Should you give cooled boiled water to newborns?

[AC786]

Is it necessary or can you give cooled boiled water to newborns? Mine is now 16 days old.

Yes you can, often helpful if its hot or they are constipated

Just 1oz of water offered daily can help.

Lots of people say its not necessary if breastfeeding, you can increase your own water intake

It's only really advised if it's particularly hot and baby is formula fed.

Dunno if necessary unless constipated. Why are u thinking u need to? As a drink? (Think milk!) mil suggestion? DM suggestion?

At this time of year I wouldn't thin it necessary. Breastfed babies don't need water. Bottle fed babies would only need it in hot weather or if constipated.

no, not necessary unless the baby is constipated or it is really hot. My 2 didnt have extra water until they started on solids.

not necessary unless ff and hot weather as mentioned above.

also if bfing increasing your own water intake will not affect the milk composition. :) it adjusts automatically in hotter weather etc.

No not ever necessary unless advised by a paediatrician.

Oh celine dont be so dramatic, its water not heroin

But why would a newborn need just water? DD hadn't regained her birthweight by 16 days so giving her just water was out of the question. I would have thought that giving a 16 day old baby water would be entirely unnecessary unless it was for a dramatic reason.

Not 'just water'
i presume OP was asking if she can give CBW to a 16 day old baby.
Which you can if they are formula fed or constipated

Thank you all. I am breastfeeding and giving one formula feed and did not think that giving water is necessary but a couple of people have asked if I am which has made me question myself. Little seems to be hungry all the time especially in the evenings...

That sounds pretty normal AC786. DD would cluster feed all evening. If your baby is hungry then please don't give water, but continue with milk.

Thanks Bunbaker! I just cannot believe how hungry she is but reassuring to hear that it's normal. I am not sure that my own supply is enough- I would not give water at this time as I realise she needs the goods in milk.

Wanting to feed all the time doesn't mean hungry as in "not getting enough".

It just means they need to feed a lot of the time when they are so little.

They have teeny tiny stomachs so they need to feed frequently. And they are building up your supply by feeding so often. More you feed, more milk you make. Cluster feeding in the evening is very, very normally and eventually it can lead to the holy grail of More Sleep For Mummy.

I wish I had known about cluster feeding at the time. Unfortunately mumsnet wasn't around and I spent several weeks thinking I wasn't providing enough milk.

There's no need for a breastfed baby to be having water. Its actually great if she is feeding a lot in the evenings right now, as she is building up your supply for the rest of the time you breastfeed :) Keep feeding her, it will settle down soon.

A 16 day old baby should be hungry all the time. That's what they do! It's no reflection on your supply. And if you skip a BF and give formula as you're worried about your supply, your breasts will adjust their supply downwards, thus "providing" that you don't have enough milk. So just keep feeding, feeding, feeding.

Has someone mentioned www.kellymom.com yet? Full of loads of evidence-based information, and answers to practically any question you can think of.

This section is particularly helpful I think on what is normal - see "what to expect in the early weeks" and "cluster feeding".

And no need for boiled water for a BF baby.

Thank you so much!!!