When can I give my baby water?

[Proudmamax]

My daughter is just over 6 months & is eating solids quite regularly now. She's Breastfed, but every time I have a drink she really interested & try's to put it in her mouth. Am I able to give her small amounts of water yet? I'm just concerned it'll make her tummy full & she won't eat/drink milk.

Gosh yes give the poor girl some water! She must be so thirsty! Do you have a drink with your meal? Or just to wet your mouth? I can’t actually believe you need to ask. It’s such a basic thing, water.

She won't be that thirsty if she is breast feeding regularly. But, yes, op, water is fine.

Um, she’s having solids so yes. What harm will water do?

You can give her water. I usually only offered water with food at this age.

I always gave mine a drink with food when we started weaning, so from six months.

Thank you to everyone else... I've boiled some water & I'm gonna add some fruit to it for a bit of flavour & see how she likes it when she wakes up from her nap! 🍎🍒🍓

I gave my dc a mini cup of water with each meal once I started weaning, purely becuase I hate to not have a drink with a meal.

Yes it’s fine to offer water

frosty just shut up good for you op, totally unnecessary, there's nothing quite like one mum guilt tripping another 🙄

Thanks pinkheart. I just remember health visitors saying no water no water just milk but before you know it they're 6 months & eating, everything changes so quickly! I've been offering her the breast after a meal to wash it down but she hasn't been to interested probably because she's full! So she can't be that thirsty... I think she'll just like a taste of something new!

I know hippy... had it so much on here & honestly I'm sick of it. Some one less confident might really take these comments to heart & doubt themselves as a mother. Women are meant to be here to support each other not make them feel inadequate! Luckily her comment went right over my head.. because she clearly doesn't know what she's taking about.

I think the recommendation is to offer water as soon as you start offering food. Breast milk alone is balanced and doesn't require additional water, but as soon as you start adding food into the diet then your baby is no longer getting a balance.

I think telling another poster to "shut up" is pretty rude OP.

No need to boil the water. Straight from the tap is fine after 6 months. My bf baby (now 8 months) LOVES just plain water. He doesn't drink much but just the experience of it seems to thrill him! You can get tiny shot glass-like beakers that they can practice holding from very early on. I offer it at every meal.

Personally I'd give plain water too. No need to give it flavour or you could end up with a baby who'll only drink squash or pop.

Agree with other posters - tap water is fine, no need to boil. And I wouldn't add fruit either - stick with plain.

No need to boil the water and better if she takes it plain x

You can offer a little water with food, and in between meals too. Doesn't need to be cooled boiled, although I did anyway as it doesn't do any harm.

You may find she takes very little if she's still breastfeeding on demand too, but her water intake may ramp up when the summer approaches.

Does anyone give water if baby wakes at night? I've been thinking of trying it when he wakes and I know he's not hungry. He's 5 months x

Tinkly ordinarily I wouldn't bite but I have seen so much of it on these sites recently I've just had enough. I think potentially making someone feel like a bad mum or stupid is worse than telling someone to shut up. & I hope it was rude! It was meant to be! It just has a strawberry chopped in it I'm quite happy to chuck something in there when ever she has water, we have lots of fruit so it's fine...

I would not put in fruit as it will be sugary and we will get used to drinking sweet drinks. If you are going to use childcare in the future they will only give plain water or milk so you will have to transition her off it.

Just tap water. And I'd be careful about adding fruit etc. She needs to get used to water as her main drink for the future, not fruit juice.

Oops just saw your last post. Go for it then. It's your choice.

I will be giving plain water to, just mixing it up to make it more interesting for her. If she's thirsty she'll drink what's given

I wouldve told them to shut up too. She asked for advice! I doubt shes dying of thirst if shes having breast milk!
I would just give tap water 😊 my first wouldnt drink water unless it was sweet so i had to give him weak squash, but luckily my second loves it 😊

Plain tap water, no need to boil, don't put fruit in it, give fruit separately.