how old should your baby be before you give them water?

Question

and..if it is warm outside, do you have to cover a 3-4 month old's face?

Answer 1

I bottle feed my 6 week old and have been giving cooled boiled water for a few weeks now, it helps to prevent constipation. With regards to covering the face I too asked this question as where I am in the UK the sun is shinning at the moment and wanted to get baby out, however I had mixed responses, I personally would keep a parasol over their face or use a little sun block to be safe as their skin is so delicate. Hopes this helps!

Answer 2

Dont listen to those old people who are living in the 60's telling you that you can give your baby water! I have a 1 month old, so I know this stuff. You should wait until the child is at least 3 months old to give them SMALL amounts of water. That means, dont fill up the bottle and give it to them as milk. This may be even older than 3 months, if your pediatrician tell you to wait. The time you can give your baby regular amounts of water is around 6 or 7 months. No sooner though, the chemicals in water these days can ruin a bay's digestive system! As for the covering the baby's face thing, try a hat, dont cover it with a blanket because that could make the baby hot and suffocate.

Answer 3

For water: As a separate drink: around 7 months. Babies only need breastmilk or formula until six months. Then you can introduce diluted juice and a little water. Water only fills up babies stomachs and has no nutritional value.

Your second question sounds like when you're with baby outside in the winter time: use your best judgement. If you are warm, most likely the baby will be fine, especially if the wind isn't blowing. As long as the baby is dressed appropriately (not too hot or cool) for the weather, you should be fine. Good luck!

Answer 4

If it's breastfed it won't need water, as breast milk caters for thirst and hunger, but if it's bottlefed then it can have water from 4 weeks old, and it will need it, because formula will not cure thirst, and can leave some baby constipated because they're simply not getting enough water.

Even if it's cold outside you shouldn't cover a baby's face!! I don't know if you mean a hood or wrapping a blanket up high etc, but it's nose and mouth should never be covered. The rule of thumb with a baby, is to ensure it has one more layer than what you would have on.

Answer 5

You can give them water as soon as they are born. Sometimes they are thirsty and not hungry, when i had my first the midwife said if the roof of the mouth feels really dry try giving water first because they may just be thirsty.
You should keep the baby under some kind of protection if it is warm or sunny outside eg like a parasol. To save them getting burnt or overheating.

Answer 6

Young babies shouldn't need water very often. As long as they are drinking either formula or breastmilk well that should keep them hydrated, but if they are outside on a really hot day or something along those lines water certainly won't hurt them. I offered some to my son after going for a walk on a hot day to cool him down when he was only about 2 or 3 months old.

Answer 7

You shouldn't give a baby under 6 months of age too much water, it can alter their blood levels. If it is really hot give the baby a couple of ounces of water at a time, once in a while but not a lot at once. I didn't cover my daughters face in the warm weather I just made sure her face was shaded from extreme sunlight.

Answer 8

Past the age of about 4 months, you can start giving your baby small amounts of juice mixed with water. But they really don't need plain water, as they get plenty from their breast milk/formula. When your baby starts eating lots of solids and finger foods (closer to 9 or 10 months), he/she may like to drink a small bottle of water. Personally, my daughter never liked plain water until she was a year old. By then she was drinking out of sippy cups, and she would drink just about anything out of those! As far as covering the baby's face, if it is sunny, keep the baby in the shade or use a sun visor that's attatched to the car seat or stroller. If walking around outside with the baby, you need to put a hat on her/him. This also keeps the baby from getting its little head sunburned. Remember not to use sunscreen until they are at least 6 months old. Hope this helps, good luck!

Answer 9

Most dr. say give water to a baby at 6months but it safe to give baby water after month of birth. But make sure the water is boil (to kill the germs) even if the water is from a store or baby water. And if it hot side it okay to give water.

If the baby in the carseat you can use the sunvisor. I used to lay a blanket on my shoulder and place it over the baby face (to make sure the cover is not laying on his face).

Answer 10

cooled boiled water won't hurt your baby at any age.( if they will take it and quite often they won't)
If your breast feeding there is no need to offer additional water.
If bottle feeding you may need a drink if it's very hot but always be careful not to fill a young baby up with water so that it won't take enough milk.There is water in milk.
Be guided by the amount of wet nappies you get.Plenty of wet ones and I wouldn't worry

Always shade your little one from direct sunlight with a sunshade or parasole.

You can't be in the UK if you're finding warmth and sunshine lucky person!!