When do you start offering water?

[lowrib]

My DS is 6 months, we've just started BLW, and he is breast-fed.

When do I need to start offering water? Is there a recommended age?

TIA

[lilacpink]

I first let DD try a sip at around 5 mths as she was interested (I drink water through the day). Then at 6mths I kept a fresh beaker of water for her through the day to sip on. She's never been a big drinker, but has had a beaker of water at night since the age of 2 and sleeps v. well as can have a drink if she ges hot.

[terf]

Wow some of you are pretty hardcore on this forum - someone just seems to be asking whether their baby needs water - yet ppl seem to be getting so worked up about it. No wonder I'm (and quite a few people out there Im sure) seem too scared to put up any posts. I'd say offer it to your baby if he likes it he'll have some if not he won't. Personally I think (based on personal experience) my DD is 6 months and I've started offering her water with her meals - I think it helps her especially in not getting constipated. She doesn't have a lot and I only offer it to her in a cup - but she seems to enjoy it.

[MiniMarmite]

I started offering DS water once a day at 4 months, just to get him used to using a beaker. Did it in the afternoon about an hour before breastfeed due.

Later, when DS started having meals instead of breastmilk I would offer water with the meal where a feed had been dropped IYSWIM.

So, at almost 11 months he has water with lunch and dinner and mid morning and mid afternoon. He still has breastfeeds before breakfast, after his lunchtime sleep and before he goes to sleep at night.

If you decide not to completely replace breastfeeds at certain mealtimes then water is not needed of course - depends on what your plans are in terms of breastfeeding etc.