Giving Babies Water

Feeding of water to newborns is not recommended. Water fills a baby up with absolutely no nutrition. Rapid brain growth is taking place at this time in a baby's life, so it really isn't wise to be feeding a baby empty calories. It also takes away from important time spent at the breast, and frequent supplementation in a newborn may permanently decrease a mother's milk supply. Exclusive breastfeeding -- where all of a baby's sucking and nutritional needs are met at the breast -- is recommended for babies until the age of four to six months.

http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nbreastfeed/0,,441n...

Newborns have no need for water. That could cause them to get full and not want formula or breastmilk, which is where they get their nutrition.

i never heard of that. i give my baby a small amount of water and he's fine.

my oldest daugther was born 21 years ago and i dont understand myself why they shouldnt have water things change over the years and i to am concerned because i have a new born and would love to give her some water but am very nervous about it i see she has white on her tongue from formula and was wondering can i give her a ounce or two she is only 24 days old they changed her formula and she is having a hard time pooping was wondering if the water will help her at all she needs to poop change of formula has made her bowls tight

I give my son water... he's 3 months. i give it to him when he's spitting up alot of formula...sometimes the water helps to clear out his system. And he loves water! My daycare provider also suggests water when they're spitting up. I've never heard that you're not supposed to give newborns water.

I was told to limit water intake to no more than 2oz-4oz per day (4oz in summer if really hot) because too much water can thin the babies blood. I am not sure how true it is, but it made me not give more than that.

Babies should get enough "water" through either breastmilk or formula, the child's main nutritive source.

Personally, I have never heard this. My youngest son (when he went on the bottle after nursing) always had water offered to him. He never went to bed with anything other than water in his bottle. To this day he takes his sport bottle of water to his room every night. Getting kids "hooked" on water early is a good thing because it will give them a basis for wanting it in place of other, not so good for the teeth or health, things. My son freely and willingly will choose bottled water at the gas station or where ever most of the time. Water is the best thing for anyone.

Water is fine!!! Doctors are just worried that parents will substitute water for formula or breastmilk so they have to make a general rule not to give babies water. My daughter was drinking water at 3mo, just a little between meals to wet her whistle. Its amazing that we as parents are all still alive and healthy with all of the restictions out there!!!

Because they need to get their hydration and nutrients from brest milk or formula and water will make them feel full and not want as much of what they actually need at this stage. Small amounts are okay, I heard, but then what will you do if the baby likes the water better? They can't survive on just water but babies are finicky and if they don't want formula or breast milk, there would be a whole new problem. Just wait a couple months, they can have water soon.

I have been told that they get everything they need from breast milk or formula. When our mothers were babies, our grandmothers thought they needed water. It is not so. Not until they are old enough to be eating just solids.

I understand that doctors don't want water to replace nutrients in breastmilk or formula, but if you only give a little bit, and obviously you're not pushing it in place of a "meal"...then why not.

I wondered the same thing. The answer is that the Md's say that if you fill the babies up with water they will not have room for the milk. I think my son was able to have water at 2 months.The water will not hurt them*-* good luck!

New borns arent supposed to have water for the first 4 months because water will fill u up and has no nutrients or vitamins. For the first 4 months children are supposed to have nothing but b. milk or formula which is full of them. When your child is at least 4 months old than you can introduce no more than 4 ounces of water a day.
J.

People think that, that is not true a friend of mind just had her baby last month and her doc told her to give her baby water because she breast feeds and the baby likes to over eat so the doc said to give her water to hold her over until the next feeding so she wont have to nurse so frequently. Also can formula is mixed with water so that proves right there water is not the enemy (smile)

i've never heard about never giving newborns water... but i was told that if i DID give water to limit it to about 2 to 4 ounces a day... but it has no nutritional value to it. I've never had to give my 2 youngest water (my currently youngest is just 4 months old now) - but did need to when my oldest was an infant (6-7 months old and in the middle of very hot summer).

I too was wondering the answer to this question so i looked it up on babycenter.com

Starting at about 6 months a baby can have water ...

Hold off on giving your baby water until he's about 6 months old, and limit it to about an ounce or two at a time -- ideally after meals. You don't want your baby to feel so full that he refuses to nurse or take his bottle. If your baby seems interested in taking occasional sips of water before 6 months of age, it's not going to hurt him. In fact, a little bit of water can help keep your baby hydrated in hot weather. But talk to his doctor if you're offering it before 6 months. Giving a baby younger than 6 months old too much water can interfere with his body's ability to absorb the nutrients in breast milk or formula. In rare cases, babies who drink too much water can develop a condition known as "water intoxication," which can cause seizures and even coma.
"Babies don't really need water, or any liquid other than breast milk or formula, until after their first birthday," says Rachel Brandeis, a registered dietitian in Atlanta. After age 1, water and milk are Brandeis's baby beverages of choice. "You want to be sure juices don't displace milk in a baby's diet," she says. Once your baby celebrates his first birthday, you can let him drink as much water as he wants.

When you introduce water to your baby, offer it lukewarm, especially if you breastfeed or usually give your baby formula that's warmed up.

Hey M.,
It is very important for newborns to get the nourishment they need either from breast milk or formula. Both of which are water based. They will not be able to put on their proper weight with getting water. There will be plenty of time later on to give your baby water. Good luck.
Sincerely, I. G.

Breastmilk or formula should be all a newborn needs. It's great nutritionally and also hydrates their body :) Got to love that!

i give my daughter just a little bit she dont like it so i dont force it

Like everyone else said, it is because it will make the baby feel full, & therefore he/she will miss out on the nutrition from a full feeding. However, when PA had that heat wave, I always had a small bottle of water for my baby. I'd give him small sips every now & then to help him stay cool. He is 7 months now, & loves water. But he still only takes some sips while eating. You just don't want to let them have too much, to ensure the baby gets a true full belly. :)

Formula is already full of water, so the baby is getting water, and with breastmilk, the mother (should be) drinking water, which whatever the mother is drinking, transcends into the milk, which has plenty of water since our bodies are made up of a large percentage of water. Even if the mother wasn't drinking water, the baby is already getting nourished with water through breast milk.

it throws off the baby's electrolytes and can actually dehydrate them

babies bodies can't handle it.. only give water to them when your dr tells you you can. they get enough liquid thru formula/breast milk ... it has something to do with digestive system, but I got yelled at for giving some to my kids when I shouldn't have when they were sick and throwing up. talk to your ped about it..