Do I need to give six month old water with every formula in hot weather?

[Peterbishopssarcasticsmile]

It's roasting here today. DS is warmer than usual but seems perfectly happy. He's formula fed so have given him his usual feeds but my mum said I should be giving him an Oz of water with each formula feed as it's so hot! I've not heard this before.
I looked on NHS and it says that formula fed babies might need additional water in hot weather but I'm not sure how to tell if he needs it :-/
It also says small sips with food but he's only just started weaning and only has a teaspoon full of puree if that each day.
I'm a bit confused and feel like a terrible first time mum who doesn't know what she's doing!

Don't worry! I'd stick to his usual feeds and offer a cup or egg cup of water to sip from. If he needs it, he'll manage.

My EBF baby refused bottles under any circumstance, so I never thought to offer. When he was really poorly white a hot temp DM suggested it, I said he won't take it, and the little soandso emptied it in one go.

When they need it, they'll take it.

Definitely not an oz with every feed - a baby of age shouldn't have more than about 4oz of water per day! While you don't want them dehydrated, water toxicity is dangerous too.

I'd play it by ear. If your baby is doing his usual amount of wet nappies and his soft spot isn't sunken, he doesn't need extra water. Otherwise, offer him a bit - but certainly not the quantities your mum is suggesting!

Thank you! I thought it sounded mad.
I'm rubbish at telling whether his soft spot is sunken :( I'll get DH to check and see if he can tell
Had wet and dirty nappies today and seems happy in himself
I will.probably give him a bigger bottle before bed tonight

In hot weather like this I used to make my babies bottles up with the correct no of scoops, oz of water, then add an extra Oz of water to that feed. So they get an extra 25 mls or so fluid. Strapping 17 year old now so did no harm 😀

In hot weather like this I used to make my babies bottles up with the correct no of scoops, oz of water, then add an extra Oz of water to that feed. So they get an extra 25 mls or so fluid. Strapping 17 year old now so did no harm

Just because you got away with it, doesn't make it safe.

I think I'd be more inclined to give him an extra Oz of formula before bed than water it down or maybe give him sips of water separately I'd be worried about the wrong ratio otherwise but glad it worked for you

How is in not safe? Adding an extra oz of water to one bottle (NOT EVERY ) feed is not watering it down or wrong ratio. It’s the same as if baby had taken a 4oz bottle then took an oz of water !! Baby more likely to take it in the feed than sip at some tasteless water. It’s all as one when in in the stomach.
ICU nurse of 23 years powerslidepanda so not in habit of doing or giving unsafe advice. Simply just let the OP know what I had done in a similar situation.

Sorry OP that reads as if I was getting at you! Do what feels right for your baby, you know them best. Each stage brings new worries even into teen years.....it doesn’t stop 😩 Anyway looks like heatwave is over so time to move on to a new worry 😂

@embolass

How is in not safe? Adding an extra oz of water to one bottle (NOT EVERY ) feed is not watering it down or wrong ratio. It’s the same as if baby had taken a 4oz bottle then took an oz of water !! Baby more likely to take it in the feed than sip at some tasteless water. It’s all as one when in in the stomach. ICU nurse of 23 years powerslidepanda so not in habit of doing or giving unsafe advice. Simply just let the OP know what I had done in a similar situation.

This thread is about giving extra water with every feed and nothing in your post suggested you were talking about just a single bottle. And while doing it for a single bottle on a hot day is indeed low risk, doing it more regularly has led to infant deaths, so it's a pretty important point to be clear about!

Not at all :)
I would be reluctant because he's on a thickened formula that needs to be thick to stop his reflux but I'm glad it worked for you

At 6months you could just offer him some water in a free flow sippy cup. He will probably drink very little but it helps to get them used to the cup too. Or even on the spoon you use for the fruit puree to give a few sips. It's a good idea to get them used to the taste of water as they get used to new flavours anyway. And in case this helps, I have a 12 year old, a 9 year old and a 1year old. And the only regret I had about weaning the first one was that I stressed about it so much. It was much easier with the next too just because I was relaxed. If you care about doing it right, you will be doing a great job

You can give water in a sippy cup. You could offer it between feeds perhaps, but don’t worry if he only as a few sips. Keep an eye on frequency ic when nappies aa a sign of dehydration, he certainly won’t need 1oz with every single feed.

Please don’t ever alter the water:powder part of the feed to make it more diluted or more concentrated. It’s dangerous, it can cause an electrolyte imbalance. It’s terribly old fashioned advice.

Oh my, sorry it should say... keep an eye on frequency of wet nappies as a sigh on dehydration.

@embolass
I’m afraid it is dangerous advice, you may not have caused harm to your child, but it is possible to cause an electrolyte imbalance, as an ICU nurse, I’m sure you know what that means.

Is your baby on solids yet?

@picklemewalnuts

Don't worry! I'd stick to his usual feeds and offer a cup or egg cup of water to sip from. If he needs it, he'll manage.

My EBF baby refused bottles under any circumstance, so I never thought to offer. When he was really poorly white a hot temp DM suggested it, I said he won't take it, and the little soandso emptied it in one go.

When they need it, they'll take it.

I know this thread is about bottle feeding but please don’t give breastfed babies water, just offer more regular feedings. Your breast milk will adjust to their needs.

Giving babies water is very old fashioned advice

Thanks for advice he's not on solids yet just started with purees
I gave him a bigger bottle at bedtime and he took only a couple of sips of water in the day - didn't seem to be very impressed! - so I left him to it and just kept an eye on nappies which all seemed fine

Purées are classed as solids. You can offer a sippy cup of water with all meals from now.
Please do not add extra water to formula, stick to the recommended way of doing it.

Don't worry I wouldn't :) thanks for the advice