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?

Just do what you think, if your baby is crying because they want more just give more. Why have an unsettled baby to keep some random who has read a few books happy. Honestly if more milk = a content baby, offer more.

I breastfed mine but my 2nd baby the first thing I did when the hv contacted me was say, no thank you, bye. You don't have to have them come round, it's optional. Just opt out, it's just creating stress/worry and clearly not helping/supporting you. As for water I didn't offer it as I bf, but back in the day when I was a baby cooled boiling water was offered even to bf babies (my mum bf). I'd try it, cooled boiled water is not going to harm your baby. Trial and error, just see what works for you.

Same. What possible harm could a little boiled water do?

This is yet another one of those absolutely ridiculous new guidelines which people have become completely over the top about. I wish people would use some common sense (not having a dig at you OP)

I have never known a bottle fed baby NOT be offered tiny amounts of cooled boiled water in extremely hot weather. Those brought up this way have all thrived.

Alternatively just make ONE of the bottles with slightly less formula powder.

Breastfeeding is different as the consistency etc. changes.

Also, in cases of extreme constipation a very small amount of watered down fresh orange juice usually does the trick along with tummy massage.

If the vast majority of feeds are made up correctly logic would tell you their shouldn't be any issue in a healthy baby.

Remember that when organisations like the NHS make guidelines they have to be clear, simple and repetitive as they need to be understood by chaotic families, those with learning difficulties/low IQ and those whose first language isn't English so of course they very much err on the side of caution.

I wouldn't let the health visitor over the threshold with my third baby. She was utterly useless with the second one.

They're optional!

Boil some water then cook it. Then you can give her little drinks of that. I did it all the time

I gave mine (all bottle fed) cool boiled water in very hot weather. They have all made it to adulthood unscathed.

And don't feel bad about not being able to breastfeed. Your baby is thriving, and that's all that matters.

Cool*

Please give/offer your baby a teaspoonful of cooled boiled water between feeds.

Try it! Water is absolutely not going to hurt her but may help her. They just don’t want their small tummies to get full of water so they refuse milk then become malnourished. But a small amount really won’t hurt.

On another unrelated note, I remember my first ever post on mumsnet as a first time mum, some 6 years ago now asking this very question… I got tons of really horrible replies basically calling me an idiot for NOT giving her water and saying she was dehydrated (she was a breastfed newborn so that wasn’t true.) Nice to see you’ve got some positive responses here!

Mine was a little older, around the 6/7 weeks and he had constipation. I checked with the health visitor and I was able to give him 1 upto 2oz of water, at a time, but limited. So it must be safe. My son is 17 months.

My little girl was on similar amount of formula at that age and was hitting over a litre a day by 6 weeks - she then suddenly dropped to the “reccommended amount”. My health visitors never had concerns at how much formula she was having and she’s always tracked along 50th percentile whether she had lots or less.

With regards to the water, we were reccommended to give a little water by a health visitor (different one to previously mentioned one) to help with constipation. And it did help. But I personally would double check with either GP or HV as 4 weeks is still very little (dd was 3 months). They can fill up on water and take less formula which at that age they really need.

My MIL advised cooled boiled water with a bit of sugar in it when my baby son seemed hot and dehydrated in his first summer (2/3 mths old). I did give it to him and it seemingly did no harm. I was breast feeding. My other babies never wanted water when it was offered. My son was always a hot, sweaty baby though, the others were always much more heat tolerant.

To be quite frank I've met a lot of useless HVs.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with giving your baby cooled, boiled water in this heat. They likely won't take much anyway, and they'll only take any at all if they are thirsty.

Far better than overfeeding.

Also, don't beat yourself up about the breastfeeding. I didn't breastfeed mine, now my teenage son is over 6ft, fit and healthy.

It's scary as a new Mum but honestly, trust your instincts. You know your baby better than anyone. If they need water to hydrate them then give them it.

This, I also gave mine water 18 years ago (and sponged her down with a cool sponge before bed).

I agree breastfed babies don’t because mum’s milk changes depending on weather and goes like water for them. Can you contact HV?

Please do not feel bad. My son would not latch after being treated for tongue tie. I expressed and formula fed. He’s 6ft 3 at 14 years old. Don’t worry too much as long as those nappies are wet. Maybe put a fan in the room but not directed at the baby

"In trouble"? I highly doubt it.
There's nothing wrong with feeding her that much.
You just feed her as much as she likes as often as she likes, way before 4 hours if she needs.
It's responsive feeing (used to be called demand feeding).

At 4 weeks I'd not be worried about overfeeding OP. I also think a small amount of boiled, cooled water in hot weather will do no harm.

When it was hot I gave my summer baby a little bit. I don’t think milk hydrates you as much as water.

The NHS website says this:

“Formula fed babies under 6 months of age may need small sips of cooled boiled water during hot weather as well as their usual milk feeds.”

“If you're bottle feeding, as well as their usual milk feeds, you can give your baby a little cooled boiled water. If your baby wakes at night, they'll probably want milk. If they have had their usual milk feeds, try cooled boiled water as well.”

@elm26 you are not useless. You are simply a new mum adapting to life with a small baby. Some can breastfeed, some can’t, in no way does this make you a lesser person or a bad parent.

You can do this. Trust your instincts.

And try a little cooled boiled water.

I always thought it was the other way round. Breast milk is more condensed and rich then formula.

Get rid of the health visitor OP, she sounds bloody awful.

Tap water boiled and cooled is absolutely fine. Feed you baby as much as she wants.

My 2 were formula fed and always had a small amount of boiled water.
Both strapping adults now.

I don’t really understand how you can over feed with formula feeds. Both mine were breastfed and was told you can not over feed a breastfed baby , you just feed on demand and it can seem like like you are feeding constantly in the beginning. They just take what they need and also use the breast for comfort. With formula is it not the same once the baby is full up surely they reject the bottle? Why would a ff baby be glutinous and want to drink more than it needs? Excuse my ignorance. It just seems weird that a health visitor can say don’t feed it that much if the baby is drinking it all then doesn’t that mean it needs it?

No baby needs sugar water and a breastfed baby doesn't need any water. This isn't the best advice to pass on.