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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

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Original poster

Giving water to drink

15 replies

CT123 · 07/02/2009 10:51

I want to start giving my 6 month old ds water with his meals when I wean him. I know that it's cool, boiled water, and that softened water is not OK to drink, but can the water be run through a Brita water filter first? (We only boil filtered water because it furs up the kettle.)

OP posts:

CharCharGabor · 07/02/2009 10:53

You can give a 6 month old tap water, it doesn't have to be cooled boiled water.

Seona1973 · 07/02/2009 13:44

just give tap water as the pp said

sparkle12mar08 · 08/02/2009 20:31

Filtered (as opposed to softened, as you point out) is fine

mookickkick · 09/02/2009 13:29

I also use a Brita filter -- totally hate what tap water does to the kettle. May I also suggest a doidy cup? DD loves hers and will drink just about anything just to use it.

poppy34 · 11/02/2009 20:46

any other tips on getting it down em - dd will drink from my cup/bottle and occasionaly from doidy cup /plastic beakers but HATES any trainer bottle thing. is it worth just carrhing on with ordinary cups etc (she is 7.5 months)...sorry for hijack (but useful to have confirmed what i thought - that brita ok).

Leesa36 · 12/02/2009 10:35

The brita website actually says its fine for babies to have filtered water.

Sachertorte · 12/02/2009 10:39

Poppy, ime young babies barely drink anything at all, they simply don´t need it. Poppy, if your baby is happy drinking from a normal cup that´s great. As soon as she wants to control her own she will just accept the covered beaker.

cityangel · 12/02/2009 13:03

does anyone know if Evian/ mineral water is ok?

Sachertorte · 13/02/2009 19:03

Evian is fine. It´s even marked on the bottle that it´s good for little ones..

fadingfast · 13/02/2009 19:59

Do you really not have to boil the water?? I thought you did until a year. DD is 10 months and I would be delighted not to have to bother...

Tryharder · 13/02/2009 20:45

I give DS2 tap water and have been doing since he was weaned at 6 months. I think it's only young babies who are ff who should be offered cooled boiled water.

cityangel · 14/02/2009 21:04

thanks for the advice on mineral water

it is hard for me work out through the expected usual differences in approach, big no nos and what's best...

need to know what we really shouldn't offer a 6 month old to drink (eg. pure juice)

how crucial is it to introduce the sippy cup early so they use it happily later. Really want to introduce it at 6.5 months as I've always wanted a child that's well hydrated rather than loaded on concentrated soft drinks.....

but then need to know how much is too much if he does take to it?

tap water/ mineral water/ boiled water?

I am one of those people that has to do it the 'most safe way' until I really know other options are ok...and being a first time mum has compounded this

history ds was hospitalised with dehydration at 5 days because my breastmilk came in late. The A&E doctors said that had we offered water then it would have been bad because it is too filling without the nutrients. Then breast milk or formula met hydration needs without messing up the ph by introducing water.

Now obviously ds is 6 months so this doesn't apply but then what does?
thanks again MN

HeadFairy · 14/02/2009 21:08

I was told to avoid certain mineral waters as they are too high in sodium. IIRC Evian is fine as it's very low sodium. Some bottled waters do say on the label not suitable for under 36 months, check first.

I think the problem with boiled water is if it's repeatedly boiled it can change the mineral content, esp if you live in a hard water area, which if you're getting furring in your kettle it sounds like you are. I gave ds tap water from 6 months, I'm sure that's fine. I only gave bottled water on holiday if we were out of the EU.

babyOcho · 14/02/2009 21:25

They only need milk and water with meals. Don't bother with juice. TBH I have only every given DD prune juice (a bit in water) when she hasn't gone for a while, otherwise they dont really need it and I think if they get used to it then want it. Just stick to water (with meals for now) and milk.
When you DS gets more in the swing of it and eats more and has snacks (and less milk), offer more water.

I would to begin with use a doidy cup or a small beaker or cup for water if you dont have or want to buy a doidy. From the Rl mums I've spoken to it's more that it's an issue with water and not the sippy cup itself, but personally we've not had a sippy cup problem so cannot really comment.

Tap water is fine. Personally we use brita water at meal times as we have one anyway. For the out and about sippy cup we use boiled britta water - because we only ever use filtered water in the kettle (really hard water) and because I fill the sippy cup in the morning when I have my first cup of tea, and because I personally prefer cool boiled water rather than cold water.
With bottled water, look at the ingredients - some are high(er/ish) sodium.

I am also a first time mum...HTH

cityangel · 14/02/2009 21:45

thank you ocho and fairy really does help

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