Breastfeeding 8 Mo Old

I know that often people will tell you that infants don't need water but I disagree because of living in AZ. One of our family friends is an OB nurse and she told me that giving a baby water can't hurt them. So I don't think it can't hurt to give your son some water. We started giving our daughter water very early on (she was born in June so it was super hot). If he's not interested, I would agree with adding some juice but not too much because of all the sugar. The straw trick is great too because they think it's "fun" to drink out of the straw. And of course as Fawn said, watch for the physical signs.

And yes, keep yourself hydrated as well. Pretty soon you'll start to notice that most people in Phoenix don't go anywhere with out a bottle of water. I know we sure don't! Good luck and welcome to AZ!

I am a huge water person and think that it's very important here in AZ. I introduced water to my girls in a sippy cup when they were the same age as your son. I would give it to them without the drip free stopper during meals. They would play with the water more than anything at first but then they started to actually drink from it. Once they got the hang of it and understood that there was something in the cup I put the stopper in.

I live in Phoenix too and have successfully breastfed 4 children. Just watch his diapers to make sure he is having enough wet diapers and his stool is not too hard. You can also watch his skin to see if it may be too dry. If so and you feel you need to supplement his milk with additional liquids, just offer him some water/juice (50/50) to entice him to drink and slowly move him to water. You may also consider teaching him to drink out of a straw (that worked with my youngest and I could more easily monitor how much liquid she was getting). Also, remember that you need to increase your liquid intake as well! Welcome to Phoenix. I think you'll find that it's not as bad as some people say.

Welcome to AZ! My pedi told me that a child under 18 months will not let themselves dehydrate. In the same way they won't let themselves starve. It's instinct. Your baby will adjust and be fine. I would offer water in a sippy cup everyday. Eventually, he will want it. When it gets hotter and you are out and about, I would be sure to offer water. My kids, even when they were that age, would drink water from a water bottle with the "sport" top on it. That's the kind that pops up and the water doesn't come out unless you suck on it. Trust me, he will drink water when it gets hotter but he's fine for now.