December 2015 Moms

Water at 4 Months

Pedi said to start my LO with oatmeal cereal as it will create softer stools. I don't have a problem giving it to him every day once a day or every other day. However she also said to give him 4 oz of nursery water daily or along with solids. That did surprise me, I don't know why.  My son is 18 weeks, 19 lbs & EBF. Our pedi says he's more than ready. Is anyone else giving their 4 month old water?

Re: Water at 4 Months

  • Why does your LO need softer stools? Breastfed babies don't poop as often as FF babies. 
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  • DS has a problem with constipation due to the medication because of his reflux- I give him an ounce of cooled down boiled water every day or second day to help and it does! I don't like doing it but I much prefer that to more medication.
    However, trust your instincts only do it if your LO is in pain because of not going! If you don't feel like it's right then don't do it
  • She meant in comparison to other solid foods even rice cereal for example. 

    I would not know as my LO poops 3 times a day like clock work, 7a, noon &5 pm lol!
  • She meant in comparison to other solid foods even rice cereal for example. 

    I would not know as my LO poops 3 times a day like clock work, 7a, noon &5 pm lol!
    Well, oatmeal shouldn't constipated but rice cereal probably will. If you feed him cereal make it with breastmilk. I wouldn't personally treat him as though he were constipated unless he actually was, such a young baby has no nutrional need for anything other than breastmilk.
  • She meant in comparison to other solid foods even rice cereal for example. 

    I would not know as my LO poops 3 times a day like clock work, 7a, noon &5 pm lol!
    Well, oatmeal shouldn't constipated but rice cereal probably will. If you feed him cereal make it with breastmilk. I wouldn't personally treat him as though he were constipated unless he actually was, such a young baby has no nutrional need for anything other than breastmilk.
    That's what I was thinking but she (the pedi) was so confident cereal and 4 oz of water should be incorporated into his daily intake (unrelated to his pooping by the way. I realize it came across that way.) Thats why im curious if anyone else gave their baby water this early. 
  • Mizuiro007Mizuiro007 member
    edited April 2016
    Sounds like you need to ask the pedi to explain better. Ask why she thinks he's ready. I don't really remember when water was brought up with DS. I think it was 6 months. In his case we were told not to because he needed calories. Then later we started giving him diluted juice once a day.

    ETA I was told even if they don't need the calories, before 6 months they need the nutrients. Even if they're heavy, a lot of that balances out as they start moving.
  • Yes, definitely ask her to explain better as to why she thinks his diet needs food and water introduced. Breastmilk and/or formula provides the necessary nutrients in the majority of cases with food before 1 being "for fun", as my ped says because they shouldn't rely on solids until after 1 for nutrition. If he is 19 lbs it sounds like he is thriving on breastmilk, if you are apprehensive about solids it won't hurt him to wait a little bit longer. He is getting everything he needs from you. 
  • Yes I would ask for a better explaination. I don't understand the peds rush to put your baby on solids and water for that matter, our babies are so young.
  • I would be hesitant about giving water at such a young age.  I've heard no or very little sips before age 1 since it can cause electrolyte imbalances and therefore seizures (probably extreme cases though).  
  • FWIW my pediatrician vehemently disagrees with the "food before 1 is just for fun" saying. It rhymes, but according to her is not true. She said it would be more accurate to say "food before 6 months is just for fun" but after that kiddos need to start exploring food, though milk/formula is the main source of food.
  • LaceyH13 said:
    FWIW my pediatrician vehemently disagrees with the "food before 1 is just for fun" saying. It rhymes, but according to her is not true. She said it would be more accurate to say "food before 6 months is just for fun" but after that kiddos need to start exploring food, though milk/formula is the main source of food.
    Well, that's what the saying means. "Food before 1 is just for fun" means that regular solids should not be the main source of nutrition. Yes, to introducing them to it, but formula or breastmilk is still the main source of nutrition. So, the saying is true. But it sounds like she doesn't understand that's what it means.

    It's like how everyone thinks that the saying about pregnant women eating for two is wrong. It's not wrong. It's that people interpret it incorrectly. It does not mean that you need to be eating as much as two grown people. It means that you need to be more careful about what you eat since there is another little person inside of you depending on you for nutrition. 

    Jamie


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  • We Give A Mix of Apple Juice & Water (About Half / Half). We Also Feed Unsweetened Apple Sauce, Sweet Potatoes, Egg Yolks, Mangos & Carrots. Everything Gets A Little Breastmilk Mixed in (minus the juice mix)
    Hes 4 Months On The 19th Of This Month (4 days away) & We've Been Letting Him Try New Things Every Few Days. 

    The Only Thing We Were Told To Avoid Were Dairy Products Until Hes Older & We're Ready To Stop Breastfeeding Completely. & To Keep The Juice Watered Down. The Dairy Aviodance Is To Keep Him From Deciding Not To Take The Breast Any Longer, & To Avoid Gaining An Allergy (I was told its rare but could happen) & Watering Down The Juice Is So He Doesnt Get An Exploding Butt From The Apple Juice. & We Only Give The Juice So Hell Accept A Bottle & Switch To A Sippy Cup Later On, But He Wont Drink Mommy's Milk From A Bottle, Hes Rotten Like That! 

    But I Also Didnt Wait For A Doctor To Say "Hey, You Can Feed Him This Now" I Decided To Just Start Letting Him Taste Things When He Showed Interest. If He Stared At Me Eating Something, Id Put A Little On My Finger And Let Him Taste. That Includes Meats, even though he gets mad since he can only lick at the meats and doesnt get to actually have it. lol. We Were told We Could Give Him A Very Large Peice Of Unseasoned meat if we wanted & let him hold and gum at it as long as hes not able to get it all the way in his mouth or break a peice off, but thats a waste of meat to me, so we're sticking to tasting solids & eating softs. 

    Remember That Your The Mommy, Go With Your Gut & Based On How Your Baby Reacts To Things. Ive Seen Babies Who Lack Interest In All Foods Until 6-8 Months. 
  • Lol ^ that cracked me up.
  • ammnam14 said:
    Lol ^ that cracked me up.
    I really want to know. I read it in my head like an old school speak and spell, I can't get past that lol
  • My son justt turned 4 months and I've been giving him cereal for wks now. Just a tbsp mixed with formula. He prefers the rice to the oatmeal kind. He doesn't get it everyday though. Also just introduced jarred baby fruits into his diet. I give him sips of spring water to wash it down. Less than an oz. Plan oon introduciing veggies within the next wk.he loves it.
  • We Give A Mix of Apple Juice & Water (About Half / Half). We Also Feed Unsweetened Apple Sauce, Sweet Potatoes, Egg Yolks, Mangos & Carrots. Everything Gets A Little Breastmilk Mixed in (minus the juice mix)
    Hes 4 Months On The 19th Of This Month (4 days away) & We've Been Letting Him Try New Things Every Few Days. 

    The Only Thing We Were Told To Avoid Were Dairy Products Until Hes Older & We're Ready To Stop Breastfeeding Completely. & To Keep The Juice Watered Down. The Dairy Aviodance Is To Keep Him From Deciding Not To Take The Breast Any Longer, & To Avoid Gaining An Allergy (I was told its rare but could happen) & Watering Down The Juice Is So He Doesnt Get An Exploding Butt From The Apple Juice. & We Only Give The Juice So Hell Accept A Bottle & Switch To A Sippy Cup Later On, But He Wont Drink Mommy's Milk From A Bottle, Hes Rotten Like That! 

    But I Also Didnt Wait For A Doctor To Say "Hey, You Can Feed Him This Now" I Decided To Just Start Letting Him Taste Things When He Showed Interest. If He Stared At Me Eating Something, Id Put A Little On My Finger And Let Him Taste. That Includes Meats, even though he gets mad since he can only lick at the meats and doesnt get to actually have it. lol. We Were told We Could Give Him A Very Large Peice Of Unseasoned meat if we wanted & let him hold and gum at it as long as hes not able to get it all the way in his mouth or break a peice off, but thats a waste of meat to me, so we're sticking to tasting solids & eating softs. 

    Remember That Your The Mommy, Go With Your Gut & Based On How Your Baby Reacts To Things. Ive Seen Babies Who Lack Interest In All Foods Until 6-8 Months. 
    Does your phone automatically capitalize the first letter of every word? I'm not being snarky, just curious because I see a lot of posts where the first letter of every word is capitalized. It just seems like it would take forever to type out lol
    I am also curious about this! 
  • ammnam14 said:
    Lol ^ that cracked me up.
    I really want to know. I read it in my head like an old school speak and spell, I can't get past that lol
    I came to this post to specifically ask that question lol
  • My baby is eating steak and has a mustache already. 
    My baby really does have a mustache
  • missphil said:
    My baby is eating steak and has a mustache already. 
    My baby really does have a mustache
    I have fuzz that I buzz off with a bikini trimmer. 
  • lol. it does auto cap nearly all words. but I think thats because I usually type it that way sometimes from my computer and the two are synced. 
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