Should I be giving water to my 12 wk old DS?

[Holymoly321]

DS is 12 wks old and is bottle fed. Am I supposed to give him some water (boiled cooled) every day? and if so how much. When he was younger, I did give him the occasional couple of oz's of water as he was a bit constipated and it did help. However, when he went back to normal I stopped giving the water. Should I keep giving him a couple of oz's a day (always assuming he'd take it!) Would I do this before or after a feed or just inbetween feeds? Interestingly, I met a mother of another 12 week old at the clinic and she was giving her daughter tea in a bottle - said it was common in her country to give babies tea or peppermint tea!

Smiling, no it's not necessary at all at this stage - only in very hot weather, and that's not going to happen anytime soon!

Re the constipation: can't remember what's best tbh, hopefully a recent mum will be along soon (or one with a better memory than me!)

IMO I don't think it is appropriate to be giving water at this time of year. You wouldn't give supplementary water to a bf baby - as milk changes its composition - but may give water to ff babies.

In the summer, when it is hot you may give water to a ff baby - but it is hardly hot at the moment - unfortunately.

As long as you are making up the formula in the right proportions then you shouldn't need to supplement - could try other types of brands?

I used Aptimil which had probiotics (sp) which meant that pooh was more like bf pooh - softer and more runny IYKWIM.

Also, giving supplementary water may mean that your baby then doesn't want as much formula - needs the nutrition at such a young age. Ask your HV for advice if you're not sure - or keep bumping this evening as I am sure someone who is 'qualified' will give you advice - I'm just a mum!

Don't give tea or anything else - especially when so young. HTH

'a mum who has a baby more recently than me' is what I meant to say - sorry

No

I have to say that I disagree. I am sure I was told to give water when my DD was this age (as I bottle feed), and she was born in December so couldn't have been because of the weather.

I think it was one of the best things I did as DD took to water straight away and therefore never had a problem giving water to her when it was hot etc, while friends struggled to get theirs to water at all and had to go straight to squashes etc.

Tea - NEVER!

I can't think that it could do any harm. Formula isn't really thirst quenching, unlike bm, so a couple of ozs an hour or so after a bottle would seem sensible I'd have thought. It won;t fill him up and may make giving him water, as opposed to juice later easier.

i gave DD1 - formula fed - some at that age, as it really was the hottest summer on record in Britain (2003). Gave it to her in between feeds.

Yes, it is common in some places to give cooled, herbal teas.

Babies dont need water at all until they start being weened, unless they are FF and its a boling hot day.

When you start weaning you can start giving them a few sips of water after / when teyve eaten most of their 'food' (so it doesnt fill them up!)

I gave ds cooled camomile tea it was fine and good for sleep and colic

meant to add that although they dont need it it wont hurt them either!

Only gave ds water on very hot days when he was born this summer (this was, admittedly, nearly every day). Recently I've only given it when he's been constipated, with the merest drip of (organic) apple juice as well. Now he's on solids I'm making it a more regular feature, although so far solids (pears) have had the effect of softening up the old poop.

If you are going to do it, I would give it after a feed, so as not to cut his appetite.

I was told by my Midwife that water was ok at a younger age than 12 weeks.
I gave Ds a 3 oz bottle of water in the night instead of formula to try and cut out a feed, was also told by MW that if baby was constipated, like ds was, to put one oz more of water in his bottle if he wouldnt take water on its own.
I would try a little - IME sipping a little water will not do any harm.

I have given water to my baby charge from about 6 weeks old and she is bf. I had to do it initially to keep her going an extra 15 mins or so between feeds while waiting for mum to get home. It didn't do her any harm and didn't interfer with feeds. She is 4 months now and still has water every now and then as well as bf.