Is it safe for babies to drink water during the many hot months of summer?
Does my baby need to drink water anytime?
According to Dr. Sears:
"Breastfeeding babies do not need extra water, though formula-fed babies
often do. Your breast milk contains enough water for your baby, even in hot, dry
climates. Formula contains higher concentrations of salts and minerals than
breast milk does, so that extra water is often necessary for the kidneys to
excrete the extra salt. Also, because of less efficient metabolism, formula-fed
infants lose more water. "
Although breast milk is about 88% water, the formula is not and, therefore,
many pediatricians recommend that formula fed babies be given sips of water from
6 months of age or when solid foods are introduced. The offering of water is
only a recommendation. It is not intended to be regarded as an absolute
necessity that you give your baby water! It can even be hazardous.
If you decide to give your baby water, please limit babies water consumption
of 2-4 ounces per day. You do not want the water to move or displace the
ingestion of breast milk and / or formula! Take the opportunity to offer a cup
of water also Sippy. This will accomplish 2 things:
1) A breastfed baby will not be subject to possible confusion of the
nipples
2) The water in a cup Sippy is the perfect liquid to be used when introducing
the Sippy cup. Add a few ice cubes to give the cup a style and be more
interesting!
Please use extreme caution when offering water infants. Infants who drink too
much water May have too much water, and have Intoxication.
For children under 1 year - and especially during the first nine months of
baby's life - drinking too much water can be dangerous.
In fact, according to pediatricians, like James P. Keating, MD, medical
director of St. Louis Children's Hospital Diagnostic Centre, "Too much water
dilutes a baby and normal levels of sodium can lead to convulsions, coma, brain
damage and worse even death.
Breast milk or formula provides all babies healthy fluid needed for babies to
survive. If a mother feels her baby needs to take water, it should be limited to
two or three ounces at a time and should be proposed that after the baby has
satisfied his hunger with breastfeeding or formula"
For parents who see their children less than 12 months take swimming lessons,
please be cautious of the amount of water that inadvertently baby will swallow.
Water intoxication May also occur because of a baby swallowing too much water
during bathing so extra caution must be implied!
