Should you give a breastfed newborn bottles of water, too?

Answer 1

Breastfed newborns have all their nutritional needs met by their mother's milk, including water. You shouldn't give newborn's water as it will fill their tummies without giving any nutritional benefit. If you want to give a bottle, express your milk and give to baby in a bottle when you are too busy to nurse.

Answer 2

They don't need water. Talk to your baby's doctor before giving anything other than milk. If you want to get them used to a bottle you can get a breast pump and pump it, but have someone else give the baby the bottle, because they may refuse to take it from you if your breast is right there. My son was a preemie and he could not have the breast milk that I pumped for the first week he was in NICU, and the nurses gave him a suppliment, but it was not sugar water. It has to be a special kind of solution. They do not just add sugar to water for a newborn! And not all doctors will tell you to give water to a baby. I was told that when my son was sick that to make sure to give Pedialyte because the electrolytes in it help with brain development while they cannot have milk or formula.

Answer 3

No, breastmilk is enough. If you feel your baby isn't getting enough milk look for milk on the baby's lips while feeding, make sure the baby is wetting and another tell tale sign is that when you begin to feed your breasts are full and when you're done they're not ! You should feel them fill back up again at the next feeding time.

I know this is all elementary stuff to a nursing mom but you never know what kind of experience someone else is having. Better to be safe than sorry.

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Answer 4

Newborns do not need to be given water. Breast milk contains a lot of water and will keep your baby hydrated. A newborn's tummy is very little and if you fill it up with water, he/she will not drink adequate enough amounts of breastmilk to get the nutrition needed for proper development.

Answer 5

No water just yet. I just took my daughter in for her 6 month checkup and asked about the water because I know she gets thirsty in between the feedings. No water until around 6 months and he stated that no more than 15 ozs a day because I had heard about too much water being harmful. Also, tap water is fine as long as there are not any water issues (i.e., well water, etc).

Answer 6

The first few sucks on the breast that the baby takes is what is used to quench their thirst, or rather take the place of water, then the milk comes in and gives them nourishment's... All the Dr's I've spoke to whether giving babies breast milk or formula, they say not to supplement water, because they don't need it, if you give them water they will fill up on that instead of the healthier stuff... Unless your Dr. says otherwise I suggest that you wait till baby is a little older..

Answer 7

My pediatrician said no to any water. She said it can cause elctrolyte diff. and other problems. She then went on to say a little water in the summer But not a bottle of water is OK. She said never to replace a bottle with water.

Answer 8

Breast milk has a large proportion of water in it. This is why you feel thirsty while feeding the baby. Just keep your levels of water up and the baby will receive all the nutrition and fluid levels they need.

Answer 9

I read a book about pregnancies. It said that nurses would feed a newborn sugar water, while the mother slept. I guess there was no harm to it. They did it so the mother could get some rest. I wouldn't recommend it, though. Besides, if you're using formula, that contains water.

Answer 10

My mom used to always tell me to do this, even though I didn't want to, because I believed that my daughter would get all the water she needed from the breastmilk. I think that it won't hurt occasionally. Just do what you feel comfortable with.