To give my nearly 4 week old baby some water?

[elm26]

Hello

I made a thread the other night as it's 26-28 degrees in my flat all night long, my usually content nearly 4 week old has been so unsettled last couple of nights.

I've tried sleeping her in a nappy, in a nappy with a muslin wrapped around her, in a nappy and a vest and she's not satisfied at all bless her. The back of her hair, neck and back are sweaty.

She's formula fed and plenty of wet nappies, however my Stepmum (long time Nanny of many children and babies as an occupation) suggested I give her half an oz to 1oz of cool boiled water (not to replace formula) just to see if she may be a little thirsty.

I thought guidelines have changed now and we're not meant to give babies water however I googled and NHS says that formula fed babies can have small amounts in hot weather but I'm still nervous as a first time mum that I'm going to hurt her somehow! She also hasn't done a poo for 2 days and I've heard water can help with constipation (I've tried bicycle legs, massaging tummy etc).

Did any of you give your newborns a tiny bit of water in hot weather or shall I leave it?

I would just increase bottle frequency. Offer her an extra 2-3oz of formula rather than water

I always thought at less than 6 months they get everything they need from formula or breastmilk.
But if its the NHS pages you've seen it on I guess you could try a tiny amount.

@Caspianberg I'm already in trouble with HV because she's taking 4-5oz every 4 hours 😰 feeling such a failure right now as don't know what to do to settle her and last night about 2am I gave her a feed and burped her and woke up at 4am with her still on my lap and I was sat bolt upright on sofa, scared me so much that I'm so tired that I put her in danger by falling asleep with her so unsafe.

The electrolytes can easily go off kilter.

Just give extra milk.

I tried it with my baby when she was 4 months old due to extremely hot weather and staying in an extremely
hot flat and she wouldn’t take much! I think if they’re formula fed the advice is it’s fine, so maybe give it a go, I’m sure a small bit won’t hurt and she probably won’t have much anyway.

@Cakeorchocolate I think that is the case for breastfed babies but formula fed don't get as much hydration in their feeds.

It was normal to give babies boiled water when mine were small. A long time ago but no harm done.

I'm going back a long time but yes I gave my newborns water .they're both strapping young men now .

I've just been advised to give my newborn some water in between feeds.
Very common apparently for formula fed babies to get a little dehydrated in this weather. I've been doing no more than 2oz a day.
Health visitor also recommended this for any constipation, dehydration and heat rash x

We gave our baby water but we were told to do so by a doctor and consultant, she has a cows milk allergy and the water helps her constipation.
She has been given water since about 4 weeks too, she doesn’t have it as much now we have an allergy friendly formula but it didn’t do her any harm 🙂

@ThatFraggle this is what I'm worried about 😔

If it's to cool her you could try a cool bath, and / or a cool flannel on the back of her neck at other times.
Cool on wrists is supposed to help and could cool her feet with cool water.

All just mostly untried ideas.

Cool foot bath has been helping me at 25 weeks pregnant though.

My daughter was a similar age during the heatwave last summer and that is exactly what we did on the advice of the HV. As the NHS website says, it is ok for formula fed babies to have a little bit in weather like this (from memory though breast fed babies don’t need it?) Easier said than done but please don’t feel like a failure - you’re doing your best!

Same. Water, boiled and cooled.

You do give ff babies water in really hot weather don’t you? I’m sure that was the guidance when I had my two.

Its just bf babies who never need anything else (as breast milk adapts)

You really don't need to give water to a newborn. I was even questioning giving water to my 5 month old this week! I did eventually try it (more just to shut up my MIL than anything else) but baby didn't really take to it. Just offer more milk. As long as there are still wet nappies and their fontanelle isn't depressed they aren't dehydrated.

Hi OP, do you have any support at home? I remember how horrendous it was to wake up after an exhausted accidental nap to feel like I hadn't been in control/practising safe co-sleeping 😱

Give her some water OP. A little bit isn’t going to do any harm. It’s hot, she’s unsettled, your instinct (correctly) is to keep her hydrated. If you feel an oz of water would help then go for it. Listen to your gut. I know you want reassurance from us and I hope we are giving you that, but follow your own lead as well. You are doing great x

Thanks everyone.

I've just turned 30 and I think my generation of mum's and grandparents did this as standard and like you all said, we all survived but obviously new research comes into play for a reason and I'd never want to harm her.

I might boil the kettle and offer half an oz once cooled.

I was advised by HV to give up to 2oz (60ml ish) water to DC1 when he was an unsettled baby in the record-breaking summer of 2020. He was formula fed and on the 98th percentile so we didn't want to overdo it with the milk. The water did settle him to be fair.

Not a mum and genuinely interested. Why is it OK to give a bottle fed baby small amounts of water but not breast fed? I assumed that water was fine to give to a baby if it appears the baby is thirsty and not hungry.

Please don't feel like a failure.

We've probably all been there, both nodding in less than ideal positions (I know I did!) And feeling like a failure.

You're not doing anything wrong. Newborn phase and sleep deprivation are tough! Even more so I'd guess with the heat.

From other replies it sounds like trying a little water would be fine.
Whatever you do, you're not a failure.

I had a similar aged baby during last year and gave a small amount of cooled boiler water. Formula fed babies do need it in hot weather as per the NHS pages. Breastfed babies don't need it in the same way because the breast milk changes consistency/water content depending on what baby needs. Its really interesting looking at how breast milk changes for different tempretures/times of day etc. Formula can't do that.

Hi @Belmondo

My DH is great and we do shifts but he had to be up at 5am to drive to London for a job so we decided it was best to leave him sleep in bed and I'd sleep on sofa with her in Moses last night however I obviously fell asleep with her and scared myself. I've never slept with her on me/in the bed etc as I'm petrified. I really scared myself.

Luckily DH is doing the 10-6 shift tonight as he doesn't have work tomorrow so I can get a good 7-8 hours.