When do they need water

[CinderToriella]

Just wondering when a breast fed baby needs to start having water?
DD started solids at 6 months , BLS..And is still breast fed

x

[*Sparklez*]

its really up to u hun, normally u could give after her meals just to wash them down n stff but its ultimately ur decision

[YoYo]

I was thinking the same recently (even though I've done it before) but I'm going to start DD with water when I start her solids, so in a couple of weeks

[Mum2Romone]

My midwife said to give some to ds in a bottle or cup from 6 months.
I did.
I don't know why though

[onthefly]

It's up to you. Technically if she's breastfeeding on demand then she doesn't need any water - she can get all the liquids she needs at the breast.

[CinderToriella]

Will this make them not want to BF anymore? How much water should you give?

Yes she still is BF on demand ,she is very demanding in that respect

[*Sparklez*]

no not really its more of a refreshment just dont giv her too much so she doesnt feel bloated which will make her not want to bf...
maybe just offer her 5 mls after meals n with the heat n stuff offer it a lil more often just too make sure she stays hydrated..

[meow]

Fully demand fed BFing babies are not supposed to need water but I ended up giving my son water in a cup to experiment with a few days after starting solids (at 6 months) and it didn't take long till he learned to love drinking water.

ETA: My son also kept up the demand for BFing He really didn't get much water in in the early days... but he did enjoy it so I was glad I offered it.

[onthefly]

It will replace some breastmilk, but it's not likely to stop her from feeding.

[UntoldAngel]

I too have wondered this as IL's keep telling me I will need to give bub water with the heat... he is exclusively breastfed by demand and is drinking every 2hours through the day and I'm not looking at introducing solids for AT LEAST another month
The only water he's been getting is when he sucks on the washer in the bath because it is just another thing he can get in is mouth
I think that unless bub is showing signs of severe dehydration (at which point I would be going to the hospital), then breast milk is all he will be getting at the moment

[Tuesday's Child]

DD is still BF by demand, but I offer her water with meals. If she sees DH or I drinking, she often grabs for the cup. She loves drinking water out of the cup!

I did stop giving her water for a while after reading on here that demand BFed babies don't need water. But she was constipated last week so I gave her water to help soften things. I haven't noticed a reduction in her breastfeeding, except maybe at night which isn't a bad thing ETA - She's also been much happier. I'm not sure if the extra fluids have anything to do with it, but I'll keep offering it. If she doesn't want it, she won't drink it.

[allycat06]

I started offering water around 6-7 months....mostly because it was freaking hot and offering a BF everytime I thought he might be thirsty was getting really tiring. He didn't really take to it until about 10 months and now guzzles the stuff like it's going out of style! But it's pretty much up to you, if she's BF she doesn't *need* it but most people like to introduce it with solids.

[Alan]

If your baby is on solids and then I would consider offering a small amount of water after the solid meal. But if she was thirsty I would expect her to want the breast.

[CinderToriella]

Thanks everyone
She seems to want a BF after her solid meals , I guess i could get a sippy cup and try her with a little water, I am not sure she needs it though , she doesn't have any toilet probs either so i guess that means she is not dehydrated ?
But she alwasy tries to get bottles from us and cups etc so she prob would enjoy using one like we do

I boil the water don't i?

[onthefly]

You don't need to boil it at this age, should be fine

[human bean]

I've started introducing a sippy cup (DD is also BF on demand) with water in at, at meals and during the day, but at the moment it's really all about just testing the whole thing out, she's hardly drinking any and just finds it another fascinating thing to experiment with!

[CinderToriella]

I've started introducing a sippy cup (DD is also BF on demand) with water in at, at meals and during the day, but at the moment it's really all about just testing the whole thing out, she's hardly drinking any and just finds it another fascinating thing to experiment with!

Do you find she wants to BF any less? I guess you wont see untill she starts taking in water..I just got a sippy cup then, the thing is emtpy and already DD has it to her mouth lol,she loves it ,thinks its her new toy

[~Phoenix~]

I started offering water in a sippy cup after meals when starting solids, our DD is fascinated with bottles & cups when we have them to. At the moment it's more of play thing for her and she dribbles more of it than she drinks but loves to experiment holding and drinking from it.

She is demand fed and has showed no signs of wanting the breast any less than before.......they are still her food option of choice