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Original poster

Boiled water for newborns?

27 replies

Babycakes1989 · 27/10/2019 19:34

Need some advice please! I have a 4 week old baby boy. He’s a very hungry boy and it’s already on 5/6 oz feeds every 3 hours sometimes we don’t make it that far! I have been recommended by friends/family that a bit of boiled water cooled here and there won’t hurt and will help flush him out and also maybe help to keep him feeling a little fuller.

My question is - has anyone done this and if so how often per day should I do it? And how many oz?

Thanks xx

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

SweepTheHalls · 27/10/2019 19:36

None at all unless it's a heat wave! If he's hungry let him have more milk!

Littlegoth · 27/10/2019 19:36

It’s dangerous. Google it.

Jenala · 27/10/2019 19:37

Don't do that

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MaraScottie · 27/10/2019 19:37

A newborn doesn't need anything other than milk.

OctoberLovers · 27/10/2019 19:37

Your baby does not need water.

Can you try a hungry baby milk?

OctoberLovers · 27/10/2019 19:38

Water for a 4 week old isnt good.

Is he crying between feeds? Is that why you think his hungry?

dementedpixie · 27/10/2019 19:39

No he doesnt need water and dont give hungry milk either. Feeding every 2-3 hours is normal at that age

user1480880826 · 27/10/2019 19:40

No, no, no.

Babies just need milk. Why is it a problem that he wants to eat more than every 3 hours? If he’s hungry just feed him. I wouldn’t expect a new born baby to go as long as 3 hours between feeds to be honest. Just give him what he’s asking for.

Teachermaths · 27/10/2019 19:42

Don't give him water. More milk is fine.

OctoberLovers · 27/10/2019 19:42

6 oz every 3 hours for a four week old is alot

How many feeds a day?

Does he bring any of the milk back up?

MyDcAreMarvel · 27/10/2019 19:42

No water can be fatal for a young baby.

Junobug · 27/10/2019 19:43

Really dangerous and outdated advice. It messes with electrolytes and can cause serious problems. Babies do not stick to routines, they are growing rapidly and need to eat when hungry.

Pippinsqueak · 27/10/2019 19:44

Definitely no water and my 9 month old only stopped feeding every three hours at 7 months (bf) but still I think your little one wants more milk so just give more milk

Northernsoullover · 27/10/2019 19:44

Just feed him if he needs it. As has been stated don't go near that hungry baby stuff. Its nasty.

Pippinsqueak · 27/10/2019 19:45

Also they go through growth spurts regularly at this age and feed more often

Original poster

Babycakes1989 · 27/10/2019 19:45

Okay thank you - I don’t mean to sound rude but it’s the older generation who are telling me I should try this.

He doesn’t bring any of it back up no. It’s mainly 5oz but can take 6oz before bed time. He is pooing fine. Think he’s a bit colicy too. Health visitor said you can’t over feed a baby they take what they need. According to my mother in law my husband was also a very hungry baby?

OP posts:

00100001 · 27/10/2019 19:48

Why would you listen to someone who raised a baby at a time when it was perfectly acceptable to let them cry it out, smoke around babies, dip dummies in whisky to make them sleep etc...

Why not follow the advice of medical professionals?

Just give him more milk.

Original poster

Babycakes1989 · 27/10/2019 19:52

Ok ok there’s no need to be rude. I’m a first time mum and I just wanted some advice. I haven’t put any of it into practice and was going to ring my health visitor tomorrow morning anyway.

Thanks everybody for the advice much appreciated. I won’t be going near the stuff xx

OP posts:

Junobug · 27/10/2019 20:02

I think you are going to need to learn to say something along the lines of 'thank you for your advice but I'm going to do it my way. ' Which I know is harder than it sounds. It genuinely makes me sad that people still spout rubbish about babies.
Just do what feels right. Babies need feeding, holding and loving. You can not over feed or spoil a baby. They will never manipulate you, you will never make a rod for your own back. Do what works now as next week, it won't. And try and enjoy it.

Littlegoth · 27/10/2019 20:06

I think you are doing great by asking x it’s hard when to know what is good and bad advice x

mealychump · 27/10/2019 20:10

Yeah it's hard to know what advice to follow. Especially as everyone puts their oar in and often people who 'should' be right, aren't.

Always take people's advice with a pinch of salt and do your own research, just like you are doing now

My boys were always hungry. I just fed them what they wanted, they always had more than the 'suggestions' on the side of the formula box. It evened out by about 4/5 months I think. In this instance though your HV is right, they won't over eat. If they have too much they bring it back up.

Feed him what he wants. Weigh him regularly for your peace of mind. Provided he's not being sick and his weight gain is steady then there won't be a problem.

carly2803 · 27/10/2019 20:12

as above - feed him formula/breastfeeding when hes hungry notwater

when hes older absolutely give him some HTH

Aquamarine1029 · 27/10/2019 20:14

If a 4 week old wants to feed, they need to feed.

modgepodge · 27/10/2019 20:20

Whilst I agree with everyone else that water is a bad idea, lots of people have said you can’t over feed a baby. My understanding was that it IS possible to over feed a bottle fed baby (with formula or expressed milk), but not a breastfed baby. Worth asking your HV for advice, though I’d try an extra ounce each feed first and see if that solves it,.

Personally I just smile and nod when people give me advice I don’t want/don’t agree with. Easier than arguing a lot of the time! Though sometimes I will correct people, eg when people said my baby had stopped moving as they’d run out of space, I corrected them - I knew this was bad advice and didn’t let it reassure me but I’d hate for that person to innocently repeat that to someone who didn’t know better with potentially horrible consequences. I suppose giving baby water may be in this camp too.

XXcstatic · 28/10/2019 18:42

GP here. NHS advice is that it is fine to give formula fed babies water that has been boiled then cooled - link. However, we usually advise doing this for constipation or dehydration, not to make a baby feel full.

In your case, OP, your DS is not necessarily more hungry than normal. Assuming he is now 8lb (3.6 kg), you'd expect him to be having around 25 fluid ounces (700ml) in total per day, so 5 x 5 ounce feeds is about right. If he seems to be wanting more, I'd wonder if he is actually wanting to suckle for comfort, not hunger. Have you tried a dummy?

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