Can i give my newborn baby water?

Question

he is 3 weeks old and breastfed

Answer 1

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/baby-water.html
Guidelines for offering water to breastfed babies

Breastfed babies do not need water - keep in mind that breastmilk is 88% water. Even in the first few days after birth, before mom's milk has "come in", colostrum is all that is needed to keep baby well hydrated (assuming baby is nursing effectively). Per the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Supplements (water, glucose water, formula, and other fluids) should not be given to breastfeeding newborn infants unless ordered by a physician when a medical indication exists... During the first 6 months of age, even in hot climates, water and juice are unnecessary for breastfed infants and may introduce contaminants or allergens."

In addition, breastfed babies do not require water when it is very hot outside, assuming baby is allowed to nurse as needed. Baby can get all the liquids needed via breastmilk. A number of studies have determined that an exclusively breastfed baby does not need extra water - these studies have been done in various locations (both humid and dry) at temperatures ranging from 22-41°C (71.6-105.8°F) and 9-96% relative humidity [see references below].

Note: Formula fed babies do not routinely need extra water. Some sources do suggest offering water to a formula fed baby when it is very hot outside (though baby may prefer to get extra water from more frequent feeding), or when baby is sick with a fever (consult baby's doctor for guidelines).

For newborns (especially under 4-5 weeks), water supplements can be risky

* Babies under two months should not be given supplemental water.
* Water supplements are associated with increased bilirubin levels in jaundiced newborns.
* Too much water can lead to a serious condition called oral water intoxication.
* Water supplements fill baby up without adding calories, so water supplements can result in weight loss (or insufficient weight gain) for the baby.
* Babies who get water supplements are less interested in nursing. If baby is not nursing as often as he should, it will take longer for mom's milk to come in and can delay or prevent mom from establishing an optimum milk supply.


For babies past the newborn stage

* Too much water can interfere with breastfeeding because it fills baby up so that he nurses less. Babies need the nutrition and calories in breastmilk to grow - water has none of these.
* Breastmilk has all the water your baby needs, even in very hot weather.
* When your 4-6 month old baby is learning to use a cup, giving him a few sips of water a couple of times a day (no more than 2 ounces per 24 hours) is fine and fun.
* Once baby starts solids, you might want to give him a few sips of expressed milk or water with his solids - some babies need this to prevent constipation.


http://www.stlouischildrens.org/tabid/88/itemid/166/Water-Intoxication-in-Infants.aspx

Water Intoxication in Infants

For healthy adults, nothing seems to quench a thirst better than plain, pure water. We're encouraged to drink several glasses a day to keep our systems in balance. But for children under 1 year old – and especially during the first nine months of life – drinking too much water can be dangerous.

In fact, according to pediatricians like James P. Keating, MD, medical director of the St. Louis Children's Hospital Diagnostic Center, too much water dilutes a baby's normal sodium levels and can lead to seizures, coma, brain damage and death.

http://www.todaysparent.com/baby/foodnutrition/article.jsp?content=1240
For example, in the first days after birth, drinking water has been found to increase the severity of newborn jaundice. "Babies who are breastfeeding well don't have much problem with jaundice," says Kirkham, "but those who are given water as well will become more jaundiced, and this makes them sleepy and lethargic."

Giving water in the early weeks can also interfere with breastfeeding. The infant who has a tummy full of water will drink less milk at his feedings, and his mother's breasts will decrease milk production in response. The result: The baby gets less milk, and may not grow as well. One study in Australia found that newborns who were given water with sugar after each feeding at the breast lost more weight than babies who were breastfed exclusively. In addition, if the water is given in a bottle, the baby's sucking technique may become confused.

"It's common for babies to have periods of cluster feedings when they feed frequently for a few hours," Kirkham adds. "But because parents don't expect this, they worry that the baby is unsatisfied and wants something else, so they give the baby a drink of water."

While decreased milk production isn't a concern with babies who are fed formula, water is not good for those babies either, since it will reduce their intake of formula. Too much water can even be dangerous: In rare cases, infants have died from water intoxication, and others have developed seizures or hypothermia. Almost all of these babies were bottle-fed.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0816/is_1991_Sept/ai_11600062
Too much water - can result in water intoxication
Pediatrics for Parents, Sept, 1991

Too much water is consumption results in water intoxication. The causes include consumption of very dilute formula, repeated immersion in water (such as may occur during infant swimming lessions), ingestion of large amounts of ice water to control tooth pain, psychosis, and others.
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The most common victim of water intoxication is an infant three to six months old who is brought to the emergency room either seizing or not breathing. The infants temperature is below normal. Most often water intoxication occurs during the summer.

The infants blood is too dilute. The initial treatment is intravenous solutions with a high concentration of salts. Sometimes the infant will spontaneously urinate large quantities of dilute urine to re-establish the normal salt concentrations in the blood. There is a risk of serious problems and even death from water intoxication.

Answer 2

There's no need to give a newborn baby water. These days you're not advised to routinely give it to them. Advice has changed over the years, but these days it's generally accepted that babies get enough hydration through breast/fornula milk. I've given my 12 week old water once when he was a bit constipated, only 2oz though, and would never give him it regularly when he's this young. Babies who have too much water can end up really ill, google "Water intoxication".

Answer 3

Yes. Not tap water though, nor bottled water preferably, although neither is likely to do a great deal of harm. Boiling water does not remove minerals. If you really want to be ultra-safe then get a bottle of distilled water from your local chemist or garage. It is when the child stops breast feeding you must look at dehydration and giving water. While a baby is is taking mush/liquid food there is very little chance of it needing extra water, unless there is some other medical condition you haven't told us about.

Answer 4

According to the Academy of Pediatrics, water is not needed until solids are started ( unless the baby is constipated). here is a link that you will find helpful. Remember that water is a lot thinner than formula or breast milk and babies can easily choke on it. If you do decide to give it to your baby, use a low flow nipple.

http://pediatrics.about.com/od/weeklyquestion/a/04_baby_water.htm

Answer 5

Unless his doc is telling you to do so, I wouldn't. Why are you supplementing with water? Breastmilk should be the only thing he's drinking. Even if he is sick they don't need water supplementation.

Older babies I think it's more accepted, but with a 3 week old I'd ask his doc beforehand. :)

Answer 6

2

Answer 7

1

Answer 8

You can give him cooled boiled water if you wish, but breastfed babies don't need it, as the foremilk provides a thirst quenching drink for your baby, the hind milk does the feeding x

Answer 9

Yes cooled boiled water only. congrats

Answer 10

as long as the water is cooles boiled then it will be fine

i gave my son water now and again , in between feeds and did him no harm at all.

http://www.todaysparent.com/baby/foodnutrition/article.jsp?content=1240

try the above link for more info

and congratulations

Answer 11

1 ounce per day is all babies can handle. You only boil water if you're not in a city :)