Water Consumption

I agree with everyone - no water until 1 is needed or it will fill a tummy with nothing. The only exception (according to my pediatrician) is a really hot day. But do introduce a sippy cup as soon as you can.

ZERO. A 5 mo old should only be getting breastmilk or formula for liquids. That's true until they're at least a year. Babies' brains need fat for developing properly; they need nutrients for their bodies to develop properly. Water contains nothing.

Hi G.. I am an RN in the well baby nursery.
you do not give water to babies. the formula or breastmilk is all that the babies need.
congrats!!

Hi G.,
Water isn't given to babies. It fills them up and contains no nutrients. A 5 month old needs nothing other than breastmilk or formula.
I gave my children no water until a year old - they are 9 and 13 now - so this recommendation has been around for some time.

I never gave my infants water. There is plenty in your milk or formula.

None!

Babies should not get water until after 8ish months. If the child is not eating significant amounts of solid foods, no water is needed or advised.

See here for info:
http://www.todaysparent.com/baby/foodnutrition/article.js...

It is different with every person and every book. Our pediatrician says that water is not necessary until 1. Just make sure he is getting the correct amount of formula or breast milk, which should be at least 32 oz. a day or breastfed at least 5 times.

I believe if the baby is breastfed, no water is needed.

I did not give either of my children water until they were a year old. The best thing is formula at this age.

No water at all. Just breastmilk. I began using a sippy cup around 7-8 months with some water in it for him to practice with, but he didnt actually drink much but a few drops.

Most dr's will tell you that a baby does not need water until they are one. I started giving my daughter water when she was 6 or 7 months old and that was only because it was hot and in the summer. She just had an extra bottle near her at all times so she could drink it if she wanted to. Her ped told me that it is not necessary because she gets enough fluid/water with her bottle feedings.

I never gave any water because my dr told me that need calories and so if they are thirsty, feed them breastmilk or formula.

I didn't give any of my kids extra water. They breastfed and with breastfeeding the doctor told me they didn't need extra fluids. It wasn't necessary.

G.,
THe first year is about giving maximum nutrition, everything that goes to the baby should be of nutritional value. Breast Milk and formula have enough water to meet the needs of the baby.

I know that when my parents were raising us water was OK, but now they say that giving water can cause seizures and my doctor recommended waiting untill 1 year to give water.

At this age you shouldn't give more then about 6 oz a day. It tends to work opposite for babies then for us. It dilutes their electolytes and vitamins in their systems. Most doctors at this age suggest not giving to much water. The only water my kids got when they were this little was mixed with their formula.

This is one of the things that have changed from my parent's generation to mine- my mother-in-law and step-mother-in-law and aunts were very determined to give my baby water as an infant and also thought I needed to put rice cereal in the bottle to make him sleep better (I never used a bottle, so that one was a easy to avoid!) The pediatrician reccomeded only breastmilk or formula for the 1st 6 months! :)

I don't know if there are any set "guidelines" regarding water, like there are for juice. I have been giving my baby sips of water since he was 3 months old. The Dr. said that water is OK and that it does not interfere with the baby's desire or need to nurse/bottle feed. (i.e it does not fill them up like juice does). At 5 months, he was probally driking maybe an ounce a day. I would give him a little water after feeding cereral. He is 9 months now and doesn't drink more than 4 ounces of water a day. He drinks mostly at meal times.

Remember that the baby does get most of their liquid from Breastmilk or formula, but a little water will not hurt.

Check with the baby's dr. and see what he/she recommends.

Hope that helps.

Hi,
I really don't think you're supposed to give any water until one year old. They get enough through their formula and/or breastmilk, but I would ask the pediatrician. GL!

Give him as much as he would take. offer it at least 4-5 times a day. Water can only do good, and every baby is different, some will drink a lot, and some don't like it at all. so see how your guy takes it. Water is really good for their digestive system, so just offer him the bottle whenever you think of it, and see if he takes it. make sure it's slightly warm (not just room temp), babies tend to prefer their drinks on the warm side at this stage.

No water before 6 months, according to my pediatrician!

I was told no water until she's at least 6 months since breastmilk/formula has all the water she needs. At our 9 month old check-up the pedi said I can give up to 8 oz a day if she wants it, but no juice, since this gives her a sugar rush and pre-disposes to obesity/childhood diabetes. He'd rather have her have fresh fruit.