Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Weaning

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

Original poster

6 month old won't drink water- does it matter?

22 replies

Suzanne219 · 28/04/2009 13:22

My 6 month old son won't drink water. He is breastfed and we are weaning him- he eats like a champ but won't drink water!

He just doesn't like it and doesn't like his cup (Tommee Tippee.) I don't want to give him water in a bottle- my partner sometimes gives him a breastmilk feed and so I don't want to confuse him.

He gets plenty of breastmilk so does it matter at this stage that he doesn't have water? He isn't constipated. Shall I just keep trying? (I don't want to give him juice btw.)

Thanks for any advice!

OP posts:
Overmydeadbody · 28/04/2009 13:23

it doesn't matter. If he's breastfed he gets all the water he needs form that.

HensMum · 28/04/2009 13:26

DS is 18 months and has only recently started drinking water in any quantity. He was ff and always liked his milk so he got a lot of fluids that way.
Keep on offering the cup with meals, and have it around at other times, and he'll use it when he needs it.
You can always give him fruit and veg with high water content if you are worried but it sounds fine

Original poster
Suzanne219 · 28/04/2009 13:33

Thanks so much overmydeadbody and hensmum! That's what I thought but I needed some reassurance. Thank you.

OP posts:
HensMum · 28/04/2009 15:15

Just thought, you could also try a Doidy cup. I tried DS with one at about 6 months and it was pretty much a failure but I know a couple of babies who used them from about that age...with a fair amount of help to stop water going everywhere!
DS is just getting the hang of his now, so it hasn't been a waste of money.

Original poster
Suzanne219 · 28/04/2009 21:13

Hi HensMum, I tried a Doidy...it went everywhere! I'll try again in a couple of weeks.

We had another failure tonight ut I'll keep at it.

Thanks.

OP posts:
SazzlesA · 28/04/2009 21:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

navyeyelasH · 28/04/2009 22:17

suzanne has your cup got a non leak feature on it??

Original poster
Suzanne219 · 29/04/2009 18:17

Thanks Sazzles- I might try that kind of cup. Having no joy again today.

Navyeyelash- the Tommee Tippee etc. have non-leak features but the Doidy is a completely open cup (sorry I'm sure you know this- I'd never heard of them!) so it just sloshes everywhere.

OP posts:
SazzlesA · 29/04/2009 18:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

scienceteacher · 29/04/2009 18:34

6mo babies don't need water - breastmilk is fine.

navyeyelasH · 29/04/2009 23:06

Hey suzanne, yup a doidy can be very messy! A 6 month old doesn't need water if breastfed but in my VHO practice with a cup doesn't hurt at this age even if it's just motions of lifting and tipping rather than getting i in right IYSWIM.

Most of the Tommy Tippee range have some sort of non spill thing going on which means it's very hard to suck for 6 month old - especially if you have a sold plastic spout.

But as sazzlesA says a nuby cup is great at this age for drinking and for gnawing on when teeth come through. It seems to require less sucking and more tongue nudging so lots easier as a starter cup.

But don't fret as it's not needed just yet anyway

Original poster
Suzanne219 · 30/04/2009 09:10

Thanks everyone! Yes, I'd like to practice with a cup just so he gets the hang of it but I won't stress about how much he drinks.

Thanks for the Nuby cup tip- I'd never heard of that!
I'll look into getting one.

Thanks!

OP posts:
SazzlesA · 30/04/2009 14:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Suzanne219 · 30/04/2009 15:39

Thanks SazzlesA! I'll definitely try one and report back.

OP posts:
Sheeta · 30/04/2009 15:43

Just to go off on a tangent - are you offering cooled boiled water, or tap water?

Tried loads of cups/bottles anything with DS, and after all that he would only drink tap water (same now, and it doesn't matter what it comes in)

Just a though...

Sheeta · 30/04/2009 15:44

thought

SoWhat · 30/04/2009 15:48

Another vote here for the Nuby cup. My DD is 11 months and has only recently started to drink water and still doesn't drink much. These cups are the only ones she will drink from!!

Original poster
Suzanne219 · 30/04/2009 19:45

Sheeta, it'a cooled boiled water. I wonder if he would like straight tap water? I am drawing the line at Evian!!

Thanks, SoWhat, got one on the way from E Bay!

OP posts:
Seona1973 · 30/04/2009 20:01

tap water is fine as a drink from 6 months so no need to boil and wait for it to cool any more

Sheeta · 05/05/2009 20:16

may be worth a try

fizzpops · 06/05/2009 14:02

My DD is 1yo and has only just started drinking what I would think of as adequate water, ie fairly frequently and of amounts of more than a sip. I offer it throughout her meals and leave it on the side during the day and this week she has actually been pointing to it when she wants a drink which is great!

I have been offering her water consistently since I started weaning her at 6months though so it has taken a while.

She will drink water from any receptacle - it is getting her to take milk from anything other than a bottle which is my current battle!

seeker · 06/05/2009 14:06

If he's breast fed he doesn't need water.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page