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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

such thing as too much water for a bottlefed baby?

27 replies

babyonboard · 03/04/2006 12:35

hi

our ds is 4 months and currently has 5 9oz feeds per day.
he also loves water and cries for it inbetween milk and prob has 10oz or so per day

is this a good or bad thing

OP posts:

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edam · 03/04/2006 12:57

Depends whether drinking water means he's not taking in enough milk. How do you know he wants water, not milk? Not being rude, but I think I would have found it hard to be sure at 4 mos. Maybe he's going through a growth spurt and needs more milk?

Can't remember how much 4mos are meant to have – back of formula packet should say but it's only guidance, not a rule for your particular baby. Worth mentioning to your HV if it concerns you.

bubblepop · 03/04/2006 12:58

as long as your baby is thriving and gaining weight, what harm can it do? i think they can get thirsty when they're on bottles. my 3 1/2 month old is very similar. ive just discovered though, that she does't like her bottles too warm and prefers them a little cooler.

starlover · 03/04/2006 13:05

i have to say, it does seem like quite a lot, and personally I'd be worried that it was a sign of something else. don't know what though!

worth speaking to your HV and checking

babyonboard · 03/04/2006 13:05

well he's on 75th centile..so no concerns there

it's just i know adults can suffer from 'overhydration'& am wondering if babies can too. he would take more water if i gave it,so am looking for advice as to whether i ought to
hope this isn't a silly/clueless question...

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babyonboard · 03/04/2006 13:21

oh..and we've just strted weaning..with support of h.v as his milk wsn't enough.
h is having 2/3 tespoons of rusk or baby rice per day
hasn't made any difference to his milk/water intake though so i'm tempted to cut it out nd wait a while longer.

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starlover · 03/04/2006 13:22

yeah i'd leave the weaning if it's making no difference! his milk has far more calories in it!

i do think it's worth speaking to your HV or even your GP about it though, just to make sure it's nothing too sinister!

babyonboard · 03/04/2006 13:24

sinister?
eek i'm scared now.
what could cause it thats so wrong

I would google it but i've done that with health concerns before and needlessly freaked myself out..lol

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starlover · 03/04/2006 13:27

probably best not to listen to me! i don't know really, i am just a hypochondriac.
i just don't think it's that "normal" iyswim?

babyonboard · 03/04/2006 13:30

lol..oky!
one thing..we gave him white grape juice diluted for few days a while ago when he was really constipted (agin..with support from h.v/g.p) and since then he has wanted the water.
i don't give him juice now due to the sugar content but am thinking he just likes the different taste/ texture of water?

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bubblepop · 03/04/2006 13:34

i don't think 10 oz of water is a lot. its only one bottle full. bet he sicks a lot of it back up?

babyonboard · 03/04/2006 13:37

actually no..he's never been very sick..just the odd dribble (usually when i least expect it down my freshly changd top..lol)

h.v said she's expect him to be having n extra feed to what he is, but as he's gaining weight normlly all seems fine.

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starlover · 03/04/2006 13:39

but bubblepop... how many babies do you know that have 10oz water a day plus all feeds?

bubblepop · 03/04/2006 13:45

well,i must admit that since ive given up breastfeeding and now bottlefeed, my baby takes about 6 oz of water aswell as her bottles

bubblepop · 03/04/2006 13:47

she actually refuses bottle when i offer it sometimes, and glugs down water instead, i guess they can just get thirsty like you and me?

babyonboard · 03/04/2006 13:51

could be true bubblepop..especially during the winter when heating is almost always on and the house gets very dry

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starlover · 03/04/2006 13:53

ok maybe it's just me then!
I would be worried if ds took water instead of milk though...

bubblepop · 03/04/2006 13:54

anyway.don't take any notice of me..im a hermit who does'nt mix with other people with babies, just spend all of my day on this site...tee hee

bubblepop · 03/04/2006 13:56

babyonboard, im sure it would do no harm attall to have a word with your doc about it..just to be on safe side

babyonboard · 03/04/2006 14:01

very true..I have doctors appointment for myself tomorrow so will ask him for advice then

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Squarer · 03/04/2006 14:17

Hi Babyonboard. I agree with Edam. IIRC 4 months is the classic time for a growth spurt when the baby wants more milk. I can't check as I don't feed formula anymore, but are you going by the guidelines on the can in respect of number of feeds and amount? The problem with this is that so few babies can read the instructions

I have read throught the thread and I didn't notice if you had said that you had tried milk instead of the water you are currently offering. I would suggest giving him milk instead of water and seeing if that is what he really wants

HTH and good luck!

babyonboard · 03/04/2006 14:29

Hi
no it's not milk he wants..if I give him milk he spits it out..
and it's not a comfort thing as he refuses a dummy too

My cousins baby had a similar amount of water from around 2 months. they were in japan at the time where it is actully advised (but mybe thats due to climate differences?)

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Squarer · 03/04/2006 14:35

Weird! I recall my DS did not want any water up until the warmer weather. Mind you, all babies are individuals with their own little quirks As well to ask your doctor tomorrow though.

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matnanplus · 03/04/2006 14:57

As a guide i aim for baby to have had between 2-3ozs of formula per lb in weight every 24hours,some babies take nearer 4 and yes i do give water as baby needs.

If he is thriving and happy and all are happy with his growth then i would stop the rice/rusk and just offer milk/water.

peaches27 · 03/04/2006 22:12

matnanplus thats a useful equation, I remember seeing something like that before but couldnt remember it. It is more helpful than the babymilk boxes, as they just seem to want to flog more babymilk!

I wouldnt worry about the water, I remember my son liking his "drinks" too. Mind you, he's no different now he's a student :)

We also have a very nice health visitor, who often says "there's no such thing as an average baby".

Ledodgy · 03/04/2006 22:29

Im just wondering if he has a had a cold ( I have a november baby too and he's had one huge cold on and off since christmas) I only ask as producing lots of mucus makes them more thirsty and these fluids need replacing.

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