Giving baby water?

Question

Just curious, what is the age recommended to give water now? Someone is saying that women give their babies water before their breast milk comes in (I breastfeed and have never heard of this and definitely didn't do it) and to give a baby under 2 months old water in between feedings. I've always heard not to give a baby water until they're 6 months old and even then just little sips. But maybe things have changed.

Answer

I've read a lot about women using honey to sweeten water for their babies. DO NOT DO THIS. It can harm babies under the age of one. Botulism and all.

Answer

In a way you're still basically a fetus after birth in that you are so dependant and under developed in comparison to other species. Human digestive tracks are usually more capable of handling water or solid foods at 6+ months.

(And for the love of God people need to stop dumping sugar water down their infants throat)

Answer

Breast milk or formula has enough liquids in it to keep baby hydrated until they start solid foods. So around six months it's fine to give a few sips of water but formula or breast milk should still be the main source of nutrition so no more than that

Answer

Their guts are not fully formed until 6 months. It can be dangerous to give them water or solids before then. Formula and breastmilk keeps them hydrated.

Answer

I was surprised to find out that they really don't need water until a year old...that's what my dr told me

Answer

Not until one year. Before that, they get enough water from formula/breast milk and solid foods (if eating those). Water is empty calories and they need to fill their little bellies with something nurtritious. So no water until 12 months :)

Answer

No water until 1 year.

Answer

There stomach is so small giving them water would cause them to fill up very quickly on water so it is not recommended till a year.

Answer

Thanks everyone. That is exactly what I thought and yet this girl continues to tell me that it doesn't hurt a baby to have a bottle of water in between feedings and that it's an essential of life so it won't hurt them. I'm actually shocked that she said that women give their babies water before their milk comes in. I've never heard of that and colostrum should be plenty for a newborns stomach? I guess everyone truly is different in what they do with their children ☺️

Answer

My mother in law INSISTS we don't have to wait til 6 months to give our baby water! She's been mentioning it since he was 1 week old pretty much!

Giving baby water?

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