Giving baby water at night!

Jennifer - posted on 08/27/2009

your baby isn't ready for water yet but i suggest give your baby the baby gatordade, s/he will not be too dehydrated at all, and s/he will sleep through the night. I've started doing that with my son and he's perfectly happy and sleeps through the night just fine. ask your doctor first to make sure that's okay. water isn't a good idea just yet. ;)

User - posted on 08/27/2009

Hi everyone, my son is nearly 5months old (on 10th April) and has been going through the night from 6 weeks old, My mum advised me to feed set timed, and I more or less have done that since his birth. Although the "professionals" advise against set timed breastfeeding, I know I have a good supply (I have expressed at times) and I feed both breasts for each feed 3-4 hourly. I know my son well and I respond to his needs, This has helped my son get a really good routine. He sleeps from 8pm (has a FULL "dream" feed at 10pm) then sleeps through to 8am. He was a big baby at birth and is thriving on this method of feeding and sleeping schedule. He hasn't woken up during the night for at least the last 3 months. I know that isn't advice for anyone but thats what works for me xx

Pamela - posted on 08/27/2009

Quoting Kelly:

I have put rice cereal in his bottle...it keeps him fuller longer therefor he sleeps longer.

No No NO!!! Never give a baby rice cereal in their bottle. It is a very big misconception that giving a baby food earlier will help them sleep longer its completely false!! And rice cereal isn't recommended at all for children under 4months preferrably not under 6months because their bodies can't digest it properly and they can become very sick from it.

Michelle - posted on 08/11/2009

depending on how old baby is you can try giving cereal just before they go to bed and that takes longer to digest should let them sleep longer, water goes right through them so they will be waking up because they are wet instead of hungry

Ann - posted on 08/10/2009

Feed that baby! They wake up because they are hungry, your baby will sleep through the night when he is ready.

VIviana - posted on 08/09/2009

By the way...my baby hasnt waken up during the night since she was 6 weeks old..

VIviana - posted on 08/09/2009

HI girls...I guess im a lucky mum.... i have been reading all your stories about the sleeping periods of your babies and wowwww..... i would get really crazy... you mums are amaizing..

Im a mum of a 4 month baby girl, when she was born first of all she would not sleep in her cot or in her back...she would sleep during the day in the couch in her tummy and at night with me, she would wake up every 30 to 45 mns to feed..i was going insane had no sleep at all and she would do this all day long.... once i changed to bottle feeding she had no problems first night she slept for 14 hrs without waking up, she was sleeping in her tummy but i was watching her most of the time.... then she would have breastfeeding during the day and bottle at night and that seem to help her lots...i know the breastfeeding is the best for babies...however if a mum does not get a good sleep and rest enough who would look after the baby..we need to look after ourselves as well soo why dont you try bottle feeding instead and see if that helps... regarding the water..is ok to give it to babies...just not soo much..its good specially for when they dont do poo that would help their digestive system.... you can only give them 10 to 20mls if they are under 4 months and in between feeds... HOPE THIS HELPS..

Sam - posted on 08/09/2009

Quoting Nicole:

Quoting Hollie:

I've recently read information about "dream feeding" that is supposed to help you get some sleep, It's basically feeding them while they're sleeping. If you put a nipple in a baby's mouth even while they sleep it's a natural instinct to suck. So the theory behind dream feeding is to do it right before you go to bed in hopes of eliminating a middle of the night feeding.

I didn't know it was called "dream feeding" but that's what we do with our little one. We make him a bottle at midnight before we go to bed, and usually he sleeps through the entire feeding, and burping proccess. If he does happen to wake up, he goes back to sleep really easily. We've been doing that since he was about 2 months, and he's never woken up before 6:30 am since we started, and he usually goes back to sleep after the first morning feeding, too. We might just be lucky though. I'd say give it a try with your little one, Kate, and hopefully you'll be able to get some sleep at night. 

We have also been giving Liam a"dream feed" every night before we go to bed, He goes through cycles where he sleeps through, he usually still gets up for 1 feed in the night but this is much later than it used to be, and also just the one rather than the 2 or sometime 3 feeds he was demanding before. I dont recomend withdrawing formula in place of water, I'm no pediatrician, but as far as I'm aware babies only cry for what they need and take what they need, I should imagine that depriving bubs of the extra feed would probably do mor harm than good, but that of course is just my oppinion. Good luck!

Paige - posted on 08/09/2009

My doctor told me not to give my daughter water until she was several months old. (5mo+)

Katarina - posted on 08/09/2009

We haven't had a problem with late night feeding for a couple of months now (my son is 4 months old). He sleeps from 10-630 wakes up eats and sleep again until 9. but that "dream feeding" sounds really interesting. Our Dr told us to only give water on an extremely hot day, and only .5 of an ounce. just enough to get some hydration. He is being formula fed. You don't want water to replace a feeding. It's really bad for your baby and they're not getting the right amount of nutrition. Do what another mom said and cut back on the feedings slowly. we did half an ounce a feeding. This worked wonders for us. It's just enough for them to not really notice.

Nicole - posted on 08/08/2009

Quoting Hollie:

I've recently read information about "dream feeding" that is supposed to help you get some sleep, It's basically feeding them while they're sleeping. If you put a nipple in a baby's mouth even while they sleep it's a natural instinct to suck. So the theory behind dream feeding is to do it right before you go to bed in hopes of eliminating a middle of the night feeding.

I didn't know it was called "dream feeding" but that's what we do with our little one. We make him a bottle at midnight before we go to bed, and usually he sleeps through the entire feeding, and burping proccess. If he does happen to wake up, he goes back to sleep really easily. We've been doing that since he was about 2 months, and he's never woken up before 6:30 am since we started, and he usually goes back to sleep after the first morning feeding, too. We might just be lucky though. I'd say give it a try with your little one, Kate, and hopefully you'll be able to get some sleep at night. 

Kim - posted on 08/08/2009

Actually you are not supposed to give young infants water because their water/sodium balance is so delicate. Besides, baby's only ask for what they need, not what they just "want." If they wake up hungry it's because they need to be fed.

Kelly - posted on 08/08/2009

I have put rice cereal in his bottle...it keeps him fuller longer therefor he sleeps longer.

Hollie - posted on 08/08/2009

I've recently read information about "dream feeding" that is supposed to help you get some sleep, It's basically feeding them while they're sleeping. If you put a nipple in a baby's mouth even while they sleep it's a natural instinct to suck. So the theory behind dream feeding is to do it right before you go to bed in hopes of eliminating a middle of the night feeding.

Lynette - posted on 08/08/2009

It is not a good idea to give your baby water before your pediatrician reccommends it. Their little bodies are not able to handle it. The best advice I have for you is to confirm these things with your doctor prior to trying them. Some of the things that our friends and family have done in the past are no longer reccommended. My advice is to go in your baby's room when he/she wakes, offer a pacifier and then leave. If after 1 or 2 times of this your baby is still awake and acting hungry, feed. Some kids need to eat in the middle of the night. :) Good luck

Julie - posted on 08/07/2009

When I weaned my son from the 3am feeding I would feed him a little less and then eventually just gave him a pacifier. This worked really well for him and quickly quit waking up at all, BUT I was giving formula suplement and soon started formula only. I was not producing enough milk and was not able to continue breastfeeding. But I did have a friend that did the same thing and she was breastfeeding at the time. Hope this helps.

Kiley - posted on 08/07/2009

Babies are made up of mostly water and giving them water can lead to water intoxication. I would definitely not give the baby water. That doesn't sound good at all. From what I've gathered, you shouldn't give children water until they are toddlers and mostly eating solid food. There is plenty of water in breastmilk or formula and no need to give more water. This could lead to major problems. If you still consider it, I'd suggest talking to a doctor. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Adriene - posted on 08/07/2009

I agree with the other moms. If you are breastfeeding your baby will get everything he needs from you. DO NOT GIVE YOUR BABY WATER. The baby wakes during the night because he is hungry...feed him! I know it is hard to keep getting up. I am still getting upi 2 or 3 times a night to nurse my 4 month old,

Lucy - posted on 08/07/2009

I completely agree on the gina ford thing! Some muppet bought me her contented little baby book! She advises to BF only every 3 hours from birth, my little girl is 4 months and can't manage 3 hours between feeds! If i'd have been stupid enough to follow her scedule my baby would have become incredibly ill or even worse!



She practically tells you when it's time for you to go to the toilet!!!!

Hollie - posted on 08/06/2009

I asked my Dr the same thing. She said giving a baby water before 6 months can cause water intoxication and lead to death. The body gets enough hydration from the formula/milk. Hope that helps.

Pamela - posted on 08/06/2009

Hi Kate

Please ignore what you have been told about giving your bubs water at night, you should only do this with toddlers not babies. A baby wakes during the night because there stomach is only very small (as big as there fist) and they can't hold enough food/milk to get through the night. You will still need to feed through the night until after 6months when you bubs will be on solids as well they might then be having a 6hour sleep (which is considered to be sleeping through). But some children still need a feed at night right up until 18months. If you do choose to do this i would recommend you consult a doctor first. Hope that helps.

Lisa - posted on 08/06/2009

I was told not to do that because without the formula you are in a sense starving your baby. Same reason you shouldn't add more water to the formula when you need to make it last longer. A mother near where I live did that... added more water to her formula because she was poor and couldn't afford more formula and she baby almost died.

Kate - posted on 08/06/2009

Who is Gina Ford?

Marny - posted on 08/05/2009

That Gina Ford needs shooting!

Nicole - posted on 08/05/2009

I haven't tried that, but it doesn't sound logical to me. Babies wake up at night because they're hungry, if you're just giving them water, it won't fill them like formula or milk would and they might end up waking up more.