When should you give a baby water to drink?

Carissa - posted on 08/11/2010

Starting at 6 months, you introduce water and solids. I gave my son water throughout the day but very little at a time.

Heather - posted on 08/11/2010

Here is a fact sheet on water poisoning: http://health.utah.gov/wic/pdf/resources...
You don't have to worry about it as much after they are 6 months old, but I would still limit water to 4-6 oz/day until they turn 1 yr. old.

Connie - posted on 11/16/2009

Babies who are eating solid foods can handle a few sips of water. I offered my son water when he was 5 months old, but only a couple sips after feeding him his solid food. He is 7 months old and loves sipping water from a cup. Now that he is crawling and climbing, he works up a sweat with all that activity, that I will offer him water after playtime. Water is just to quench the thirst. It is not a substitute for formula, so I think it is fine.

Kallie - posted on 11/16/2009

It won't hurt your child to give them water before the age of one as long as you don't let them drink so much water that they fill up and feel full without taking formula or solids. I like to give my son a sippy cup with water and have actually given him water since he was born. sometimes when his belly hurt he thought he was hungry when he wasn't and water helped with that. Sometimes if it seems like he is hungry too soon after a feeding, i offer water and he just takes a few sips and that satisfies him until feeding time. he is 18 pounds 3 ounces and 29.5 inches, so he is perfectly healthy. its really up to the mother, whatever you feel right doing as long as you aren't hurting your child.

Elan - posted on 11/16/2009

well my midwife told me if you dont breast feed you should try to give ur babie water. my baby has always had water from birth, she only used to have an ounce a day now she has about 6 ounce a day. as she is on solids, if my daughter doesnt drink water she gets constipated. bottle milk is not a source of hydration it is food, they need water. thats like you living off milk 24/7 you would feel thirsty all the time. my daughter loves a good drink of water. it refreshes her.

Kate - posted on 11/11/2009

Lily's been drinking water for the past few weeks...but only out of a cup, not a bottle. I understand that everything they need is found in food and formula/breastmilk but seriously, I get thirsty throughout the day,she does to. Lily doesn't drink very much of it and usually only has it when she's had a few cherrios or crakers.

Brianne - posted on 11/10/2009

My dr just asked if I was giving my baby water...I hadn't been but he said that giving her some in a sippy cup would be a good idea....*shrug* I can't see why it would hurt....our bodies are made of 60-80% water....it is vital to our health... yes babies get most of their fluid from breast-milk or formula....but a little water isn't bad for them.... I never would have thought that it was a bad thing ;-)

Blessings

Jamie - posted on 10/18/2009

i would only give him the breastmilk he doesn't need water it is just empty calories and it doesn't provide anything for your child!

Jill - posted on 10/13/2009

We've just started solids but, Simon's been sipping water from my cup for about a month. He loves it. He maybe gets a Tbsp in a day but, he thinks that drinking from a cup is the best thing ever. Also, he gets his sippy cup (with water) if we're out and about and he needs a good distraction. It hasn't slowed him down at all. He still eats like a trooper and is over 18 lbs.

Frances - posted on 10/12/2009

All babies are different.My 6month old twin boys have been drinking water since they were 3months old and started on solids at 4months. I've always been encouraged to give them lots of water.They also have a bottle of water with their meals always and are perfectly healthy. Their quite big for their ages and enjoy their water heaps.I was told to star giving them water when they started on solids

Serena - posted on 10/11/2009

My son (6 months) is brest fed. I didn't realize there were different concerns regards to giving water to breast fed babies and formula fed babies. You learn something new every day!!! I've been recomended to brest feed after giving my son pablum to "top him up". I also mix his pablum with my milk. I have given him water on those hot summer days though.... he loves it!!!

Charlotte - posted on 10/11/2009

My nurses I see have advised me that breastfed babies don't necessarily need water till after 12 months as the mother milk dilutes itself to adjust to the wether were as formula feeding is a little different. This should be introduced with solids. I offer my twin boys some cool boiled water after they have bananna. But I don't with their baby food as I make this myself and it is veggies boiled and I hit it with the barmix so it already has water through it as I don't empty it out. I would talk to your nurse or doctor.

Serena - posted on 10/11/2009

..............Except on extreamily hot summer days!!!

Serena - posted on 10/11/2009

I think it is better to NOT to give them water. It has little nutriants in it; which they fill up on, and then don't get the very important brain developing fat which is in brest milk or formula(=P).

Happy - posted on 10/11/2009

My daughter is also 6 months old and we recently visited her pediatrician where I asked the same question . She said that now it's OK to give your baby water no more than 6oz a day goes according to the age 6 months/6 oz if the water where you live doesn't have fluoride already in it it's best to give your baby water that has fluoride added for good oral health.
You can find it at walgreens or I assume any other pharmacy carry such a thing as well 1 gallon it's a buck something ..

Good luck :)

Erin - posted on 10/11/2009

I started all my kids drinking water early on especially when its hot, they might screw their faces up but keep trying they'll get used to it and if they get the taste for it i comes in handy when they get older.

Janelle - posted on 10/11/2009

My daughter is 5 months old and I have been giving her water since she was about 3 months old. Water isnt going to hurt him lol

Jorrie Lee - posted on 10/11/2009

i give my baby a sippy cup of water... its more of a toy for her.. she'll get a little bit and think thats ok..

Melanie - posted on 10/11/2009

As long as it is boiled water its fine! I was told by my health nurse that if your are breat feeding then you shouldn't have to give water as the first half of the feed the milk is watery for thirst and the 2nd half is thicker for hunger. But if you are bottle feeding then a baby does need water through out the day. Plus water is what you are meant to give a baby with a fever.

Jordan - posted on 10/10/2009

babies should have water from the start. They get thirsty just like we do. My daughter had water at 2 weeks old and it actually helped with her feeding schedule. Water will not hurt a baby.

Danielle - posted on 10/10/2009

Yes it is!

If it's summer and hot, between normal feeds.

If he / she is on solids I usually do it after every solid feed - you know what it is like to eat a meal and not have a drink afterwards? You have aftertaste, and a funny feeling in your mouth... think of that in your little babies mouth :(

Jennifer - posted on 10/09/2009

my son loves water. he was introduced to solids at 4 months cause of the reflux issues. my dr said it was ok. he would rather have that than anything.

Sarah - posted on 10/09/2009

i started givin my baby water at 3 months cause of the formula she gets backed up and this helps but i also had gottin permission from the doctor and with it being 90 degrees and more during that time it helped her not to overheat when i had to take her somewhere.

Britany - posted on 10/09/2009

I was told only to give my son water on really hot days, and a little with solid foods. i also use water on occasion when i'm out running around and he empties his formula and i don't have any extra... but too much water is bad for them, they get enough from their formula/breast milk, but a little is always okay. I have started giving my son sips of apple juice out of sippy cups,too, instead of water with solid foods, which again, is fine as long as it's not too much!

Steph Sara - posted on 10/09/2009

I started giving my daughter cool boiled water about 4 months because of the heat. I go by the dent in her head (soft spot) if it feels quite big it meant to mean that ur baby may be dehydrated. I offer her water, which she not to keen on or baby juice (or orange juice watered down).

Amanda - posted on 10/09/2009

we did not give our two year old water until he was about a month off of formula and his pediatrician said that it was fine. i love my sons doctor so i ask her everything. now with jayden almost 6 months i feel a little more prepared for whats coming.

Tracy - posted on 10/08/2009

my doctor said a few sips in between when I'm feeding him food. But they don't need a bottle of water.

Shirley - posted on 10/08/2009

They tell you to start giving samll amounts of pre boiled water in a cup from the age of 6 months. This is purely to get them used to the taste of water. YES all the fluid they need is from formula and breast milk but when they need to start drinking water for fluids at the age of 1 then they generally don't like it and then mothers start to sweeten the water with juice, cordials etc and then the cycle begins where your child refusues to drink plain water. I started my 1st daughter with small amounts of water at 6 months and at the age of 1 gave her nothing else but water or formula to drink inbetween meals and now at 20 months she only asks for water ( occasionally she will ask for juice). My 2nd daughter is 5 months and I have started to give her water to get used to the flavour aswell, and when it is really hot ( as summer is coming and we have had some very hot days) I have topped her up with water instead of giving her more formula ( she is big enough and doesn't need it 1hr after she has just been fed)

Water won't harm your baby as long as it is not used to replace their meal and doesn't effect their apetite for the next feed. Just small amounts ie 10-20 mls a couple times a day will ensure that by the time they need to drink water for hydration they won't turn their noses up at it. Just make sure that the water has been boiled previously ( not all bottled water is sterilised and suitable for young children) Tap water is not suitable for children under the age of 10 months as it can carry bacteria and chemicals, boiling it killes any bacteria that may have been in it.

Gemma - posted on 10/08/2009

My little girl was exclusively fed on formula since day 1 and my Midwife and health visitor both told me to let her have a oz or 2 everyday of cooled boiled water as formula fed babies are more likely to suffer from constipation. Exclusively breastfed babies do not need water but as soon as solids are introduced I was informed that so should water be. I was worried about water intoxication but as long as your baby doesn't gulp down bottles worth of the stuff in one go, I was told it is very unlikely to happen.

Crista - posted on 10/08/2009

My daughters pediatrician said unless she is dehydrated, no water until she is 1 because of the risk of water intoxication.

Wolfe - posted on 10/07/2009

With my son Darcy I had no breast milk whatsoever so he has been on formula, since the day he was born the midwives encouraged giving Darcy sips of water between feeds then as often as he wanted it after introducing solids. At the end of the day you can give your baby water whenever you feel ready to. Simple.

Linzi-Jane - posted on 10/06/2009

The temp is just going up her in Cape Town to as it heads towards summer so I also just started giving other liquids in sippy cup, she doesn't seem to like water so started on cold Rooibos tea which she seems to like. I offer this inbetweeen milk feeds.

Rebecca - posted on 10/06/2009

My understanding is that when solids are introduced, cooled boiled water should be too. I do the same as another poster and offer water from a cup (I use a straw cup) after a solids meal and nurse at all other times.



I believe that bottle-fed babies should sometimes have water earlier than breastfed babies - if the weather is especially hot or if they are having issues with constipation.



That's the advice my Early Childhood Nurse gave my mum's group anyway.

Biljana - posted on 10/06/2009

Well lately its been hitting the high 30's where i live and i feel dehydrated so i offer her a fewsips throughout the day just to keep her fluids up. ;-) and also to wash out food in her mouth after eating solids ;-)

Lucy - posted on 10/06/2009

I breastfeed and have just introduced solids, i offer a sippy cup of water alongside solid foods but this is the only time.If Amelia is thirsty inbetween she nurses.

KELLEY - posted on 10/06/2009

exclusively breast fed babies only need breast milk for the first 6 months then solids are introduced along with breast milk, saying that I have given him water from time to time certainly when I have not be able to breast feed as I was driving at the time.

Rebecca - posted on 10/05/2009

Not until he turns one years old.

Rebecca - posted on 10/05/2009

Babies only need formula/breast milk.

Rebecca - posted on 10/05/2009

Not until he turns one years old.