OT: Introducing water at 5 months old or how old?

[Amirah95]

*inspired by Boomhaur's babies in July heat thread

I did a lot of things wrong with my first born that I do not intend on doing with my 2nd so I just needed to ask a question here.

On the lactation boards, I was told that water should be introduced to a baby at 6 months old. Is this something that nursing moms do or can you give a formula fed baby water early?

I'm all kinds of confused here. There are formula feeding mom and nursing moms here in the Dis so I can get answers from both sides of the fence.

For my info, when should water be introduced to an infant?

 

[shortstuff7429]

I started my DD on a sippy cup with water at 5 months old. She was taking formula in a bottle, as well as cereal. I would give her the cup with her cereal and while she played. I got the Playtex one that has handles on both sides so she could hold it. By the time she was a year old, she was ready to get rid of the bottle and use only her sippy cup. Not sure what the experts would recommend, but this worked really well for us.

 

[thepeach80]

Ilana is 7.5 mos and the only water she's ever had was after she got her tubes last week and refused to nurse. She took about 6ozs of water. If you're nursing, I'd just nurse, especially at 5 mos. If baby is taking a sippy well, I see nothing wrong w/ introing some water in it if it's in between feedings or a little w/ solids. We bf and ff and aren't really on solids and no water. I'm not sure if that helps.

 

[teresajoy]

*inspired by Boomhaur's babies in July heat thread

I did a lot of things wrong with my first born that I do not intend on doing with my 2nd so I just needed to ask a question here.

On the lactation boards, I was told that water should be introduced to a baby at 6 months old. Is this something that nursing moms do or can you give a formula fed baby water early?

I'm all kinds of confused here. There are formula feeding mom and nursing moms here in the Dis so I can get answers from both sides of the fence.

For my info, when should water be introduced to an infant?

I'm not sure why you would give water to any baby. I didn't give Corey (born in June) anything but breastmilk until he was 1. He's a healthy 15 year old now!

 

[thepeach80]

I'm not sure why you would give water to any baby. I didn't give Corey (born in June) anything but breastmilk until he was 1. He's a healthy 15 year old now!

Not that babies are convenient, but if you haven't mastered the art of nursing in a sling etc, it can be a bit daunting to have to sit and nurse every time baby is thirsty when it's really hot outside. A bit of water over 6 mos or so won't hurt them IMO, but it's definitely not 'needed'.

 

[teresajoy]

Not that babies are convenient, but if you haven't mastered the art of nursing in a sling etc, it can be a bit daunting to have to sit and nurse every time baby is thirsty when it's really hot outside. A bit of water over 6 mos or so won't hurt them IMO, but it's definitely not 'needed'.

Corey nursed a lot anyway, so I guess he just didn't need any extra when it was hot. I don't recall the other two nursing much more in the heat either, but I guess it never bothered me too much. I just used a nursing coverup. But, I think you are probably right that it wouldn't hurt the baby. I was just suprised that the lactation group said you "should" instead of "could" introduce water at 6 months.

 

[monorailsilver]

I nursed all 3 of my kids for at least a year each.

I started them all on sippy cups of water at 6 months give or take a few weeks.

I gave it to each one of them while they were sitting in their high chairs eating a meal this way they got used to something else to drink.

Obviously they didn't take to it right away so they may of only had a sip here & there but that was what it was for, them to learn on.

 

[cuppycake]

I was just suprised that the lactation group said you "should" instead of "could" introduce water at 6 months.

Yes, very bizzare to hear this from a lacataion group. A baby has no NEED for water, if being breastfed, at under a year. It won't HURT, of couse, but there's no real NEED. Baby will get exactly what she needs from mom.

As for formula fed babies...my first was FF after a few months (not my first choice, but her head didn't fall off ). I'm not sure what the "real" answer is, but I started giving her water (more to teach her how to drink from a sippy cup) at around 8 months.

I doubt that you would do harm, if you are giving water to a baby as extra fluids in the heat, but I would be careful not to replace too much of their usual "food" with it is all (not saying this to insult anyone's intelligence ).

 

[Tikicampers]

I have always been told not to give babies water. Here's some info. I found:
From the Dr. Sears website in regards to a 4 month old:
At this age, water is not necessary, but also not harmful. In other words: yes, it’s fine to give him sips. Starting solids doesn’t mean you have to start water, although it can help treat the constipation that might result from the solids. A common mistake that parents make is to give extra water on a hot day in lieu of breastmilk. This can lead to electrolyte imbalances in a young baby.

From Todaysparent(listed some reasons that water can be harmful to babies):
So when is it appropriate to give your healthy baby water? Kirkham suggests that around seven months, when your baby is sitting up well and has started eating solid foods, you could introduce a little water in a cup.

From babyzone.com:
Although this is a bit oversimplified, think of water for very young infants as "empty food." The energy your twins spend drinking formula or breastmilk gets them calories, vitamins, protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and a surprising amount of water. The energy they spend drinking just water gets them just that, water! Plus too much water for such young babies can lead to water intoxication (a serious condition most common in babies younger than six months). Breastmilk and formula are just as effective a water in preventing dehydration, plus it fills your baby up longer as well.

I would talk to your DR and see what he/she says. And don't beat yourself up about things you feel you did wrong with your older child. Reccomendations change constantly. I'm finding with DD that some things have changed since I had DS, and he's only 3! As the saying goes, When you know better, you do better.

 

[ldo]

my twins are 6 yrs old--and I guess times change-- I recall a little extra water/pedialyte for really hot days--and, of course, this would never replace other feedings, whether breast or formula---but I am going to defer to the more recent baby experts--wow--now I'm and old ninny!!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I seem to recall being told not to give water to my babies until they were close to a year and switching from formula to milk. I've heard that younger babies' kidneys can't process that much liquid and their formula or breast milk is the only liquid they should get. Of course, things like this change rapidly in babyworld (my youngest is 8) so my knowledge could be really dated. I would check with your pediatrician before giving water to a 5 month old.

 

[teresajoy]

I have always been told not to give babies water. Here's some info. I found:
From the Dr. Sears website in regards to a 4 month old:
At this age, water is not necessary, but also not harmful. In other words: yes, it’s fine to give him sips. Starting solids doesn’t mean you have to start water, although it can help treat the constipation that might result from the solids. A common mistake that parents make is to give extra water on a hot day in lieu of breastmilk. This can lead to electrolyte imbalances in a young baby.

From Todaysparent(listed some reasons that water can be harmful to babies):
So when is it appropriate to give your healthy baby water? Kirkham suggests that around seven months, when your baby is sitting up well and has started eating solid foods, you could introduce a little water in a cup.

From babyzone.com:
Although this is a bit oversimplified, think of water for very young infants as "empty food." The energy your twins spend drinking formula or breastmilk gets them calories, vitamins, protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and a surprising amount of water. The energy they spend drinking just water gets them just that, water! Plus too much water for such young babies can lead to water intoxication (a serious condition most common in babies younger than six months). Breastmilk and formula are just as effective a water in preventing dehydration, plus it fills your baby up longer as well.

I would talk to your DR and see what he/she says. And don't beat yourself up about things you feel you did wrong with your older child. Reccomendations change constantly. I'm finding with DD that some things have changed since I had DS, and he's only 3! As the saying goes, When you know better, you do better.

Thanks for taking the time to look that up! That is some great information!

And, I must second the not beating yourself up sentiment! We do the best we can at any given time.

 

[bumbershoot]

My MIL had her first son give her second son (my husband) a BIG bottle of water in the mornings before she got up, to tide him over until she could get out of bed. This was when he was very little. He didn't get sick, BUT to this day at 35, he doesn't really know when he's hungry until he's picking fights with me and being snarky. He goes from "I'm fine" to "STARVING" in a second, and I truly believe it is because from shortly after birth he was given water when he needed nutrients. (full disclosure: that sort of behaviour did continue b/c he was a bigger baby and kid and adult than she felt was OK, and he was on a diet since toddlerhood...and it didn't work)

I think that in the first year, the focus needs to be on nutrients, not just water. I imagine with formula that gets really tricky, because it is what it is with each scoop or ready-made container of it, and I don't know if it's safe to add water to make it more, um, watery. But with breastfeeding, the consistency changes from milk-meal (can't stand the word "feeding") to milk-meal, and babies/toddlers definitely change the way they suck (unless my son is absolutely unique and is the only one who does it) depending on hunger or thirst (therefore, it seems, signalling a different need in some way), and the milk that comes out can be different each time.


I think that MAYBE the lactation group comment was...sort of like the solids thing. In mainstream society, we often hear that "as soon as baby can sit up, doesn't push food out with his tongue, and acts interested, that means you need to give him solids". When actually I, and others, see it as "if you really want to start solids, please be sure that child is AT LEAST doing those things before you go forth into the new world of solids". I see it as a minimum, not a milestone marking the NEED for something.

So I'd say, wait at least that long, but assuming all goes well with the nursing (which I can say without fear because you are part of a lactation group which means it's what you want to do), I'd just let him (him? her?) nurse instead of water. I'm fairly sure that DS was well over a year before he really had water, and he'll often excuse himself from nursing to have a big drink of water, then get back to the milk, which I think is hilarious.

 

[emmababy]

So, if I have an 11 month old at WDW on a hot day, are you saying she doesn't need water to keep from dehydrating? Please respond!!

 

[Tikicampers]

So, if I have an 11 month old at WDW on a hot day, are you saying she doesn't need water to keep from dehydrating? Please respond!!

Are you nursing or bottle feeding?

 

[emmababy]

I nursed until she was 9 months. Now I am bottle feeding, but actually she is purely on sippy cups, no more bottles. I just need to know what to do for our trip to keep her safe from dehydration! Thanks!!

 

[disney6family]

I gave all of children (all breast fed) water starting at 4 months in a sippy cup to get them used to taking fluids that way. This way they were never introduced to a bottle and when we were done breast feeding the transition was seamless to a cup. Bottle fed babies would be the same. Indtroduce the cup as early as possible, even if they don't like it at first it at least gets them used to getting their fluid in a different way and by their year birthday they will be ready to switch. Also having an older sibling you can use the phrase - look that's how we all drink our milk and with my kids the competition was enough to make them love drinking from a cup.
I would also give them their own ice chips in a handle cup and they loved this bit of control (makes a big wet mess, but it is only water)

 

[Manda]

I started water when he started solids - at 6 months. I breastfed and that was the majority of his liquid intake. I'd give him a small sippy of water when I put food on his highchair tray. He'd play with it more than drink it. If I were at Disney with a older infant or young toddler in the middle of July, I'd probably nurse first and then let them have a sippy of water. Although, I'm very paranoid about babies/kids drinking too much and then not eating because they are full. I don't know if I'd approach the situation differently with a formula fed kid. I never did that, so I don't have experience with it.

 

[Tikicampers]

I nursed until she was 9 months. Now I am bottle feeding, but actually she is purely on sippy cups, no more bottles. I just need to know what to do for our trip to keep her safe from dehydration! Thanks!!

In your situation, I would offer her a little water. Partly because she is older, and partly because breastmilk changes consistancy to keep babies hydrated, but formula doesn't.

I have to respectfully disagree with the poster who said to introduce a cup as early as possible. Obviously, it worked ok for your kids, but I have known people who introduced cups early and the child wound up wanting the cup over the breast. The mother can pump, but a pump is not as effective at getting the milk as a baby, and the mother's supply will most likely not last as long as she wants it too.
I know from experience what can happen when food and water/juice are introduced too early. DS is doing ok now, but I will not make the same mistake with DD.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

While there certainly is a lot of great info here.....I guess if it was me, I'd give a call to her pediatrician to see what they recommend.