re: . when did you start giving your baby water? .

Also.. on a side note lol..If your baby is hungry in between feedings why not just feed 'him'! Tyla's aunt (on her dads side) will give her baby bottles of water shen shes hungry btw feedings. I'm like how would oyu like it if you were SOO hungry and sonmeone said HERE HAVE A GLASS OF WATER lol

just my opinion :-)

Quoting *auzzysgirl*:“ It is absolutely fine to give water to your baby, even when he's a newborn! We mix the formula with water, ... [snip!] ... water, it's not bad! It's also good to use when your baby is always hungry or gets hungry like an hour or two after a feeding.”

yeah, Mallory will drink twice the daily recommended amount of juice AND milk. plus snacks and 3 meals a day.. and suprisingly, she isnt a little chunker. so the dr said give her some water... she'll sip and throw her bottle down after a min or two, but if she doesnt have milk or juice, i'll set a bottle of water out for her to sip on.

no plain water before 6 months - babies need breawstmilk of formula. giving water to a baby under 6 monthes can cause a fluid and electrolyte imbalance - thats why the liquid they get should be something other then plain water. In addition babies need to eat every 2-4 hours if they are on formula and every 1-3 hours if breastmilk - that's normal and healthy - they need the calories and carbs to keep going since they grow SOOOO quickly

Quoting merbobear:“ If your baby gets hungry an hour or two after a feeding, you should not fill his/her belly with water, ... [snip!] ... water? You can just offer formula or breast milk more often if you are afraid that baby is going to be dehydrated in the heat.”

I didn't mean a whole bottle, I meant an ounce or two. And that's what my pediatrician said, IF the baby drinks more than the ounces he's supposed to drink in a 24 hour period. Once again, every doc has different opinions, and I will totally go with what my doctor says!

I agree with what someone else said,
A little water wont hurt, but alot will give them water intoxication.

Just keep the baby cool, and out of prolonged heat exposer , and you should be set!

Quoting . frikitona .:“ I'm wondering if maybe I should start giving a little bit to my 4 month old? It's sooo hot now, I can't see how she can go without it, even if it is in the forumla.”

 I think babies get all they need from breastmilk and formula but if they do get too hot or dehydrated I heard it's good to give them something like pedialyte when they are a little older. oh yeah i heard too much water leads to increased seizure risks in infants too. Idk I've just heard these things, I would ask your pediatrician how he or she feels about giving your baby water.

I'm not sure how true this is, but don't they give babies sugar water in the hospital? My mother came up with this when I argued with her about trying to give the baby water.

Quoting . frikitona .:“ I'm not sure how true this is, but don't they give babies sugar water in the hospital? My mother came up with this when I argued with her about trying to give the baby water.”

we do give sugar water in certain instances - low blood sugars mainly and it is under a doctors supervision. as someone else said they get all they need from breastmilk or formula and do NOT need anything supplimentry water before 6 months

I started giving Jamil water at 6 months when I started solids. My doctor said it was ok to offer a couple oz of water a day when it is really hot outside, but that it would be better to offer to breastfeed more often.

Younger babies should not be given water, and if they are, it should be in moderation because to much water really can be dangerous. Babies do die from being given to much water, and just because you turned out okay doesen't mean somebody else's baby was...

Here is some information about water.


Does your baby need water during the hot months of summer? Do babies need to drink water anytime?

According to Dr. Sears:

"Breastfeeding babies do not need extra water, though formula-fed babies often do. Your breast milk contains enough water for your baby, even in hot, dry climates. Formula contains higher concentrations of salts and minerals than breast milk does, so that extra water is often necessary for the kidneys to excrete the extra salt. Also, because of less efficient metabolism, formula-fed infants lose more water. "

While breast milk is approximately 88% water, formula is not and thus many pediatricians will recommend that formula fed babies be given sips of water from 6 months of age or when solid foods are introduced. The offering of water is a recommendation only. It is not intended to be taken as an absolute must that you offer your baby water!
Should you decide to offer your baby water, please limit the intake to 2-4 ounces a day. You do not want the water to displace the intake of breast milk and/or formula! Take the opportunity to offer water from a sippy cup also. This will accomplish 2 things:

1) A breast fed baby will not be subject to possible nipple confusion
2) Water in a sippy cup is the perfect liquid to use when introducing the sippy cup. Add some ice cubes to give the cup a more interesting flair!
Please use extreme caution when offering infants water. Infants who drink too much water may come down with Water Intoxication

For children under 1 year old - and especially during the first nine months of life - drinking too much water can be dangerous.

In fact, according to pediatricians like James P. Keating, MD, medical director of the St. Louis Children's Hospital Diagnostic Center, "too much water dilutes a baby's normal sodium levels and can lead to seizures, coma, brain damage and death.

Breast milk or formula provides all the fluid healthy babies need. If a mother feels her baby needs to take additional water, it should be limited to two to three ounces at a time and should be offered only after the baby has satisfied his hunger with breast feeding or formula"
For those parents who are having their infants under the age of 12 months old take swimming lessons, please be cautious of the amount of water that baby may inadvertently swallow. Water intoxication may also occur due to a baby swallowing too much water when swimming!
Learn More:

Anne Smith IBCLC on Water and the Breastfed Infant

Supplemental Water for Breastfed Infants

Water Intoxication in Infants

Water Babies & Safety

Signs of dehydration

My son is 6 months old and everyday, I put water in a sippy cup for him.  I put about 2 oz and he drinks MAYBE 1/2 an oz.  He gets milk most of the time but sometimes, if he's bored, I will give him a sippy of water to practice with.

Quoting merbobear:“ If your baby gets hungry an hour or two after a feeding, you should not fill his/her belly with water, ... [snip!] ... water? You can just offer formula or breast milk more often if you are afraid that baby is going to be dehydrated in the heat.”

Wow an hour or two after a feeding they are probably hungry!

Quoting jamils_mommy:“ I started giving Jamil water at 6 months when I started solids. My doctor said it was ok to offer a couple ... [snip!] ... Intoxication in Infants Water Babies & Safety Signs of dehydration”

GREAT sources thank you

Quoting jamils_mommy:“ Wow an hour or two after a feeding they are probably hungry!”

I'm sorry I was talking about formula fed babies...Both my sons were not hungry for 4 hours after being fed! I don't know about breastfed babies.

Quoting merbobear:“  If your baby gets hungry an hour or two after a feeding, you should not fill his/her belly with water, ... [snip!] ... water?  You can just offer formula or breast milk more often if you are afraid that baby is going to be dehydrated in the heat.”

thanks merideth, i was getting ready to say the same thing
and christina: great info as always

Quoting natesmomma:“ My son is 6 months old and everyday, I put water in a sippy cup for him. I put about 2 oz and he drinks ... [snip!] ... 1/2 an oz. He gets milk most of the time but sometimes, if he's bored, I will give him a sippy of water to practice with.”

That's excatly how your suppose to do it!