their prenatal vitamins as your iron stores are getting depleted at around six months. AND.... good for you for breastfeeding- that is terrific...and keep it up. Babies benefit tremendously through the first year from nursing- in a million ways. Teeth development as one amoung them. You go.
2006-09-02 18:28:31 · answer #1 · answered by Oak18 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, that is true.
Breastfed babies should have nothing but breastmilk for the first 6 months. Nothing else is necessary. And babies get the most benefit from breastfeeding when it is exclusive. There is no need for water anyway since breastmilk is mostly water!
I started offering a few sips or water in a sippy cup around 6 mos when I introduced solid foods. Just a couple of ounces to be used to help wash the food down.
2006-09-03 05:53:00 · answer #2 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it's true. A baby under 6 months gets all the liquid and nutrition that it needs from breastmilk. If the baby fills up on water, than he/she wont drink enough of the breastmilk, which has all the nutrients that he/she needs. If you give a baby too much water, he can become malnourished. However, a small amount will not hurt in any way. It's just not necessary.
2006-09-03 02:14:10 · answer #3 · answered by dixiechic 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's what I have heard also. Only breastmilk or formula for the first 6 months. You can introdue a sippy cup with water at around 6 months to encourage them to use one. Water shouldn't be given in a bottle however, as they still need the calories and fat from the milk. If they get too much water, they may not get enough milk. God Bless
2006-09-02 18:22:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I breastfeed my daughter and she was been drinking water since about 3 and a half months old...she is now almost eight months old. She actually really doesn't drink to much though..she mostly plays with it. Doctors will tell you its ok for babies to have a little water if they are congested to help brake up the mucas...they just don't want you letting the baby fill up on water then not eating.
I don't think there is any rule that says you can't give them anything else at all till 6 months...alot of doctors will recommend to a least wait until a baby is 5 months old before introducing and soilds..like rice cereal...but I started my daughter at 4 months and she is a happy healthy baby...but all babys are different so definatly consult your babys doc.
2006-09-02 19:03:40 · answer #5 · answered by Kelly 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it's true. No water, no cereal, no other foods until 6 months of age. And if you can avoid formula for the first six months, that is preferable as well.
Please see my link for reasons why you should delay solids and medical evidence supporting those reasons, and what the major health organizations are recommending.
2006-09-02 18:56:21 · answer #6 · answered by I ♥ EC 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My pediatrician additionally shares the comparable sentiments as those under: might desire to I supply formula or water in a bottle? you do no longer might desire to offer your toddler formula or water. Your breast milk has in basic terms what your toddler desires. he or she would not want extra effective water or formula. And giving your toddler formula and water, extraordinarily interior the 1st 4 to 6 weeks, can actually decrease your milk supply. that's ultimate to offer purely the breast, a minimum of till your milk supply is unquestionably primary. wish that facilitates. -AB
2016-11-06 07:59:22 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I breast fed and I gave it to my son water from birth to now and he's a healthy 27 pound boy. But----------------------- if you give your baby water just make sure it's baby water and baby water only. Reason why the water we drink is not good for, if it was it wouldn't be no such thing as baby water. Before i forget if your baby don't drink they have flavor for them also. Congrats on the new baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2006-09-02 18:18:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
apparently no baby should have water - it can seriously throw off their electrolyte balance. just human milk is needed - formula lowers the IQ and puts child at grave risk for diabetes. Also, formula hurts bonding.
2006-09-02 20:40:21 · answer #9 · answered by cassandra 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
you can give your baby a little bit of clean distilled water at about 4 months if you think they are thirsty and not hungry. as soon as you start feeding them some rice pablum and graduating to other foods (usually about 4 months).
I wouldn't overload on the water - but sometimes they are just thirsty.
2006-09-02 18:14:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋