I'm being nosy here...

gnomemom · February 2013

So I know this is none of my business, but I'm a FTM and I'm curious about babies and water intake. My cousin just posted a picture on Facebook of her almost 7 month old drinking a bottle of water. It looks to be at least 6 oz. Is that a normal, safe amount of water for him to consume? Why would a baby that age need so much water?

EmmyPumpkin · February 2013

My doctor told me that after the age of 6 mos and if they're eating solids, a baby can have as much water as they like. My DD likes to play with a sippy cup of water; it holds about 6oz but she only drinks an ounce or two. It doesn't affect the amount she nurses, and it helps her poop.

However, too much water can be dangerous for a baby younger than 6 mos. But hopefully your cousin has discussed this with her doctor and that her baby is fine.

HTH

littleredfish · February 2013

I give DD water every time she eats solids which we started at 5 months. We introduced water because she got constipated without it. Sometimes she even drinks from my water bottle which holds about 300ml but it doesn't mean she drinks 300ml lol. Just because the container holds 6oz doesn't mean the baby necessarily drinks that much. I fill her sippy cup for meals because if it's not full she can't tip it back well enough yet to get any. She never drinks more than 1-2 ounces a sitting though.

TabClark · February 2013

Our doctor said to give DS water at night to break him from wanting a bottle in the middle of the night. He is eating enough during the day and gaining weight. We didn't start giving him water until he was 7ish months.

acbfreire · February 2013

We stay below 4 oz/ day.

allardr · February 2013

I just started giving my LO water in a sippy cup. But it's more for practice using the sippy cup, you know trying it out, getting used to seeing one, etc. She maybe drinks an ounce in a whole day. It might just be something like that.

gnomemom · February 2013

Hmm, seems like there are some pretty varied responses. Thanks, everyone!

lalafirefly27 · February 2013

At our 6 month checkup our ped told us still a big no on water or juice. No on water because she needs the liquid from her formula/ breast milk mix and no on juice because it gives babies diarrhea.