water or no water?

Question

hi i had asked a question previous to this and everyone had replied that newborns dont need water but i give my baby water to take the whiteness of his tounge atfer a feed so what do you think is this right or wrong???

Answer 1

I would just wipe my babys tounge with his burpcloth with a dab of water on it. Yes u aren't supposed to give babies water, but he's your baby.

Answer 2

There is no reason to remove the whiteness on his or her tongue after a feeding, that is only cosmetic and only benefits you, not the newborn in any way. Water has no calories and no nutritional value, it is a waste for a newborn to consume it. If a newborn is going through the effort of eating (they burn calories eating, swallowing, digesting, etc.), everything they consume needs to help them gain energy and weight so they replace those calories while also gaining weight. So formula, if that is what you are feeding him or her, or else mother's milk - which is truly the perfect meal for newborns are the only things a newborn should consume; unless otherwise instructed by a medical professional, who may, for example, also recommend a multivitamin in addition to mother's milk or formula. That's it.

Answer 3

The white stuff on their tounge is totally normal. It's on every newborn baby.
But doctors do say do NOT give new babies water. I'm not sure what the ages are ...
There's nothing wrong w/ the milk on the tounge.

Answer 4

There is different reasons why water is important to give to a baby

if its hot outside an risk of dehydration
There sick an could use X-tra fluids
higher calorie diets need a lil more water for kidney function
You definitely dont want to supliment formula w/ water though.

You say your only doing it to clean his/her mouth out after a feed, You could use a wash cloth

But mind you the best advice to follow is that of a pediatrician. so maybe mention it at your next visit! An ask if She/He thinks it would hurt or not.

Best of luck
~Khalisah

Answer 5

I suppose one or two sips of water to rinse out the mouth is relatively harmless but no more than that.

Water is a BIG no-no for young babies for 2 major reasons:

1) It can make them feel full and cause them to drink less formula which in turn will bump their caloric intake down causing them to become improperly nourished.

2) It can overload their kidneys and cause renal illness/failure because their bodies are not designed to process water yet.

Answer 6

i bottle fed my first son and i was told to give him cooled boiled water, this time round im breast feeding and ive been told baby doesnt need anything other than breast milk, so maybe it depends on how your feeding baby, but just to be on the safe side id ask a health visitor, midwife or doctor

Answer 7

I never gave my daughter water until she was 9 months or older. I breastfed. I think one ounce here and there is okay but I would check with the pediatrician.

Answer 8

No water. :)
Babies get enough fluids from breastmilk or formula. Not necessary to take whiteness off his tongue in that manner. If it's really breastmilk or formula on his tongue, you use a soft, wet washcloth to gently clean his little tongue and gums. If it's thrush on his tongue, then the ped will suggest something.

Answer 9

I think either is okey.. as long as u did not harm the baby, right?
babies doesn't matter if their tounge is white or not..
so u dont have to worry if u did not give him water.
Mayb u could consider that he will always weewee if he drinks too much water =p

Answer 10

Babies need water after starting solid food. Until then, they take all they need from breastmilk or formula.