to all mothers...I dont understand this...it concerns giving water to a baby.?

Question

m friend has a 4 month old whom i was babysiting...she told me not to give the kid water and that the doctor told her not to...she said the never give babies water until they are 1...is this true, i dont get why? what about kidney failure??

Answer 1

Water fills their little tummies and there's not much room in there, so it's more important to give nutritious formula or breast milk rather than water. If it's a really hot day and they had to be outside and have gotten sweaty, giving a little water is OK.

Answer 2

An infant under 6 months old does not need anything but breast milk and/or formula. The danger with water is it is possible to cause something called water intoxication in infants under six months which upsets the electrolyte balance and may lead to possible brain swelling and seizures. Babies older than 6 months are able to have small amounts of water without trouble, except that too much water may fill up a baby's tummy and he/she may not eat a well-balanced diet. The kidneys do not run the risk of failure, but because a baby under 6 months still has maturing kidneys is what causes a baby not to be able to process a large amount of water.

Answer 3

I dont know what doctor your friend goes to and im not saying that the doctor is wrong, but it is actually good to give a baby just a little bit of water every now and then when they are newborns and if they are 4 months old then the baby is definitly old enough to be getting water. Otherwise the baby is drinking way to much milk and then the baby can become over weight. The water would also help a lot of other things when it comes to a baby.

Answer 4

Water is added to formula and it comes naturally in breast milk. It is not necessary to give a child a bottle with water for this reasons. She does however need to be vigilant and make sure that her baby is not dehydrated there are specific signs for that.I think it is because you do not want to over hydrate babies they have a high risk of that as well it is not a good thing either. I am glad you are concerned for your Friends daughter it takes a village to raise a child it could also be a good learning experience for you as well.

General signs of dehydration include

Thirst
Less frequent urination
Dry skin
Fatigue
Light-headedness
Dark colored urine
Signs of dehydration in children include

Dry mouth and tongue
No tears when crying
No wet diapers for 3 hours or more
Sunken abdomen, eyes, or cheeks
High fever
Listlessness or irritability
Skin that does not flatten when pinched and released
If you suspect that you or your child is dehydrated, call the doctor immediately. Severe dehydration may require hospitalization

http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/about/news/release/2000/7-water.htm
2000 Pediatric Health News Releases

July 13, 2000 - Avoid Giving Infants Water, Advise Children's Physicians
CINCINNATI -- Water may be essential for children, adolescents and adults to keep hydrated in the summer heat, but for infants, too much water can be life-threatening.



"Breast milk or formula is the only source of nutrition that infants need," says Michael Farrell, M.D., a gastroenterologist and chief of staff at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati. "During the first months of life, too much water can upset the electrolyte balance, setting off possible brain swelling and seizures from water intoxication."



In addition, too much water can fill infants' stomachs so they don't get the nutrients they need to grow. This is particularly common in families that cannot afford formula or may dilute it to make it last longer.



Dr. Farrell suggests avoiding water entirely until a child is about 6 months old. If an infant has diarrhea and vomiting, he suggests oral rehydration fluids, such as Pedialyte® or Infalyte®.

Answer 5

Babies up until 1 year old should mainly drink just breastmilk or formula and water is okay if it is very hot outside. There should be no concern for kidney failure if a baby is receiving adequate fluids via breastmilk or formula...they both contain high concentrations of water.

Answer 6

Before 6 months of age, it is dangerous to give a baby water. it can cause water intoxication, an imbalance of electrolytes and causes baby to receive less nutrition than he/she needs from milk. Breastfed babies do not need any extra water until 1 year of age, although some doctors advise giving formula fed babies a small amount of water with solids. See http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/giving-water-to-baby.html

Answer 7

a young baby doesn't need anything but milk , their doctor usually tells you when to start giving it water and other things like cereal 'but it's usually before a year old . as for kidney failure it just wont happen to a baby . they are designed for breast milk only up to a certain age .their bodies have a hard time digesting anything else

Answer 8

A baby that age gets plenty of hydration from the formula they drink. To give a baby water will only make them full, and they will miss out on the calories and nutrition that would have gotten from the formula. It is not that you CAN'T give them water, it is just unnecessary.

Answer 9

Generally, babies who are not on solid food at all shouldn't be given water because it will fill them up and not provide any nutrients.

One they're around 6-7 months, my pediatrician says they can have a little water in a sippy cup in order to help them learn to drink from a cup.

Answer 10

I hope your friend misunderstood her doctor. The advice is that water is good for babies just not so much that it replaces bottles. Afterall, they get thirsty too. There would be no risk of kidney failure with or without water to my knowledge.