ds 14 wks is b'fed, he has a cough and cold, doctor said to make sure he drinks plenty of fruit juices and squash?? Surely not?!?

[papaya]

after a manky eye (since mon) breastmilk has been clearing it up loverly but this morning he has also developed a cough, sneezing and a slightly drier nappy this morning than usual, etc so though I would just get him checked out at the doctors. The advice was to fill him up on lots of fluid like fruit juices and squash for babies...

how can doctors give such advice? Surely this isnt right for a 14wk old who is exclusively breastfed?! Kellymom says breastmilk is all they should need? He is feeding every hour and half since yest, so surely he is making up the fluid by wanting to be fed more often?? Fair enough if he wasnt getting enough then I wouldn't hesitate to top him up with formula, but why squash??

Why squash? Cos the GP is a complete eijit.

Kellymom is correct, carry on with what you are doing.

I would complain re duff advice given by GP.

Of course that isnt right, just keep breastfeeding.

What an idiot! 14 week old baby does not need squash! Breastmilk is all he needs!

The brest milk includes everything they need, if bf, they don't need any other fluids. I know a few people who give water if it's hot but I think that's more to do with the bottle and knowing they're not hungry IYSWIM.
My dr's a div too, don't worry about it.

Agree that you should complain to the GP practise. Not all guns blazing, obviously, but in order to ensure the same advice is not doled out to anyone else.

The staff clearly need educating / re-educating on the best advice to give in this situation.

Baby squash?

Hope your little DS is feeling better soon.

omg, here we go again. bloody useless docs.

Complain about the potentially dangerous duff advice you were given. Just offer baby the breast frequently

Is this your GP?

i think because he is from the older generation of doctors maybe he's not as upto date as he should be well my instinct was to just let ds have my boob when he wants it. Deep down I think I knew what he was saying was wrong when he was saying it, still nice to get some reassurance though!! Bloody doctors, it amazes me how they can STILL give such 'advice', if thats what you can call it.

I think I will write them a letter

This is so dangerous as it undermines advice given by GP's.

I think you need to make a written complaint because this just gives your GP's practice such a bad name.

OMG. Cannot believe he said that.

Breastmilk on demand is all that your baby needs.

It doesn't matter whether the baby is BF or FF actually - squash/fruit juice is not appropriate for any 14 week old baby. Dangerous advice, particularly damamging to exclusive BF. Definitely complain.

Definately complain. Your baby no doubt needs extra fluids or lots of little feeds etc. but breastmilk is all he needs

what a knob! Dd is 13mo and still doesn't have squash or fruit juice!

That doctor should be reported. Staggering ignorance. Utterly unacceptable.

P'Lady I just meant if he wasn't getting enough liquids from me then I wouldn't hesitate to use formula....squash would never have entered my head!

Oh I know, I meant that the GP was a gibbon for suggesting it and that it would have been dangerous advice even if the baby was FF

Your doctor is talking bollocks - your breastmilk changes in composition to more watery fluid when you baby needs it, i.e. when it is hot weather etc. In addition, when your baby nurses, the virus causing the cold/cough is transmitted into your body and then the breastmilk changes to include antibodies to fight the virus. Breastmilk is A-MAZ-ING!