12wk bf baby, giving water in bottles as on holiday in Spain, yes / no?

[theprecious]

ds is happily bf and we are off to Spain for two weeks (hurrah!) on Saturday.

Should I give ds boiled water bottles if he's thirsy? Or formula so I don't have to bf all the time and can leave ds with parents who are joining us for the second week. My mum is keen to give him water / formula but I am not really sure......

Are you able to express if you feel uncomfortable giving water or formula? I suppose that will mean taking extra bits and bobs though?

Apparently bf babies don't need water in hot weather - I took DD1 to Italy when she was 3 months old and she was v happy with bf alone. I'd second the idea of expressing - you could probably get away with a very basic sterilising kit (in the USA, bf women are sometimes told they don't need to sterilise bottles) and a hand pump.

I could express but it does seem to leave me feeling knackered....

Also last time ds refused two lots of ebm so it went down the sink.

Breastmilk is something like 90 per cent water. Mothers breastfeed all over the world, includibg the hottest places, and places where clean water and bottles are not available.

You won't harm a 12 week old baby with the odd drink of plain boiled water, but why on earth bother? He doesn't need it.

I took dd to mallorca and she bf. She was fine. In fact she was 9 months and should have been having solids but didn't like anything there (only had jars)so just had bm all week and the odd yog. It was her food and drink.

Have fun.

No need for bottles of water if you are bfing on demand. However, if you leave him for a few hours with your parents, it might be an idea as he will probably be thirstier than usual.

ok cool, well I have a week there before they arrives, so am going to express a bit and give him a bit to get ds in the habit.

I will hold off on the formula and water, it's just my mum is a bit obsessed (in a helpful way) about how much I feed him.

Do boys drink more than girls? She's always saying things like "hungry again"! She had three girls, you see.

Maybe this should be in the AIBU section.

plus thanks for the helpful repiles!