Giving 4 week old water between feeds

[Mumtobe888]

Hello,

i spoke to the doctor today and they have said to give my baby water between feeds as he’s very constipated (he’s formula fed)

Has anyone done this, is it safe? And if so, what do I do?

thank you

I'm surprised as that seems very young
Did they suggest anything else? Tummy massage or leg cycling? That's what we did with ours.

We did, and added a little orange juice to the water

Also I think added a little more water to the formula or less formula to the water

Terrible advice.

I would do massage three or four times a day for a couple of days even before even giving water.

I would not change the concentration of the formula. I'd also use cooled, boiled water. Just give a couple of sips, you don't want to fill their tummies with water over milk at that age.

Mine is 16 now, so I realise guidance has changed a lot since she was a baby, but she had water since day 1 between feeds. To be fair, we were living in a particularly hot country though.

With all of mine the trick for constipation was given them pre made formula, the bottles/cartons you can pick up from the supermarket, cycling legs and a warm bath. Please don't give your baby orange juice at that age. I wouldn't be comfortable given them water either so young.

What milk are you giving as some can cause constipation more than others?
Try some premade stuff from a carton/bottle.
How long have they gone without pooing?

Don't do this. The baby is only 4 weeks old, definitely no orange juice or making their formula incorrectly! I would also speak to a health visitor, they might show you how to bicycle leg baby or massage, or other things that could help

It might be worth trying a different formula.

If you do give water, sterilise the bottle as usual. Boil the water and then leave it to cool in the kettle.

And definitely no orange juice.

Ffs don’t take this ‘advice’. Scary.

It was not advice I stated what I did

Hello I've a 1 year old and was given the same advice by my HV.
It's cooled, boiled water so boiled fresh water. Pop in a sterilised bottle and pop into the fridge.
You only need to give an oz or 2 a day no more than that as more can cause more problems that it solves.
U can add a small splash of OJ if the water doesn't work but try the water first.

Do this in between normal feeds.

Also try the bicycle legs and gently massaging babys tummy. Also a warm bath can help as well get things moving.

Yeah a 1 year old can have orange juice but not a 4 week old!

Do not do this (orange juice), really bad advice! I would assume if the doctor has told you then it should be fine

What the hell is wrong with some people you absolutely DO NOT give a 4 week old orange juice ffs!!

Thank you everyone. I’ll try giving him the pre made stuff! We use Kendamil, he drinks a lot for a 4 week old, he always finishes 180ml (6 scoops) every feed.

12 years ago I was advised by my paediatrician to give a little orange juice in water to help my infant. I wouldn't give orange juice unless advised by a doctor. I would, however, follow your doctors advice re water.

I'm sure I've read that citrus juices can be linked to eczema so I wouldn't give it to a young baby

I would just put 1 or 2 ounces of cooled boiled water in a bottle for through out the day, you then know how much they have drank and don't want them filling up on water so start refusing their feed.