Does ebf baby need water in this heat?

[Iheartcustardcreams]

Basically, as the title says. Dm keeps telling me 9 week old son needs cooled boiled water in this heat. I don't think he does but am giving extra feeds as he demands. Thought I would just double check! Thanks

[KateBeckett]

From what I've read on here I don't think bf babes need water as well.

I'm sure someone who knows for sure will be along soon!

[ElphabaTheGreen]

Absolutely not, unless you want him to have diarrhoea, thereby losing more fluids.

BM contains electrolytes to help fluid absorption. Cooled boiled water can't come close to its rehydrating properties. Keep up with the boob!

[FattyMcChubster]

No, just offer boob more often

[MultipleMama]

My sons are 9mo and have never had water. Not in this warm weather either. I just make sure they're cool.

I breastfeed on demand so just feed them extra while we're out.

[Janek]

You are doing it right already. Feed him more if he wants it, offer more often to be sure. No need for extra water.

I don't think ff babies need water either, but i'm not so sure of this fact!

[TantrumsandBananas]

Agree completely with Elphaba

My MIL (and the rest of husbands family) went on and on about this, also trying to convince me DD needed the bottle. Convinced she was dying of thirst.

I stuck to my boobs guns, got fed of trying to explain the science.

[Iheartcustardcreams]

Thank u. Will keep doing what I am. I will try and explain it to dm and then ignore her when she still keeps going on!

[ElphabaTheGreen]

I have a vague recollection that the 0-5 Book which should have been given to you by your HV makes specific mention of not giving cooled boiled water to an under-6 month old. Find that and wave it under MIL's nose. And it is correct that FF babies don't need it either.

[sleepyhead]

No, but like Aidan says the previous generation appear to have had it hammered into them that babies must have "cooled boiled water". The phrase seems to be trotted out for all occasions:

Newborn slightly jaundiced? Cooled boiled water is just the thing.
Feeding too frequently? Try some cooled boiled water instead.
Not pooed recently? Cooled boiled water!
Feeding too often through the night? See if the baby will take some cooled boiled water instead.
Hot day? You get the picture.

What a bloody faff, potentially disruptive of bf, not great for the baby etc.

[Helspopje]

i undestand that these are the current rules re cooled boiled water, but it is soooo hot.

I ebf my 10 week old on demand as often as he likes and look for all signs that he wants to feed. Despite this, he has a sunken fontanelle. Still alert, sleeping as usual, wet and dirty nappies, but I'm worried ++.

I am now going to offer even when he doesnt look hungry too, but are we sure that there is never a casefor water for a BF baby when it is >30 degrees. What do they advise in other hot countries?

[Janek]

I don't wish to alarm you, but are you sure his fontanelle is sunken? I've been led to believe that this is very serious ie major dehydration not just 'oh, he might need a drink'.

I think the consistency of your milk changes when it's hot so it's less filling and more like a 'drink', rather than 'food', hence no need to give water.

[Helspopje]

am sure - am a consultant in a diff specialty.
will take him in I think as this is to much to sit and watch

[Murtette]

I agree that a sunken fontanelle should get checked out asap.

As for your situation, OP, just bm should be sufficient but it will involve you feeding a lot and it will mean that your DS will have lots of little snacky feeds as well as some longer, proper feeds (or at least that's what DS did in the one very hot week last summer when he was 1w old and then on the holiday we went on at 8w and the next at 12w). Do make sure that you're drinking and eating plenty yourself so that you can keep up with his demands.

[ElphabaTheGreen]

I'm from Australia - advice there is exactly the same with regards to not giving CBW.

Fontanelles will often look a bit sunken in perfectly healthy babies (DS's certainly did) but never any harm in getting it checked out if you're worried.

[CrackersandCheese]

Just to add that yes, the composition of your milk will change with the heat and become more thirst quenching. Your body is so clever like that and I wish people trusted it more

[iamfizzy]

I had this problem with 'the older generation' banging on about giving baby water. Someone on here suggested I show them some expressed milk that had seperated to shown them how watery breast milk actually is. I did. They don't mention it now. If you can express, leave a small amount in the fridge for a day and shown them!

[CluelessNewbie1]

My health visitor advised me yesterday to give my 6 week old cold boiled water if she appeared thirsty. I have ignored her advice as every other healthcare professional I have come across during pregnancy advised that you shouldn't give ebf babies anything other than breast milk.

[Caterpillar0]

I lived in the tropics for first year of my first born's life and gave him cooled water in the afternoons once he was on formula and, to a lesser extent before that, when bf. The baby books aren't written for babies in those climates and I never found it affected his appetite or weight or made him in the slightest bit dehydrated. He would gulp it down sometimes, other times not. I'm not saying its advisable, just that the current literature seems OTT in its fear of cooled water. It's a question of moderation surely.