Is there really no need to give DS water in this weather?

[angel1976]

Hi,

Just a little concerned as I took DS to the cranial osteopath today and the room was really hot (ended up doing the treatment in just his nappy!) and he was looking rather pink-cheeked. Came home and cried blue murder. Was thinking of giving him cooled boiled water but I know they said NOT to give water to babies. Anyway, I made him a bottle of milk and made it really lukewarm and he drank it though he wasn't 'due' his bottle yet! An hour later, he was screaming again but I managed to calm him down without a bottle this time.

Is he too hot? Can I not or should I not give him any water at all? I know the guidelines say they don't need water while they are just drinking milk but surely in this weather...

Any advice? Thanks!

Ax

I gave ds water when it was really hot, and when his fontanelle looked slightly sunken. He wasn't very interested in it, but I thought I would at least give him the option.

I didn't know you weren't supposed to, tbh.

They don't need water if they are breastfed, but may need extra water if formula fed.

Really? He is FF so I should give him water if he looks like he's getting too hot? Will giving water affect his appetite? Poor little mite!

I'd not give a young babyb water at all - just milk. I think after a few months old it's okay to give water to FF babies.

Absolutely no need to give water to b/fed babies at all.

The no water thing only applies to breastfed babies I believe, I gave DD 2oz of cooled boiled water today as she was very hot and fontanelle looked a bit sunken, she didn't drink it all but it calmed and cooled her down.

You have two options, one is to give him more milk, as milk is both food and a drink for babies.

If he is very pink and feels warm and sweaty you could offer a few ounces of cooled boiled water between feeds, if he is thirsty it will be used to replace lost fluids so shouldn't affect his appetite.

How old is he?

If he's formula fed he probably will need extra water in hot weather. BF babies don't need any extra.

He's just gone 10 weeks...

Thanks for the advice. I will definitely be offering some cooled boiled water tomorrow if he is starting to look hot and bothered again!

If you are hot you drink more water and it doesn't affect your appetite, it's the same for babies. Breastfed babies will take a shorter feed so that they only get the watery foremilk which is why they don't need water. With a FF baby you need to compensate for that.

Keep an eye on his soft spot as it's one of the most obvious indicaters of being dehydrated.