Do I need to offer water to breastfed baby?

[bluebear]

Dd is 9 weeks, totally breastfed on demand and seems to be growing okay - she has a bad cold at the moment and has been sick, after feeding, a few times. Dh mentioned that he thought her fontanelle was a bit depressed. You can feel the edges of the fontenelle really easily; however, she is doing lots of wet nappies, blowing bubbles and eyes seem bright and shining. So, do I offer water, or keep offering boob for extra drinks?(have done this for last couple of days, no change in the fontanelle).

Offer boob, I've heard that b/f babies shouldn't have water, something to do with causing sodium imbalance. Also feel her fontenelle when she is lying down as it can dip anyway when sitting up. If she is having lots of wet nappies then I would think she is ok.

She'll get what she wants from you. My dd - 7 months - has a cold and when I expressed the other day I got 13oz of foremilk! So I gues your body makes what they need. Try the fontanelle when lying down as it always feels more depressed when upright

as Mincepie said!!

No reason why an otherwise healthy, thriving, alert bf baby should be dehydrated, even with vomiting, even with a cold. You'd be looking at a sunken fontanelle, a dry mouth, concentrated urine and lethargic, sleepy or whimpery baby if your dd was dehydrated.

Bf babies do not need and actually should not get water when ill (or at any other time). Your baby needs the calories and antibodies of breastmilk.

But if you are at all worried, then see your doctor or your health visitor.

She sounds just fine

thanks all; my gut instincts are to keep offering boob - now i can report to dh that mumsnet says same

Breastfed babies dont need additional drinks except in the summer you should offer water if its very hot or the docor may advise you to offer water if they have loose stools to avoid dehydration. When your baby begins their feed on your breastmilk, the first milk that comes out is watery anyway - to quench their thirst. Sure you know that anyway

MammyShirl, if the doctor advised giving water to a baby because of loose stools, I'd think the mother needed to change her doctor

Breastfed babies stools are loose anyway; if the baby is already ill with dehydration, then he needs medical treatment, not water.

There is never any need to give water to a healthy bf baby even in the hottest weather.