Should I Give My Breastfed Baby Water?

GOOD JOB for you!!!!!!! All your baby needs at this precious age is your breast milk. I too nursed my 2 children and never supplemented my breast milk for anything else. I remember when we had our son, everyone always has their share of advice. But with all things you must learn to trust YOUR motherly instinct as to what is best for your little girl. I would recomend that you look into La Leche League International (they have a book titled "The motherly art of breastfeedig") (I highly recomend that if you have not read it to check for a copy at your local library...it has a lot of valuable information that may help you now and in the future), as they have the most reliable information when it comes to nursing. Also have you consulted with your doctor? I have always consulted with my docotor, but at the same time I always went with what worked best for me and my 2 little ones. How far do you live from Chamberlain as I would not mind loaning my copy out so long as it was returned. :0) If there is anything you ever need to ask about brestfeeding please feel free to contact me. I am not an expert but I will willingly share with you all of my experiences. I know that finding a good support system was very helpful for me. I wish you the best.....just remember that Maya is your babygirl and that it is your instinct to naturally do what is best for her. Y.

do not give her sugar water. That is a commom myth. you can give her regular water if you feel you are ready to try it. but at the age your infant is at it is not necessary if she is satisified with your breast milk good luck
R. LPN

HI A.,

I believe breast milk is the only thing your daughter needs right now. I think by adding water will only give her problems. I wouldn't introduce until you introduce solids. I have 3 wonderful children and I am still nursing my 18month old. (she drinks water too, but I didn't start her until we started with solids). I hope this helps.

L.

My advice to you is don't listen! Now that you are a mom you will find that everyone has advice to give,most of it unwanted advice. I once had an older lady tell me to dip my baby's bottle in JELLY to get him to take it when I was trying to supplement!! Breastmilk is the only liquid your baby needs. She is old enough to try some baby cereal if you feel she is ready. If you ever have any concerns, or your if Maya is showing signs of dehydration, call your doctor. Otherwise keep doing what your doing. Hope this helps!

J.

Sugar water huh? Hmm, those older ladies often have some advice we are all unsure of. I guess this is something I would ask my child's doctor about. I think the sugar would possibly give her dirreah. My gut feeling is that she is too young for water right now. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt, but doesn't her little, growing body need all the nutrients it can get. Mother milk is THE VERY BEST for your baby. I never gave my babies water supplements, and they are very healthy!

Talk to your Dr. if you are unsure. That always made me feel better when I questioned something.

Good Luck,
K.
North Dakota

I've heard the same as you. Infants should not be given water supplements. Their stomachs are so small, you don't want to fill it with something with no nutrients such as water. I breastfed my two girls for one year each and was advised the same information from the lactations consultants and nurses at the hospital - no water, especially not sugar water! Breastmilk is all they need.

I breastfed three children and I very rarely supplemented with water. To my knowledge there is never a circumstance where you would give a baby sugar water. All they really need at this age is breastmilk. My kids did just fine just nursing. I think that people used to give babies sugar water but I have no clue why they would do that. If you are really unsure ask your pediatrician, I'm sure he will tell you that your milk is all the baby needs!

I have a two year old daughter and I never gave her water when she was breastfeeding. Babies get all of the nutrients they need from breastmilk and I don't know what sugar water would do for her. She's not going to get dehydrated if you don't give her sugar water. I wouldn't worry about it. I actually googled this and this is what I found

NEVER give plain water or sugar water to a baby without asking your doctor first.
Plain water (and sugar water) are even worse than too-dilute formula -- babies' kidneys cannot get rid of extra plain water the way our kidneys can, and so giving plain water can produce mineral imbalance and seizures even faster than too-dilute formula. Sugar water (and clear fruit juices and other children's drinks) are generally just as bad as far as mineral content is concerned. In fact...
NEVER give ANYTHING except breast milk or formula to a baby without asking your doctor first.

This is from http://www.drreddy.com/feedbaby.html
I hope this helps!

My understanding is that breastmilk is all you need. I never did any extra supplements of water with my daughter and she is now a healthy 9 month old - just breastfed her when she was hungry. If she has plenty of wet diapers, you know she is well hydrated. You may want to discuss it with her pediatrician but around 4 months we started adding single-grain rice cereal to my baby's diet as well. You can mix it with breast milk or water so it's very liquidy and spoon feed it (not via a bottle for choking reasons).

Suggestion: When someone suggests you give your baby sugar water, or anything at this point other than Breast Milk, kindly nod your head and say "I'll think about that, thanks for the advice" then promptly forget everything they just said.

Breastmilk is the only nourishment your baby needs right now - you're providing the BEST nourishment she can get. SUgar water can give them diarrhea and can dehydrate them. Avoid it with A. Babies, B. abandoned puppies and kittens. From everything I have read, there is no reason to give your child sugar water - IMO it just sets them up for a sweet tooth later in life.

PS. At this point, your baby still needs calories and fat and all that good stuff. Water is good, but you don't want to fill her up with water that doesn't have nutrients in it that she needs right now. We started giving Brighton water when he started solids. We eventually added milk AFTER about 12 months. The proteins in cow's milk is hard on their kidneys.

PSS. Babies don't need flouride until they have teeth, and even then, they don't need it right away.

Good for you, stand your ground, trust your instincts (and other mommies - of children the same age anyway!!!!)

Nod and say "thank you very much, I'll think about that"...

**SMILE**

M.

I unfortuantly am unable to breast feed my 2 month old, however have gotten advice from the older generation. My favorite is giving the baby orange juice, because that is what they did with the one gals son when he was born, he's in his 50's now. The older generation are great people and have lots of experience, but take with a grain of salt and do what your doctor and instints tell you. Good Luck and Congratulations on a new little one.

breast milk is plenty for a baby. they shouldn't need water and especially sugar water.

It was once encouraged but is now considered a no no to give your baby water. They need to and do get their nourishment and hydration solely from your milk. But if you still have concerns just speek with your childs pediatrician. Best of luck and Kudos to you for breastfeeding! :)

A.,

No, you should not give your baby water or sugar water. We just discussed this recently at a breastfeeding group I attend. Just politley tell the people thanks for the suggestion but, now they recommend no to do that or use the Journal of medicine as an excuse. I know that it is hard to ingnore people who may just trying to help but, it simply isn't the way it is done now.

All your baby needs is your milk until they are at least 6 months old.

Best of luck with your new bundle of joy.

A.

I love getting advice from old ladies who think I dont know anything because I am a first time Mom. HEHE. Some people say babies need water for flouride. Breastfeeding is the best thing you can do for your baby! =). My ped. told me to not give Preston anything else and he's a healthy 10 month old now. He's on formula now but he got the good start that he needed from me! Keep doing what you do best!!

This has to be outdated informtion. None of my friends that nursed advised me to supplement with sugar water, nor did my doctor. Sugar water has no nutritional value.

Well, think about it, do you want a tall glass of warm milk on a hot, sunny day? Water isn't going to hurt your baby, there is no need for sugar! Baby's are moving more and getting more active daily, they can't tell you their only thirsty! Help keep them hydrated! It's not going to hurt them, more so help! You don't take away or replace nursing which IS BEST! Don't stuff water down them, simply offer it!

Your baby should only need your milk. I never supplemented when I was breastfeeding. Actually, I was advised not to.

NO! You do not need to give your baby sugar water. Unless your baby is acting more hungry, because perhaps you are not producing enough milk, you DO NOT need to supplement. Espcially, with sugar water. If you did need to do any kind of supplementing it would be formula. However, I would be VERY cautious about doing this lest the baby crave that more than your breastmilk. If anything, should your baby want more breastmilk, add more feedings.

I had people telling me these kinds of things too. However, I fealt so strongly about nursing my son until it was time to introduce solids. I was successful. He did not have any kind of supplements until he was seven months old. That is when I slowly started introducing rice cereal.

I hope this helps.

Until your baby is 6 months old all it needs is breastmilk as the others stated. Breastmilk is best! My daughter who is almost 18 months is still breastfed and rarely gets or wants anything but breastmilk to drink.

Hi! I have a 2 year old daughter who is still nursing. I didn't give her water until about 6 months and only once in awhile to help her learn how to drink from a sippy cup. She never has had a bottle - only a sippy cup and me of course. My daughter is beautiful and healthy -- your breastmilk is the best thing you can be giving her -- just make sure you are drinking lots of water -- and sugar water, no way -- I never even put sugar on the baby rice/oatmeal --
Hope this helps.
~L.

No, there is no reason to give your baby sugar water if you are breastfeeing. I regularly attend a breastfeeding support group, and have learned a lot about breastfeeding. However, most pediatricians do suggest a vitamin supplement such as Tri-Vi-Sol (a liquid administered by dropper) once a day until 6 months or until solid foods are a regular part of their diet. This helps fight problems such as britle bone disease. Otherwise, breastmilk only is good until around 6 months!!

No- it is not necessary. I went through the same thing with my Mom- every time we talked on the phone "are you giving him water yet?" And her inquiries were becoming more intense because she was convinced he would have jaundice if I didn't give him water. I had to have her talk to my doctor, 2 different nurses and then finally a friend of hers told her- NO WATER. As medical practice changes, so does information on breastfeeding, etc. I think in my Mom's day it was probably common practice- but not so now.

The only reason that I know of for giving an infant sugar water is if they are jaundiced, and that usually happens the first few weeks of life, and certainly wouldn't be a concern at 4 months. I have 3 little ones and have gotten all sorts of crazy advice on what to feed them, etc. Trust your instincts and your doctor's advice, you can't go wrong.

Our pediatrician told us that a baby shouldn't need to drink water until they start eating more solid baby food. The nutrients they need are either in breastmilk, formula or baby food. I'd check with your Ped just to be sure though.

NO way!! Breastmilk is all a baby needs. I have even heard of cases that a baby has had too much liquid it can cause their brain to "float". Where they get to much liquid and it saturates their bloodstream and can do damage. There is no reason that a baby needs any sugar water- that is just asking for cavaties and high blood sugar in the future. I would ask your pediatrician just to be sure, but if you need to suppliment it should be with formula. Hope this helps!

Breastmilk is all she needs at 4 months old. My daughter is 9 months old and we just recently starting giving her plain water in a sippy cup sometimes. No need for sugar water though.

i use to give my babies water mixed with karo syrup at least once a day when they were infants. i wouldn't do suger because it could mess up your baby's tummy.