Do you give LO water? clicky poll

dizzzy_chik99 · January 2010

My pedi told us we could pretty much give DS anything we want, but he didn't mention anything about water. I've read some stuff online that says I should be giving him at least 4 oz of water everyday. I can't see how it would hurt him, but I don't really see that ne needs it either. Has anyone's pedi told you to give LO water? TIA[Poll]

dragonsmercy · January 2010

Too much water can give a baby water toxicity... actually, it can do that to adults, too, but it's more obvious in babies because their systems can't handle as much as an adult's can. I don't plan on giving DD water until she's fully on solids, and even then I prefer fruit juices over water.

meg1974 · January 2010

Giving them water at this age is very bad for them. It's hard on their kidneys and has even caused death in some infants.

ToledoDeux · January 2010

I can't understand why a baby would ever need water.

ZAngel · January 2010

I do... but not daily. I usually give it to her when she's had way too much to eat but still thinks she's hungry. I only give her an ounce though (which was ok'd by her pedi).

Jen&Joe06 · January 2010

I have never ever heard of giving a baby water at this age.

jenna0627 · January 2010

dizzy_chik99:
My pedi told us we could pretty much give DS anything we want, but he didn't mention anything about water. I've read some stuff online that says I should be giving him at least 4 oz of water everyday. I can't see how it would hurt him, but I don't really see that ne needs it either. Has anyone's pedi told you to give LO water? TIA

That statement confuses me. Our pedi suggested cereal and possibly a few solids due to the amount of formula he was consuming but never said give him pretty much whatever we want. Quick frankly I would have been taken back and not comfortable had he said that. I always thought water wasn't introduced until 6 months at the earliest unless otherwise advised.

jessicaclare · January 2010

Babies should not have any liquids other than BM or formula until 6 months of age, at the earliest. At that point, you can introduce an ounce or two of water in a sippy cup.

Usually, the only exception to this would be a bit of apple/pear/prune juice to relieve constipation. Water is definitely not recommended until 6 months. I can't see any reason why you'd introduce it earlier.

Dulaney · January 2010

THere are reasons for giving your LO water before 6 months. My LO has been getting between 2-4 oz a day since he was 2 months old. We have to keep his muscles hydrated after his physical therapy, otherwise his muscles would get sore.

MrsBee10 · January 2010

dragonsmercy:
and even then I prefer fruit juices over water.

Really???

When fully on solids, water or milk should a child's main drinks. Juice is not really good for children. My pedi HATES juice.

onyxmr · January 2010

MrsBee10:

dragonsmercy:
and even then I prefer fruit juices over water.

Really???

When fully on solids, water or milk should a child's main drinks. Juice is not really good for children. My pedi HATES juice.

I agree. Juice is just empty calories, no real nutritional value.

I give DS water whenever he has hiccups that sound painful, and he gets them quite often. An oz. usually does the trick and they're gone right away. I just don't understand how it can be so "harmful". It's just water...you mix formula with it???

jessicaclare · January 2010

Dulaney:
THere are reasons for giving your LO water before 6 months. My LO has been getting between 2-4 oz a day since he was 2 months old. We have to keep his muscles hydrated after his physical therapy, otherwise his muscles would get sore.

Well, I stand corrected :-) I suppose this is one of those reasons you wouldn't know about unless you are in this situation. I think for most babies, water still isn't recommended until 6 months.

ZAngel · January 2010

I was told that water is harmful when you try to replace regular meals with it. If you are giving water instead of formula/BM, then obviously that is bad. Although, anyone wanting to give their baby anything other than the recommended BM/Formula should probably check with their pedi first.

jessicaclare · January 2010

onyxmr:
MrsBee10:

dragonsmercy:
and even then I prefer fruit juices over water.

Really???

When fully on solids, water or milk should a child's main drinks. Juice is not really good for children. My pedi HATES juice.

I agree. Juice is just empty calories, no real nutritional value.

I give DS water whenever he has hiccups that sound painful, and he gets them quite often. An oz. usually does the trick and they're gone right away. I just don't understand how it can be so "harmful". It's just water...you mix formula with it???

Its not really the water itself that's harmful. It can fill your baby up so s/he won't eat BM or formula, which means they are missing out on nutrients. It can also prevent some nutrients in BM and formula from being absorbed, which can create an electrolyte imbalance.

heatherlane · January 2010

A lot of older pedi's, parents, and grandparents think you should give babies water anywhere from 2 months old and beyond b/c it will help them "get a taste" for it instead of sugary drinks.

I let mine have some from a straw very occasionally (just twice in the last month) for fun (when he's reaching for our cups) and b/c a sip is not going to give him water toxicity, but I don't plan on introducing a sippy cup until he is fully on solids. And then it will be a little water, only mixed with fruit juice if he is constipated.

Also,the recommendation on milk is generally no cow's milk until 1 year, although you can use it in cooking starting around 6-9 months.

iowagirl73 · January 2010

The only water DS2 gets is what is used to mix in with his formula bottles.

dragonsmercy · January 2010

onyxmr:
MrsBee10:

dragonsmercy:
and even then I prefer fruit juices over water.

Really???

When fully on solids, water or milk should a child's main drinks. Juice is not really good for children. My pedi HATES juice.

I agree. Juice is just empty calories, no real nutritional value.

I give DS water whenever he has hiccups that sound painful, and he gets them quite often. An oz. usually does the trick and they're gone right away. I just don't understand how it can be so "harmful". It's just water...you mix formula with it???

Too much water can kill you. It overloads your kidneys, and other organs, and leeches into your blood, and ultimately will kill you. One radio station did a contest a few years ago - a water drinking contest. Afterall, water is good for you, right? Well, guess what, the winner DIED from water toxicity. She drank TOO MUCH WATER. There was absolutely nothing else wrong with the woman, just drank too much water. There was also an article posted on here from last year about a woman who almost killed her baby because she had diluted her baby's formula too much to make it last longer. That's like giving your baby 4 oz of formula, and 4 oz of straight water, the way she diluted it. The baby almost had kidney failure because of it. And fruit juice isn't entirely empty calories. It's got fructose in it, which the body can use. I'm not saying give the kid a LOT of fruit juice, and I will be diluting it when I introduce it to her... but I won't even be introducing fruit juice until she's around 6 months (even though my mom has been telling me for the last 3 weeks to start giving it to her now.... grrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!)

danlexi04 · January 2010

Holy emotional water debate! We give the boys 2oz of water with a shot of apple juice after their breakfast and lunch (both meals are solids). We give it to them, not because they're thirsty but because it helps with constipation.

heidismith · January 2010

I will put a few ounces in a sippy cup for S. She is still learning how to use a sippy cup, so I would say she maybe drinks 1/2 an ounce and a lot ends up on her shirt.

yellowsnow · January 2010

My pedi told us to use Pedialyte before water. Babies don't know when they are full unless they have calories to fill them up. Since water doesn't have calories, they will never know when they are full. We were told to give LO Pedialyte when he was sick if he wouldn't take formula so he'd still get more fluids.

chiromommyMichelle · January 2010

yellowsnow:
My pedi told us to use Pedialyte before water. Babies don't know when they are full unless they have calories to fill them up. Since water doesn't have calories, they will never know when they are full. We were told to give LO Pedialyte when he was sick if he wouldn't take formula so he'd still get more fluids.

Think about that for just a second....you are full because your stomach is stretched filled up. It doesn't matter if you fill it on lettuce or chicken wings, you are full. Your STOMACH doesn't know how many calories are in the food. Baby stomachs are not omniscient eithyer.

ALittleBirdy · January 2010

I thought the reason for "no water for babies" was so they wouldn't fill up on water and miss their calories from other liquids (breast milk, formula). I just started letting DS try to drink out of a regular glass b/c he's been grabbing at my water all the time. I use a real glass and just put an ounce or two of water in it and let him play with it. I'd be shocked if he actually ingested more than a few drops from that.

janice74 · January 2010

wow, people are intense over water!

My pediatrician told me I could give DS up to 2oz a day starting at 2 months to help with constipation or hiccups. DS doesn't like it, so I never pushed it and I just breastfeed him if he is constipated or has hiccups.

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