Giving babies water?

We had a heat snap a day or so ago, very summery weather, and Jazz got very sweaty, even in singlet and nappy. I was told that I should give her water by a few people (mum, MIL, and a friend) so she doesn't get dehydrated.

I thought that as long as I was drinking enough water, and feeding her when shes hungry/thirsty, then she wont get dehydrated? Don't know if thats right but thats what I thought. Jazz fed every 2ish hours during the day, though most times it was just for 5-10 minutes and she was satisfied, so I didn't give her any water. Mum, MIL and friend ended up telling me off as feeding her so often and when she demands it would overfeed her, and apparently I was wrapped around her little finger (something about getting what she wants all the time... obviously i should have starved her :rolleyes: !).

Should I give her water on a hot day next time? Or is she getting enough from the boob?

for 100% breast fed babies, they dont need water, and you shouldnt give it. There is some suggestions that it can be damaging for their kidneys. If Jazz for ff, then, abit is ok, as the formula can make then dehyrdated and/or constipated.
But, just offer her the boob abit more often. She may only take abit of the foremilk, which will satisfy her thirst. I tihnk it was more 'done in the good ol' days' type thing. Just keep demand feeding, she will only take as much as she needs.

As Debbie said, bf babies do not need water. Over summer she might drink more, but bm will adequately meet her needs.

Yep - booby juice is all they need :) Kayla has only just the other day had her first taste of water, and even that was by accident, she was playing with Tallon's sippy cup LOL. I don't really offer water for a drink until they're close to 1. Maybe that's why my babies have more frequent feeds than others at this age? hehe.

Just keep yourself hydrated and allow full access to the boob and all will be fine :)

ah I had the same problems wth my ex mil.

I ended up getting a brochure, I think it was from the ABA (long time ago, not 100% there), clearly showing that babies do not need water when they are BF, just to get her off my back!

Hi,

You are spot on. Breastmilk is all they need. Many mums do find their babies feed more frequently in the hot weather - it stands to reason, we are standing around swigging our water bottles as well. You sound like a great, tuned in mum. Keep up the good work

And as for bfing on demand and being 'wrapped around her finger', it's been proven that babies whose needs (for feeding or settling) are met quickly when they are little are actually more confident and settled as they get older. A baby is programmed to turn to its mother to have its needs met and a mother is programmed to respond quickly. Simple.

Doing great, Leasha! Good for you. Keep holding your ground. Shame on those family members for giving you a serve. Who's baby is it anyway?

Barb might be able to confirm/deny this, but I think that in hot weather, not only do BF babies demand feed more often, but the composition of the milk changes slightly to hydrate more. Just keep up your own fluid levels otherwise you can end up feeling a bit bleugh (yes, that is a technical term :p).

You won't overfeed her, and at two months old, she should have you wrapped around not just her little finger, but all of her fingers, that's what a mum is for, and you are doing an awesome job.

E is 9 1/2 months old and I've just started giving him a sippy cup to play with (and occasionally drink from when he's not using it to bash things with), mostly so that he can start to get an idea of drinking from something other than a boob, as he's never had EBM.

ditto what everyone else has said Leasha. good on you for going with YOUR motherly instincts. Information changes regularly, and I would tell well meaning ;) that a lot of research has been done to support the choices you are making. reach over and pat yourself on the back hun.

Leasha, I just wanted to add too... you are doing such a great job caring for and loving your DD so beautifully. Your BFing sounds like it's going great! You and your DD sound like you know exactly what to do!

As everyone else said. Stick to the boob. Thats what its there for!
My DS was born in March & was feeding 2 hourly then sometimes in between too for thirst.
Good on you girl. You stay around her little finger as long as you want to!
You CAN"T spoil a baby. You CAN love them.
Picking them up every time they cry is loving them & ressuring them. Demand feeding is also loving & reassuring them.
Enjoy those 5 minutes she's at the boob for the 3rd time in half an hour. It doesn't last forever & you'll miss it when its gone.

Leasha keep on going how your going :). Your spot on how you are.

Great job standing up to them Leash - i got a lot of the "you should do..." as well :rolleyes:

Suse, i'm sure you're right, i read a study once online somewhere where they tested the milk of women in different climates and just as you'd expect, cold climate mums had slightly more fat and hot climate mums had slightly more water.

As others have noted, the most important thing is to make sure MAMA has plenty of fluids, because in general the body will hydrate the baby before it hydrates itself.

Bx

Ditto on what everyone else has said..

If they say but but but she needs water.. Remind then your body is amazing and your baby and your breasts have a great relationship! As the weather warms and baby drinks more but sometimes she will only pop on for a quick suck thats when your breasts offer a more wateery (don't know technical term) milk..

Id on't know all the technical words you can use lol.. Go onto ABA and memerize what they have lol...

Leash, great job hun. You can also point out that BM actually consists of something like 70% water! Stick with it hun, and tell the well meanings to stick it LOL.

Gotta spread the love Suse, but that's a nice post :)

Ditto what everyone else said, babies that age aren't manipulative so i doubt she feels she has you wrapped around her little finger, she just feels happy and confident cause she knows her mummy loves her and is there for her needs.

I bought MJ home to a week of 35-40C weather. EVERYONE told me that i should give her water, but i resisted, knowing that my boobs will do what thy meant to and also i turned my thoughts towards 100s of years ago... they didnt have running water and when it was hot there was no way to give water to a baby...

We are amazing women, we know to make more watery milk in the mornings after our babies have ahad a big sleep to quench their thirst and also in hot weather and to make fattier and creamier milk in the colder weather or at night time to fill bubs up and keep them satisfied and warm...

You are doing a great job and your body knows EXACTLY what to do as your bubs communicates in a special way...

PS the only time MJ had water as a small baby was a ml of cool boiled water to help with wind (it took her a long time to learn how to fart and i the infants friend and gripe water didnt work)

She still has no water even though she has started solids, she gets enough water from me....

(im off to go and drink another glass now ;))