any ideas on how to get my five month to drink water?

Chelsea - posted on 10/22/2009

I USE JELLO ... JUS A SPRINKLE WIT ROOM TEMP WATER HE LOVES IT AND DRINKS ALL OF IT ... I GIVE HIM ABOUT 4 OZ OR SO EVERY FEW DAYS

Sheena - posted on 10/21/2009

I asked my doctor if you ever gave them water and she said if baby is constipated a few ounces could help clean him out. So, then the question was how do you know they're constipated and she said if their stools are solid. I guess it loosens stools.

Maia - posted on 10/19/2009

PLEASE!!!!! Do not give corn syrup!!!! Not only is corn syrup a high allergen, it can carry botulism, just like honey. My Dr. says NO honey, NO corn syrup and this info can be found in most baby books and on the internet. Till 6 months, children need nothing but formula or breast milk.

Martha - posted on 10/19/2009

Thank you for asking this question. My mother in law insists that my I start giving my daughter water, but I keep telling her that the pediatrician said that Luci gets all the water necessary from the formula.

Rebecca - posted on 10/18/2009

according to babyzone.com nutritional chart (http://www.babyzone.com/baby/feeding_nut...)

you can give babies 4 months or old 4 oz of water per day...check out the whole article it has very specific advice for what & how much to feed your baby too

Kyra - posted on 10/18/2009

Hi Samantha, this is a remedy that I've learned from the elder mothers in my family. What you do is just add a little Karo white corn syrup in their bottle. It can be like 1/2 teaspoon per 8 ounces. Just need enough to give the water a little taste. Remember water doesn't really have a taste unless you add something or get that flavored water. I've been giving my daughter water this way since she was two weeks old. I know that's against doctores orders but I only give her one water bottle a day of whatever ounces of milk that she drinks. Try the Karo syrup, I promise you it will work.

Victoria - posted on 10/18/2009

WHAT!!! Please don't give your baby water. I hope you haven't or won't do it again. Only breastmilk or Formula PLease

Dijana - posted on 10/17/2009

We all have our own way of parenting which is normal,, my daughter likes water and i give her water I also gave her tea from age 1 week and it was to help her tummy,, in EU they have something like gerber but it is called HIPP and every mother gives their babies tea from a week old it is something that is done for generations and I do not see anything wrong with that, The children turn out fine and healthy so if all that is bad for the babies I think that they would stop producing the products for infants... Also my daughter eats 30+ oz of formula with cereal in so I do not think that water and tea she gets affects her feeding,, Just because it is not practiced in some countries does not mean it is wrong,

Courtney - posted on 10/16/2009

Water actually makes them feel full and they don't want to eat solids or breast milk. Since there are no nutrients in water, there is nothing for their bodies to absorb.

Dawn - posted on 10/16/2009

Quoting Dijana:
"...but to answer the question try getting one of those sippy cups the no spill ones,,, my daugher loves it,, she chews it and drinks the water at the same time and it helps with teething at the same time..."

my baby group had a talk from an 'oral heath' person who said not to use 'no-spill-cups' as they can lead to an unnatural sucking action that can cause problems with mouth development and speech.  free flow cups are the ones to go for.  babies cope with these really well - infact babies who have trouble latching on at first are given expressed milk from a cup!

just a bit of advice really

Ginelle - posted on 10/16/2009

You should not give a child that younge water!!

Lisa - posted on 10/16/2009

Quoting Dijana:

I am a little confused with all the do not give the baby water posts,, for formula fed babies isn't the water what we mix the powder with,, but to answer the question try getting one of those sippy cups the no spill ones,,, my daugher loves it,, she chews it and drinks the water at the same time and it helps with teething at the same time...

Yes, it is what you mix the formula with but we are saying no more water BEYOND that. Breastmilk is like 75% water. Just about everything is based off of water.

I personally said that you shouldn't give water in excess of their bottles or breast milk. That is ALL the water they need!

Britney - posted on 10/16/2009

My baby likes to taste the water in the bath tub but if you put it in a bottle and just add a little flaver like a spoonful of juice or something maybe that will work!

Jennifer - posted on 10/16/2009

I double checked with my pediatrician and he said it was perfectly fine to give a baby a few ounces of water...but to do it after a feed so its not in interfere with milk intake. Dentists say that its good to give a baby some water after eating or drinking milk (formula ) it cleans their mouth out ( less chance of tooth decay ! )

Jessica - posted on 10/15/2009

its true that babies do get all the fluids they need from formula or breastmilk and they shouldn't have much more than that but 2 or 3 ounces isn't going to hurt them. I put some water in a sippy cup for my son, since they all have that plug that makes them "no spill" I take one end of it out so that he doesn't have to suck that hard to get it out, the water just drips into his mouth, or i use a cup with no lid and just slowly give him a few sips, He's always grabbing for our cups and trying to put them in his mouth, if they're interested then don't hold back just because "babies aren't supposed to drink water", it's a learning experience.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 10/15/2009

You shouldn't give more water then what you mix your formula with. Ask your pediatrician.

Dijana - posted on 10/15/2009

I am a little confused with all the do not give the baby water posts,, for formula fed babies isn't the water what we mix the powder with,, but to answer the question try getting one of those sippy cups the no spill ones,,, my daugher loves it,, she chews it and drinks the water at the same time and it helps with teething at the same time...

Rebekah - posted on 10/15/2009

Yeah, I agree-- No water before age 1.

BUT, if your child is sick or something and your doctor wants you to give him more fluids, you could water down his formula a little... I was told to do that for the little boy I nannied one time.

Lisa - posted on 10/15/2009

http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008...

No child under 1 year should have additional water!!!! It can cause an electrolyte imbalance which can cause convulsions, seizures and death if it is not what they are getting in there formula or breastmilk! There is no reason for additional pure water! I would not risk it! It's like watering their formula down, it's just NOT smart!

Jennifer - posted on 10/15/2009

The only time I give my baby water is after a feed to clean her mouth out (she is teething). I don't think that a little water is harmful in any way that is what the formula is mixed with.
When I do give her water I give it to her right out of a small drinking glass....she LOVES it !!

Colleen - posted on 10/15/2009

I've given my son a little bit of water when he was sick. I just put an ounce in his regular bottle and he sucked it back. I don't even think he realized it wasn't formula!

Danica - posted on 10/15/2009

I give my baby about an ounce of water every once and a while.. Not that often now that it is cold outside. But when it was hotter and I took her outside I think that her body needs it just like we need water to refresh our bodies when we get hott. You could either warm it up and try that or maybe even mix in a little bit of baby juice or formula powder.

Marina - posted on 10/14/2009

Quoting Sara:

Babies that young don't need water. In fact, I believe it can cause an electrolyte imbalance which can be harmful. They only need breastmilk or formula unless your pediatrician says otherwise.

My pediatrician says the same thing that Sara said! I don't think they're supposed to drink water until at least a year

Betty - posted on 10/14/2009

I've read too that giving babies water somehow makes it harder for their bodies to absorb iron, especially in breastmilk. I think it's just something that especially the older generation thinks must be done. Do your research and go from there :)

Judith - posted on 10/14/2009

a little water is helpful between feedings...add a little bit of sugar and make the water warm like his bottles are.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 10/14/2009

Babies that young don't need water. In fact, I believe it can cause an electrolyte imbalance which can be harmful. They only need breastmilk or formula unless your pediatrician says otherwise.