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Infant feeding

when can you give a baby a drink of water, and why should you?

10 replies

Caz10 · 27/04/2008 11:38

Just curious - dd is 20wks and bf. I've seen people give their babies bottles with water in it and wondered why, and if I should be doing that?

I was under the impression that I would just introduce water when I introduced solids, but I was told yesterday by a friend that she gives water in between bfs - didn't like to ask her why!

Thanks!

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foxythesnowfox · 27/04/2008 11:40

I introduced water in a cup with meals. I don't think there's any need in between times if you are bf. Personally, I like the excuse to have a sit down

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Shitemum · 27/04/2008 11:44

I didn't give DD1 any water till it started to get quite hot around May/June (we live in Spain). Up till then she had solids and bfeeds. She was about 8 or 9 mo by May/June and had been introduced to solids at 6 months.

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Shitemum · 27/04/2008 11:46

You really don't need to give a breastfed baby water unless it is very, very hot weather. I definately wouldnt bother before he's on solids.

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CrushWithEyeliner · 27/04/2008 11:49

I did when weaning - DD started to settle so much better after that. With the next one I will give sooner as I think it really helps.

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CrushWithEyeliner · 27/04/2008 11:50

In answer to "why" I think again that some babies settle better with a bit of water.

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ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 27/04/2008 11:52

I agree with (not so) Shitemum.

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Caz10 · 27/04/2008 19:30

settle better at night crushw.e.? why is that?

thanks all for your replies, looks like i don't need to bother for a while

and we live in scotland so it never gets hot!

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CrushWithEyeliner · 27/04/2008 19:34

It was just my experience that's all - she settled better after I started giving her water. Obviously not the same for every baby....

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Poohbah · 27/04/2008 19:52

Breast milk is about 87% water so even in hot countries you do not need to give any water until you start introducing solids.

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ChirpyGirl · 27/04/2008 19:54

Neither of mine had water until they started solids, then they just had some tap water in a sippy cup on the table at mealtimes until I stopped BFing.
If they are thirsty they just feed more and that is much less hassle than constantly wiping up spills from 'no=spill' cups

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