Water

ceberhardt89

Has anyone else started to give their baby water yet? My daughter just turned 12 weeks on Monday and my mom suggested giving her some sterilized water to help with the heat. Opinions?

gtellier

From everything I've read, babies should be fed breast milk/formula only for the first 6 months. Their stomachs are so small, you don't want them to fill up with water, instead of the milk that feeds them. If the baby is feeding normally, all the hydration will come from the milk. I know what you mean about the heat though. I just keep my baby dressed appropriately, feed her more often if it's hot, and if we're outside, I take a spray bottle with me and just mist her every now and then. Always in the shade too.

odawg

I have heard/read that it used to be something that was done but it has been since discovered/understood that a mothers breastmilk or formula contains enough water and they do not need any extra. As long as you are feeding the baby when they seem to want to eat/drink when you are in heat then the baby is completely fine. So, if you are breastfeeding just make sure to watch the cues. Babies do not only want milk when hungry but when they are thirsty. It actually can be harmful to give a baby water (however we all made it and I am sure we were given water). It not only fills their tummies so then they don't get the nutrients they need because they think they are full but if you give a baby to much water their bodies can have issues and I believe their have been children who have passed away. I assume it was from like an adult size glass of water that no one should think is it a good idea- none the less I figured I would put that in here!

Also, just dont keep your baby out in the heat for to long. It is very easy for an infant to get dehydrated so you must be very cautious of the situations you put them in. If you choose to not use air conditioning (as many people do!) make sure to get the house as cool as you can. you can let LO play in the bathtub in the middle of the day with no soap to cool off, or go out and go shopping or venture places where there is air condition. 

alliebsmith

I've heard only formula or breast milk as well! Babies R Us sells stroller fans that I got and my baby LOVES! The blades are made of foam so if she kicks her foot into it they stop and don't hurt her (she has kicked it many times and keeps on smiling). I attach it to the handlebar on the car seat and point it towards her body, the air comes out but not in such a force where it's really blowing hard on their faces. It's been a lifesaver in this heat!

borntorun17

We just haven't been hanging out outside in this heat. Today we walked at the mall where there's AC when we needed to get out of the house. My pedi also says no to water.

cassietegtmeier

I've read to nurse more when out in the heat and that's what I've been doing. LO eats every 3hrs so if we are having a pool day at the in laws I offer him boob every 2hrs.

chaglund

We do a lot of traveling and walking, so we either bring along a frozen nalgene water bottle or we have an ice pack that stays cold for 8 hours that well bring. We put a burp cloth on it and just move it around the stroller, at her feet, by her sides, next to her legs, she loves it and it keeps her cool in our 90°+ weather without making her too cold! And we've also been told only breast milk or formula, but we end up feeding more during the heat because she is thirsty and we don't want her to get dehydrated!

mars8k

I only give her water when she had just fed and gets hiccups that bother her enough to make her cry, i give just enough to make the hiccups go away. as for the heat i just keep nursing her, fore milk is almost all water anyway