Giving baby water.

[iamfizzy]

does anybody know what the current advice on giving babies water is? Our little one is six weeks old and my partner feels she should have a little water. I think she gets everything she needs from my milk (I am EBF). I don't want to dismiss his input on babies welfare, but really not sure on this one. And advice or experiences gladly welcomed. Thanks.

Breast milk is mainly water so baby doesn't need water.
My MIL said the same thing so I showed her some milk that I had expressed the day before. The cream settles on the top so it's easy to see how much water is in it.

Some HV say it can help colic to give cooled boiled water, just make sure the water has only been boiled once. Repeated boiling concentrates the minerals.

Congratulations on your LO and for EBF

I EBF DD and I did sometimes give her a little water around 6 wks, but we live in a hot country. I was finding that her hydration needs were greater than her feeding needs IYSWIM. Having small amounts of water (i.e. less than 100ml a day in total) seemed to ease sickiness/ windiness.

There's no need - even in hot weather.

Show him this: whattoexpect.co.uk/baby/health-safety/giving-water-to-a-baby/

There's no need to give a BF baby water.

Kelly Mom is a fab resource for information relating to breastfeeding.
Water is not required - but bare in mind if we get a summer, on a hot summers day baby may want to nurse more often to gain extra fluids.

Thanks everyone. Other half has only ever seen his sister with newborns and she gave water to hers, so I think he took this as the norm and that we should be doing it too. I've shown him this and the links you've given and it's helped loads. Thanks again!