Water or no water?

Leanne wrote:

Does anyone give there baby water?

I heard (read) NOT to give a baby any water because they get enough
through B/M or forumla, then I heard they should have
''some''..friends and family cant beilive that I dont give her
any water.
the last time I was in for her check up the nurse asked if I was giving
her water, and she was kinda confused when I said no. and I didn't ask
when the dr. came in.
the ped. gave me a hand book and it said no water unless it is very very
hot outside,,,,
this is just a question that always slips my mind at the Dr.s office....
she is on all formula now.

Good question!

This is one i always forget to ask too... although I've tried to give Caden
some water when it was really hot the other day, he didn't want any and i
couldnt get him to take it... so that solved my problem lol

Breastfed babies don't need water. Some say formula fed
babies might need a little extra water if it's very hot. It is
very easy to disturb the electrolyte balance in a small baby,
so it doesn't take *that* much water to cause water intoxication,
which can be pretty serious. This is one of the main reasons behind
the AAP recommendation against swimming lessons for babies--they
can gulp enough water to cause water intoxication. An ounce here
or there probably isn't a problem, but avoid significant water intake
before 9 months or so.

Best wishes,
Ericka

Carol Ann wrote:

I give Morgan about a 1/2 cup of water a day. I just found Nursery
water so I may try it. I just usually give her spring water (unless my
mom isn't looking and then I'll just give her tap). LOL!!

That sounds like it's pushing it, and "nursery water" has
been linked with cases of water intoxication (not because there's
anything special about nursery water that makes it more likely
than regular water to cause water intoxication--it's the fact
that it's *called* nursery water that makes some people think
it's appropriate for babies to have more of it).
Most places with recommendations for avoiding water
intoxication recommend no more than 2-3 oz of water, and that
only after offerring the breast or bottle. After six months
the recommendations loosen up a bit. Other sources recommend
no more than 6-8 ounces per day after starting solids, but that's
*including* all other sources of water, e.g., juice, jello, baby
food (strained carrots are 92 percent water, etc.), and so forth.
Four oz of water a day isn't going to cause water
intoxication at Morgan's age, but could be dangerous for a newborn
and could be less than ideal even at her age.

Best wishes,
Ericka

"Ericka Kammerer" wrote in message
...
Leanne wrote:

Does anyone give there baby water?

I heard (read) NOT to give a baby any water because they get enough
through B/M or forumla, then I heard they should have
''some''..friends and family cant beilive that I dont give her
any water.
the last time I was in for her check up the nurse asked if I was giving
her water, and she was kinda confused when I said no. and I didn't ask
when the dr. came in.
the ped. gave me a hand book and it said no water unless it is very very
hot outside,,,,
this is just a question that always slips my mind at the Dr.s office....
she is on all formula now.

Good question!

This is one i always forget to ask too... although I've tried to give
Caden some water when it was really hot the other day, he didn't want any
and i couldnt get him to take it... so that solved my problem lol

Breastfed babies don't need water. Some say formula fed
babies might need a little extra water if it's very hot. It is
very easy to disturb the electrolyte balance in a small baby,
so it doesn't take *that* much water to cause water intoxication,
which can be pretty serious. This is one of the main reasons behind
the AAP recommendation against swimming lessons for babies--they
can gulp enough water to cause water intoxication. An ounce here
or there probably isn't a problem, but avoid significant water intake
before 9 months or so.


Ok, great. I was just going to ask at what age does it become ok? My 12
month old LOVES water, more than anyhting else (besides nursing of course!
He drinks probably 3 cups a day of it.

Kari
mom to Kaylie, Noah and Xander

firedancer623 wrote:


Ok, great. I was just going to ask at what age does it become ok? My 12
month old LOVES water, more than anyhting else (besides nursing of course!
He drinks probably 3 cups a day of it.

It pretty much goes right in line with the relationship between
breastmilk/formula and solids. When they're getting all their
nutrition from breastmilk or formula, they're already getting a
*lot* of water. Adding more electrolyte-free liquids risks
upsetting a delicate balance (not to mention it makes it easy
for them to fill up on water and not get the calories they need).
The more solids they're having, the less watery their overall diet
is, and then having more water isn't such a big deal. Plus, of
course, they're getting bigger, so it takes more to upset the balance.

Best wishes,
Ericka

On Mon, 18 Oct 2004 00:17:17 -0700, "Jamie Clark"
scribbled:

I wouldn't bother with nursery water -- sounds like another way to take new
parents money.

With a lot of things, I'd agree ;-) But nursery water is fluoridated.
We use it for A's formula since we're on well water and it's not
fluoridated. I agree that anyone with access to city water doesn't
need it.

Nan

Breastfed babies don't need water. Some say formula fed
babies might need a little extra water if it's very hot.

I jsut gave mine cold formula.

It is
very easy to disturb the electrolyte balance in a small baby,
so it doesn't take *that* much water to cause water intoxication,
which can be pretty serious. This is one of the main reasons behind
the AAP recommendation against swimming lessons for babies--they
can gulp enough water to cause water intoxication. An ounce here
or there probably isn't a problem, but avoid significant water intake
before 9 months or so.

Best wishes,
Ericka


I don't remember giving mine water till they were well over 1.

On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 20:19:09 -0400, Christine wrote:

the ped. gave me a hand book and it said no water unless it is very very
hot outside

The book is right. Giving a BF-baby water will lower her appetite and
cause her to nurse less and get less nutrients. However, on very hot days,
she will sweat and loose more moisture than she can get from the milk
alone. On such days a bit of water is OK. You will notice she is thirsty
if she keeps wanting to nurse for a longer time than usual, or shortly
after a feeding.

--
-- I
mommy to DS (July '02)
mommy to three tiny angels (28 Oct'03, 17 Feb'04 & 20 May'04)
guardian of DH (33)

On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 20:19:09 -0400, (Christine)
wrote:

Does anyone give there baby water?

The only time I was told to give my baby water was when he was sick
with a stomach bug and kept throwing up. I was told to give him a
small amount (about 30 ml or 1 ounce) every couple of hours to help
keep his fluids up.

Outside of that, I was told that the only other time that he *might*
need it was when it was very hot outside.

I never gave #1 water until she was over 12 months old. I haven't
really given #2 water either. I don't see the point. If they are
drinking formula or breastmilk, they should be getting enough fluids.

--
Daye

Christine wrote:
Does anyone give there baby water?

I gave mine water with their solids meal. They started solids at 6 months.
Well Hunter didn't but he still got water at 6 months ;-). Not a lot and it
was what they could drink out of an open cup, not out of a bottle.

They were both breastfed.

--
Nikki

Ilse Witch wrote:

On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 20:19:09 -0400, Christine wrote:


the ped. gave me a hand book and it said no water unless it is very very
hot outside


The book is right. Giving a BF-baby water will lower her appetite and
cause her to nurse less and get less nutrients. However, on very hot days,
she will sweat and loose more moisture than she can get from the milk
alone. On such days a bit of water is OK. You will notice she is thirsty
if she keeps wanting to nurse for a longer time than usual, or shortly
after a feeding.

What I read was that studies have shown that mothers
make ample milk to satisfy babies, even when it's very hot
(up to 105 degrees). I haven't found anything credible suggesting
that breastfed babies *need* water. One might get tired of
nursing a hot, sweaty baby in the heat, but nursing will
hydrate the baby just fine. Just keep feeding the baby whenever
she wants to nurse.

Best wishes,
Ericka