i have a six week old baby, and was advised to give him boiled water daily, but he hates it and gags when i give it to him, does he NEED to take water daily, or is his milk enough (im bottle feeding him now) thanks!
2007-07-18 02:37:44 · 39 answers · asked by Keira 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
my health visitor told me to offer him cooled boiled water
2007-07-18 02:50:24 · update #1
no she didn't mean to mix with formula, water by itself, he had thrush in his mouth and she told me to give him water to clear his tongue to see if it was thrush or just milk, but she advised me to give it to him daily anyway
2007-07-18 02:52:26 · update #2
His milk should be enough - unless it's very warm in which case you do NEED to give him extra fluids.
2007-07-18 02:40:28 · answer #1 · answered by mark 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure they didn't mean to giver him boiled water to mix with his formula instead of sink water?? That could have been what they meant. You baby should not have water until he's atleast 6 months old or advised by your doctor. Good luck
Question: Should I give my newborn water or sugar water?
Answer: It isn't necessary to give your newborn water. Most babies get enough fluids from breast milk or infant formula. Even when a mother's milk supply is just coming in during the first few days after delivery, the baby is getting colostrum,which is enough to keep the baby well hydrated. Because a newborn's kidneys are immature, she has a difficult time concentrating her urine, and if given too much plain water, may have trouble excreting it. This could lead to dangerous changes in the concentrations of sodium and potassium in her bloodstream. For these reasons, infants should not be given extra fluids unless their pediatrician recommends it.
babycenter.com
2007-07-18 02:48:38 · answer #2 · answered by Shannon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im a mother of six and the only time i ever gave my kids water was when they wanted a drink after there food when they were on solids. Milk is enough for a baby at first, but if the baby crys after a milk feed and its not wind try a little baby ribena in his bottle instead more milk.
2007-07-18 07:23:28 · answer #3 · answered by bevsthe1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NEVER give a baby under 6 months plain water! They get enough from formula or breastmilk. Giving a baby water will fill them up with empty calories. My son's doctor told me when he was sick to give nothing but pedialyte because they need the electrolytes from it for brain development. A health visitor is NOT a doctor. A doctor would be able to tell the difference between formula and Thrush. If the health visitor cannot tell the difference she needs to go back to school.
2007-07-18 02:53:24 · answer #4 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Wonder who told you that, whoever it was doesnt know what he/she is saying.
The milk is both food and drink for the baby and if you give him what he needs daily, he'll get enough. If its very warm you might want to make sure he gets enough to drink, but then you can always give him some extra milk, maybe a bit more watered down.
You can start with just a drink around 4 months, like watered down fruit juice or something (carefull with the sugar level).
Kids/babies dont have to drink just water. Its just very important they drink, cos they can dehydrate quickly.
Good luck
2007-07-18 02:55:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
At 6 weeks, it's still too soon. Wait until at least 12. His body doesn't yet know what to do with it. Breast milk has enough, as does formula. If you are feeding him breast milk - increase your water in take by 8 - 16 ounces a day. This will pass to him. When you start water, only an ounce at a time, maybe twice a day for the first 2 weeks. Best of luck, and soon enough you will get more than 4 hours of sleep! Take care of you.
2007-07-18 02:44:34 · answer #6 · answered by Mystress L 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No he doesn't need it, theres water in his bottle. We offered our baby water at 8 weeks due to being poorly and losing a lot of fluid. She wouldn't take it but i always offered it everyday in between bottles or when she got upset, im not sure when it was but by 3 months she loved it.
At 9 months she drinks 10oz or more water a day which is good as her milk feeds have dropped due to being on solids and she won't drink juices but that can wait until she's older, im very proud that we don't struggle to give her water.
Can i just say as well that our baby gagged too at first with water, if your not bothered about her having it then just leave it she'll be fine without it but if you want her to enjoy water its good to get her used to it early on.
And for the silly people telling you that water fills up their tummy, yes maybe so if the baby is guzzling 20-30oz of water instead of milk and im sure you'll agree thats not going to happen, especially when your baby screws its face up. Just a few drops of water a day will do no harm, its funny because you hear so much about how the body is made up of 70% of water, drink 3 litres a day its good for you, and then you get people making you feel like your feeding poison to your baby. Water is natural and good for your baby, it could take months before they even take something like 2oz of water and by then your baby will need it due to being on solids.
2007-07-18 08:35:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most health professionals will tell you a baby needs no extra water, since they get a lot in their formula, and since it can take up room they would use for drinking formula. Offering some for thrush may be ok, but there's no reason he needs to drink water daily. It will take up room in his tummy and he will have no room for the formula that has the nutrients he needs.
2007-07-18 03:25:08 · answer #8 · answered by angelbaby 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO, babies that young dont' need water at all. They can have some at 6 months. They need the calories from breastmilk/formula - which is composed of mostly water anyway. Plain water is just an empty filler. It can cause electrolyte imbalances in small babies as well.
"Giving a baby younger than 6 months old too much water can interfere with his body's ability to absorb the nutrients in breast milk or formula. In rare cases, babies who drink too much water can develop a condition known as "water intoxication," which can cause seizures and even coma."
http://www.babycenter.com/plus/readyornot/articles/food/114
2007-07-18 02:47:48 · answer #9 · answered by Tanya 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I only ever gave my 2 cooled boiled water when they were either unwell, through wind or in the summer just as a refreshment when they wernt hungry and just needed a drink, i wouldnt have thought you would have to do this on a daily basis. i was advised to add 2 drops of fresh orange to water just to add a little taste.
2007-07-22 01:59:20 · answer #10 · answered by Debbie G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who told you to give him boiled water and why?
A baby only needs formula or breastmilk when its as young as yours. The person who advised you may have told you to boil the water before mixing it with powder to make the formula... but I cant think of why they would tell you just to give him plain water.
2007-07-18 02:45:23 · answer #11 · answered by Valerie H 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋