Introducing water.

[Claire5517]

My DD is 18wks old and last week we introduced baby rice once a day into her diet. She has this in the morning after her 1st bottle.

I have read that it is good to introduce water around this stage as well. How do I go about this? How often do your DC have it? At what time in the day - after bottle or before nap etc? Do you give it warm or room temp?

TIA x

I just offered water with solids in a sippy cup straight from the tap. Firstly it was to get her used to the sippy cup and most was dribbled back out again, then once they start to drop feeds they take more significant amounts. HTH

I wouldn't introduce water at this stage to be honest - you don't want the rice or water to impact on the amount of milk she is getting as that still has to be her main source of nutrition.

I thought you weren't supposed to introduce water until 6 months? All their nutrition and thirst needs are met through breast milk/formula until then.

I wouldn't introduce water either at this age as it will take up tummy space needed for her milk.

Is there a reason you've started weaning so early Claire? Where did you read about the water? Was it in the NHS weaning pages?

Have you read the MN weaning info too Claire? Can really recommend it

No water. Baby needs all the calories and nutrition of milk at such a young age.

Dd is 6 months just began to wean her and she is offered formula milk from a sippy cup.

Ds was 20 weeks when I was advised to wean him by doctors and again he drank milk till he was around 7 months.

I tried the rice as sometimes she'll finish her bottle and cry, like it isn't enough. She loves it! She grabs the bowl and is so excited to see it. She has been having 7oz of hungry milk for the last 6 or 7 weeks.

Give her 8ozs!

Claire did you know that the hungry baby milk doesn't contain any more calories than regular formula?

Are you feeding to a schedule? If so you might want to offer the mikk more often. If you feed on cue, just try giving her the 8floz.

Unfortunately the baby rice doesn't contain the same amount of calories as the milk and has very little nutritional value.

According to the nhs all the baby needs for the first 6 months is milk and if they are hungry, more milk. Could you talk to your HV about weaning and ffing?

Jingle Well, she's been much more content since she's had hungry milk so as long as she's happy then that's all the matters... She has 7oz every 3 hours.

cupcake - If we're talking about guidelines, then if you read the instructions on the formula, the most ozs you can give is 7.

With all due respect, the question I asked was how to give water, not what all your opinions were about me giving my DD water. Yet again, with most threads I see, this will turn into a bashing at the OP!

I've never seen guidelines saying you can't give more than 7oz

Not bashing you OP, it's just that some people, including me with my pfb, simply aren't aware of current weaning guidelines or rely on the information from companies who are there to make some money out of you.

Lots of people don't realise that hungry baby milk contains the same calories and can end up making Lo feel more hungry, not less. My cousin started to give it to her Lo recently and was shocked when we were talking about it and she found this out. She was also surprised that the guidelines on the formula carton are just that, they are a guide. Some babies will take more, others will take a little less.

From what I've read, noone on here has criticized your choices OP they have just made a few suggestions and pointed you in the direction of some good weaning information based on research.

I'm not bashing you op. Ds was on hungry baby formula but was up to 9ozs every 2 hours before being advised to wean by doctors at 20 weeks.

Water is not going to help fill your baby!

Again, I shall repeat myself........I wasn't after your opinions on whether I should give water or not, I wanted to know how to do it.

OK - from 6 months ish, tap water in a sippy cup on the table with meals.

I am fully aware of the guidance. Not being sensitive, I am just repeating what my questions actually were.

Hi Claire, sorry you are feeling got at. I don't think people have intended to offend, simply that they are pointing out that most current advice (including the NHS) is not to introduce water before 6 months. It is potentially problematic, so people naturally want to make sure you are aware.

However, that said, if you want to introduce water, maybe check with your HV about the best way to do it under 26 weeks.

there is no maximum oz that you can give. At some points during a growth spurt dd would take up to 12oz in one sitting. Avent even make 10oz bottles.

They cant put all the oz combinations on the tin/tub but do specify 1oz (30mls) to each scoop of powder so you can make up whatever quantity of milk you require.

p.s. under 6 months you would give cool boiled water preferably in a lidded free flowing cup. From 6 months you can give tap water

The amounts on the side of the formula tin are simply to give an idea of how much a typical baby might drink. They are not maximum or minimum amounts. Personally, I wish the formula companies wouldn't show these average amounts as it confuses a lot of people.

As hoop says, use cooled boiled water till 6 months then tap water is fine. And offer it in a basic cup like a free flow one or a Doidy. You'll probably find very little is drunk for a while.