Water for breastfed babies

[Hoping87]

My little girl is 4 months old today and is ebf, she normally wants feeding about every 2 hours in the day..sometimes she can go 3/4 hours. I think as we’ve been in lockdown I’ve been feeding her more often than she actually needs as when she’s crying or whinging because she’s tired I’ve just given in and fed her. My mum (who breastfed me and my 2 sisters) keeps suggesting I should give her some cooled boiled water in between feeds especially in this hot weather as she thinks at 4 months old she should be going longer than a couple of hours between feeds! I told her that everything I’ve seen online says not to give water until 6 months but she says she doesn’t know why, there’s nothing in water that will harm her....Sorry for the long post...opinions please!

Baby is getting everything they need from you, but if they're filling up on water they might not get everything they need so whilst the actual water isn't harmful it could mean she doesn't get enough milk

You CAN give cooled boiled water to babies. NHS recommends it for dehydrated bottle fed babies. For EBF babies you shouldnt have to.

Water isn't necessary. Breastmilk actually becomes more watery when it's warm. So I wouldn't bother.

Your daughter is likely to have been feeding more frequently for hydration because of the hot weather. Your breast milk changes so she will be getting a lot more of the fore milk which is much more watery than the fatty hind milk. Carry on doing what you're doing, your dd will be getting everything she needs from you. You're doing a great job!

Baby doesn’t need water...breast milk is enough. It’s all I have my baby last year when very hot xx

If baby has a tummy full Of water she may not have room for milk which holds all the nutrients and fats (and water!) she needs.
If baby wants to feed more regularly then let her, it can be a drag and you'll feel like it's 24/7 but it's the best thing for her and won't be for ever!

Just make sure you are hydrated and your body will do the rest.

As PPs have said, milk changes to meet needs and she's probably nursing more to stay hydrated. If you give water you risk her taking less, thinner, milk and not getting the nutrients she needs.

I know it feels endless and constant but you're doing the best thing just feeding her when she wants

Breastfed babies don't need water until they're 6 months alongside food. As pp said if you keep hydrated your body will do the rest. DD3 is 7 months and still bf every 3-4 hours, but yes like your DD sometimes looking for a feed after 2.5 hours in this weather (on top of eating food with high water content). Lots of grandparents suggest water, rusk in a bottle etc but a lot of it is outdated. You sound like you're doing great.
Not sure if you have a pump but lots of mums freeze their breast milk into a 'lollipop' for baby to suck on.

My LO loves breastmilk lollies!

4 months is prime time for growth spurt, development leap plus sleep regression and teething. So it's probably more hunger, more tiredness and more food. Your mum is wrong, breastmilk is what she needs right now.

Thirding breastmilk lollies especially good when teething.