Can you give bf babies water?

[littlemisssplendid]

It's going to be hot this week and I was wondering if it's allowed. If it is what do you have to do?

[theSuburbanDryad]

You don't need to give bf babies water, even in very hot weather. Breastmilk is thirst quenching enough, so although you may need to give more feeds, you won't need to give water!

HTH

[NotQuiteCockney]

It's not necessary - your milk will adjust. Make sure you drink lots of water.

[mellyonion]

there is no rule against it, but as pp have said, there is no need....just be sure to offer a few more feeds than usual to make sure you baby has an opportunity to drink as much as he needs.

is it really going to be hot this week??? are you in the uk?!! [hopeful and excited emoticon]

[littlemisssplendid]

Well according to weather forecast it is but I'm not counting on iy.

Is there actually anything wrong with giving water or is it just better to feed more?

[theyoungvisiter]

You are not supposed to. 1) It's not necessary as your milk adjusts and 2) The baby may fill up on the water and not on breastmilk, so they aren't getting the benefits of bm, I think is the theory (though I'm not an expert - this is just what I was told).

Basically your body will adjust to the baby's needs much better and more sensitively than you can with a bottle of water.

[Ceolas]

How old is the baby?

[theyoungvisiter]

btw that's only for exclusively BF babies I think - it's different if they are on solids.

[MKG]

A lactation consultant once told me that it would have be conditions like the Sahara Desert to warrant giving a bf baby water.

Oh course it's allowed, it's water, but it will fill them up without giving them the nutrition breastmilk will.

Don't bother, if it's really hot just bf more often.

[Dawnie6577]

I read the same, if they are exclusively BF with no solids yet, they don't need water.
I did give water to my DS, but only because he was incredibly windy (old wives tale, but it did help him)!
I was a bit worried giving it to him tbh as I had read not to give water, but he was in quite a bit of pain with wind.
Otherwise, you'll be fine as you are without water.