We have a healthy 6 month old baby boy and live in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is a warm climate most of the year. Whilst i am breastfeeding, does our baby need to drink water for hydration? (He seems to be doing well without it). When do we start?
I gave both my children cool boiled water between feedings just because there urine was so acidy this helped alot more with diaper rashes.. I asked my doctor first of course and he highly recommended it as well..
I live on the Gold Coast so I know how hot is is getting for you and your bub! I think all babies, whether they are bottle or breast fed, need sips of water thoughout the day to keep them hydrated in this climate. I'd offer him about 50mls of cool boiled water inbetween feeds. As some others have mentioned it will also give him a taste for it so he doesn't reject it when he's older.
I wouldn't say that it is necessary to give him water because babies get enough through the breastmilk, but maybe giving some to him so that he gets used to the taste for later on when he's older. Also it will cool him down during the warmer weather. Just make sure that water is not replacing his feeds. Good luck.
I'd advise cool boiled water for your little boy, because like adults, babies can get dehydrated too! And because they can't talk, only cry we have to just guess and do these things for them! I started my little girl with boiled water from 3 weeks old! And she has never been dehydrated once!
Sometimes if your son cries, it could be that he is thirsty and not hungry!
I hope this has helped.
hi i was told to give my babies a little water everyday from 3 mths old and they loved it and now they are 8,4,2 and love water well we call it rain juice!
just give him some not like it will hurt him but due to the climate it might help him alot of ways all babies get thirsty so a little water would help !!!!
I agree that breastfed babies don't need to have water as long as you allow them to feed whenever they like. On really hot days you may notice they feed for short periods all through the day.
My eldest had water in a sippy cup from about 6 mths so I thought that after moving to far Nth QLD that my youngest would do the same, but even now he perfers breastmilk to quench his thirst.
There is no harm if you want to offer bub cooled boiled water every now and then just as long as its not replacing feeds.
All health visitors and doctors will tell you that if you are breastfeeding there is no need but i think if its a hot day your baby does need it, esp if your baby gets sweaty as he loses water quickly.
Also i found on hot days baby does not want to be up close on you all the time getting fed it would much rather have a sip of water where it can get a bit more air and a little less sewaty.
I am no doctor,etc but this is what i would recommend as when it is hot your baby just wants a drink nad like i said its not comfy for you or baby if you are up against each other for a long time.
Anyway good luck in what ever you decide to do. Sarah.x.
I am not a dr just a mom of 4 under the age of 3, I personally have given all my kids water from 3 mths old at night time that is all they get. water is very healthy for everybody might as well get them used to it from a young age. All of my kids love water and won't even drink juice
If you are breast feeding your baby doesn't need water. Anything your baby needs is right there in the breast milk. If you think maybe the baby isn't getting enough then try feeding a bit more on the hot days maybe that might help.
Most say breast fed dont need water...........I lived in gulf mid 40's + I now live in BOWEN still quite warm.I just periodically tried her with water and if she wanted it she had it.At 6 mnths I had Breanna sipping from a straw and a cup.She really didn't have a great deal whilst I was breast feeding.Each bub is different though.I would offer but dont push it. regards Merle
carry some cooled boiled water around with you to top him up and keep him hydrated, obviously don't replace his feads with water but just give him a little every now and then to keep him hydrated
water is a brilliant idea for our climate i am in mackay so i know what you mean my daughter loves her water even though she has bottles and food as well, between feeds is a good start and sometimes even after if he isn't to full.l great idea to start introducing water
thanks, she is now 8 months and i started her on water at around 5 months, sippy cup i introduced at about 6 months had to get used to siping properly though she learnt herself through a straw at 7 months (i find strws so much easier then sippy cups) i even found she was good at taking sips out of my cup as well, but she did enjoy drinking her water out of a bottle because it was easiest of course lol, but i have now got her a little short wide drink bottle with a straw in it and i find that perfect for her water.
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