BLW & water - I just don't understand it

[Tinkjon]

Can anybody explain why FF babies need extra water with BLW? I don't understand the explanation in Gill Rapley's guidelines

Once babies start weaning formula milk is seen as a food not a drink so they need water. I think it applies to all weaning not just BLW.

i did not read the guidelines as i did BLW before i knew of MN and BLW as it were

DD was formula fed, offered milk, then food, and a beaker of water with meals. she did not drink anything out of it for months though

have you asked on aitch's BLW blog?

offer 'watery' food if you are worried about constipation...melon, cucumber, etc.. bananas can be constipating

because properly solid food is drier than mushy food, and so if you don't give water, their total diet is less liquid than milk alone, which may cause constipation. Breastmilk (IFAIU) gives more 'wetness'! lol

They will only drink what they want anyway!

Gosh, what quick answers - gotta love MNers

But if they're still drinking the same amount of formula then surely they're getting the same amount of liquid? Or is this for when weaning is far more established and they have cut out some milk feeds so need extra fluids then?

And why only for FF babies? Surely BF babies eventually want less milk too, just as FF babies do?

i thought it was just a general weaning thing, that formula is always the same whereas bm changes.

I think Aitch is right.
Breastmilk is changing whilst they drink it too, so the first bit will quench their thirst and as it thickens becomes more of a food, whereas formula is always the same iyswim.
Also changes with how often baby feeds, breastmilk is constantly changing to adapt.

I get that formula is always the same , unlike BM, but it still always has the same amount of liquid in, so how can it dehydrate them?

because you've added the powder, i suppose. if i give you a pint of water with salt in it and a pint of water, which one would dehydrate you? (not a scientist so hopefully that logic is true).

But they don't need extra water before they're on solids, formula doesn't dehydrate them then, so I don't understand why it changes when finger foods are introduced.

In hot weather they do, because it isn;t a drink, it's a meal, bit like a slimfast shake v's a bottle of water.

it's not a finger food thing, it's a food thing. just make it available, they won't drink until they need it.