Is it possible to give water to a one-month-old baby? Should I give my baby water to drink? When and how to introduce water
There are a lot of questions for young mothers, one of them is whether breastfed newborns need water, and if so, how much and under what circumstances. The problem is quite urgent.
Answering the question whether babies need water is quite simple. Let’s just try to mentally go back even if it’s a hundred years ago. And let’s think, how many mothers always have enough clean (apparently boiled) water to give it to their baby without risking his health? For many thousands of years of human evolution, babies in the first months of life did not receive water, because this meant a direct danger to their lives. That is, it is unusual for humans, as a biological species, to give extra milk to small children. As, indeed, for other mammals, the cubs begin to receive water when they begin to eat the same food as their parents.
If we talk not only about common sense, but also about medical justifications, the World Health Organization, as well as the latest instructions from the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, suggest not giving additional drinks to breastfed children without special medical indications, until about six months. Why?
Danger one– malnutrition. The baby's stomach is the size of his fist, and he is able to accept and process a limited amount of incoming food (in the first month of life this is 1/5 - 1/6 of body weight per day). And the peculiarity of the nervous system of a newborn is such that water gives him a false feeling of satiety. Therefore, it is important for a mother to understand: if her child drank 100 ml of water, it means that he did not receive 100 ml of milk. At the same time, the growth and development of a child depends on milk, and water brings him absolutely no benefit.
The second danger – decreased milk production. Milk is produced in response to the baby's sucking, that is, as long as the baby sucks at the breast, so much milk will subsequently arrive. If the mother gives the baby water, he will suckle less. In this regard, supplementing the baby with water at night is especially dangerous, because during night feedings the production of the hormone prolactin is stimulated, which increases daily milk production. This means that a baby who feeds on his mother’s breast at night, thereby provides himself with the necessary amount of milk during the day. And if “well-wishers” advise the mother to “deceive the child with some water so that he doesn’t disturb him at night” - think that the child may be able to deceive, but you cannot deceive the natural milk production system...
The third danger – disruption of the natural balance in the child’s digestive system. A child is born with a sterile intestine, and until about six months of age it is actively seeded with beneficial microflora. Mother's milk helps form and maintain the natural balance of bacteria in the digestive system, and everything that the baby receives at this time of life besides mother's milk worsens this balance. And if the practice of supplementary drinking becomes constant, then very often the child exhibits a predominance of harmful microflora over beneficial microflora - the very phenomenon that our doctors usually call dysbiosis. Research specifically conducted by the World Health Organization shows that most babies who are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months are healthy and grow well. And children who received water or tea in addition to breast milk suffered from intestinal disorders three times more often than babies who were fully breastfed... Do you need this risk?
The fourth danger – the likelihood of breast refusal. Water is given, as a rule, from a bottle with a nipple, which often leads babies to “nipple confusion” - that is, a refusal to suckle from the mother’s breast in favor of a bottle.
Let's now look at the arguments of those who insist on the need to give the baby water.
“Water helps eliminate infant jaundice”
Jaundice is caused by bilirubin, which is a fat-soluble enzyme. Not water-soluble, but fat-soluble. That is, it is not excreted from the body with water, but is excreted precisely with colostrum and subsequently with milk, which, unlike water, contain the fats necessary for the child in optimal proportions.
“Milk is the same food as, for example, porridge. Hunger must be satisfied with food, and thirst with drink. Otherwise, the child gets extra calories!”
In fact, the consistency of milk and porridge is completely different. Milk is 85-90% water. If adults constantly ate equally liquid food, then they would not have the assumption that it needs to be liquefied even more... In addition, until a certain age, a small child does not make any distinction between hunger and thirst. That is why, as already mentioned, water creates a feeling of false satiety in him, displacing mother’s milk. Let’s shift the emphasis: since receiving water is not biologically justified, it is correct to say not that an exclusively breastfed baby receives “extra calories,” but that a child who is supplemented with water is deprived of the calories he needs.
“Water should be given if it’s hot outside and the air in the room is dry.”
Indeed, in summer, additional soldering is argued by the heat, and in winter - by the dryness of the air in a heated room. However, many studies have been conducted around the world in dry and hot countries (for example, in India at a temperature of 35-40°C and humidity from 10 to 35%; in Pakistan at a temperature of 27.4-40.7°C and humidity from 24 to 77%; in tropics at temperatures ranging from 4 to 41°C and humidity from 9 to 60%), which clearly showed that children who were fed only breastfeeding suffered less from dehydration than those who were fed only breast milk. The fact is that mother’s milk contains the optimal concentration of all the salts and minerals necessary for the child - by the way, if an adult suffers from dehydration, he is also recommended to restore the moisture balance not with plain water, but with a solution of specially selected salts... So, if the mother thinks that the child is hot - he should not be given additional water, but it should be easier to dress him and the room should be well ventilated! A baby who is thirsty will simply ask for his mother's breast more often. In extreme heat, you can wipe the child’s body with cool water, and a steam humidifier or a simple spray bottle will make the room air less dry, but even in this case, water is desirable outside, and not inside the child’s body...
“If a child is sick, you can’t do without water - it will restore the moisture balance, help eliminate viruses in the urine, and you can dissolve medicines in it.”
There is not a single function in the above that mother’s milk cannot cope with better than water. The same medicine that a child will try his best to spit out diluted in water, he will much more favorably accept with expressed mother's milk, which will also help better absorption.
“My child sometimes calms down only when he receives a bottle of water.”
The key word here is “bottle”. For many different reasons, a baby sometimes wants to suck on something other than his mother's breast. The two simplest and most harmless ways to calm a baby, who right now is not enough of his mother’s breast, is to let him suck a cleanly washed finger or simply rock him to sleep, because most often this is how children tired of the day’s impressions behave before falling asleep.
“Everyone is thirsty, and children are no exception!”
There are many foods that adults can easily eat, but that will cause big problems for babies because their digestive systems are not yet mature enough. Trying to feed a child based on the needs of an adult stomach would lead to serious consequences. Most infants themselves refuse to drink the water that is offered to them and begin to quench their thirst with it only after 9-12 months.
Save on social networks:The question “is it possible to give water to a newborn?” causes heated debate not only among young parents, but also among experienced pediatricians. Let's try to find the answer by going back at least one century. Since ancient times, mother's milk has been both food and drink for babies. Where could I get purified or boiled water to give my baby something to drink without risking his life and health? This is typical for all mammals.
Rule: Only when children begin to eat the same food as adults should they be offered additional fluids.
Should I give water to a newborn baby?
When can you give your baby something to drink?
It is not recommended for healthy children to consume anything other than milk during the first months. But there are also exceptions. Let's consider cases when the baby can still be given water.
- Constipation. We must remember that only a doctor can diagnose. It is necessary to identify the reason why and start treatment on time. With such a diagnosis, children can be given extra food.
- Transient fever of newborns. This diagnosis is made if the baby has a high fever for 2-3 days. In this case, it is possible and necessary to give water at room temperature.
- Colic. Severe gas production is commonly observed in infants when they are formula fed. In this case, they can be given dill broth, but it is better to consult a pediatrician first.
Is it worth seeing a doctor if your child regularly? Isn't this a signal for a detailed analysis by an experienced specialist? Or can you get rid of this unpleasant phenomenon without the help of a doctor?
For example, the problem of regurgitation in 99% of cases can be solved with the necessary knowledge. By the way, you can get them from here - right now.
And sometimes he eats and begins to tense up and groan. Is the situation familiar? - material about this will help you.
Recipe for making a decoction of dill seeds
To prepare, take 1 teaspoon of dill seeds and pour a glass of boiling water. Leave for 60 minutes, filter. The child is given a chilled decoction. Dosage - 1 teaspoon before meals. First, the newborn is given water 3 times a day, and then (if no allergies are observed) the number of doses is gradually increased to 6 times.
If your baby has a stomach ache, drinking dill seeds will come in very handy.
Here are two more cases when a child cannot do without drinking:
- Severe jaundice of newborns. Diagnosis in which the tint of the mucous membranes and skin has a yellowish tint. It occurs if the mother and child have incompatible blood types and is diagnosed by a doctor in 50% of cases. To get rid of jaundice, you can give your child 1 teaspoon of water every hour.
- Artificial feeding. Babies who are fed formula milk get more protein than they need, so they need extra fluids. In this case, water intake may not be limited.
What kind of water is best to give to a baby?
When the child reaches six months of age, after the introduction of complementary foods, the question is: “Should I give water to a newborn? "becomes irrelevant. Need to. If possible, from a spoon. This is done so that the baby does not refuse the breast. Unboiled - live. It is not recommended to add sweeteners.
Today you can buy baby water in pharmacies and stores.
- Drinks for babies sold in pharmacies. The baby's age is indicated on the bottle. From this point on, its contents can be consumed.
- If you can't buy it, there is an option to give purified with various filters or regular mineral water without gas.
Don't forget that its quality is important for the baby.
And since we mentioned the introduction of complementary foods, would it be wrong not to refer to our article, in which we discuss and draw conclusions about whether it is better to trust vegetable puree?
And since you have decided to introduce new food to your baby, you probably know when his fontanel should close and how the food he eats will affect its overgrowth.
How to properly feed your baby
If your child’s diet includes both water and breast milk, then it is better to supplement it after feeding. The ventricle of a newborn is small (up to 250 ml). If you offer him the breast after drinking, he will not suck as much milk as he needs.
Parents make the responsible decision!
One way or another, parents themselves decide whether to supplement their child’s diet or not, and if so, how much. A child (up to 6 months) can normally consume 200 ml of H 2 O per day. In case of illness, doctors recommend giving the baby liquid in the following proportion: per 1 kg of weight - 30 ml. If your baby has trouble sleeping and is restless, encourage him to drink a little more than usual.
If children receive mixed nutrition or are fed artificial formula, then they should be given water between feedings.
Mom and Dad, when making a decision, do not forget - if you do not give liquid to a newborn, then at his first request, offer the breast.
If the mother feeds the newborn strictly “on the clock,” that is, follows the feeding schedule, then during breaks you can give him additional water. How many? Just a little.
Do not forget that with artificial or mixed feeding, you can offer water to the baby, but under no circumstances force it in.
Health to your little children and you.
Water is a substance necessary for every living organism. A person can live without water for no more than 3-5 days. This healing liquid promotes the smooth functioning of all organs, is an active participant in all chemical reactions occurring in the body, energizes, cleanses blood vessels and joints, removes harmful substances, and normalizes body temperature.
The drinking regime of infants has its own characteristics associated with the method of feeding and the general condition of the body with not yet formed immunity. Therefore, the question of the need and rules for supplementation in infancy worries all parents.
When can you give water to a newborn? Up to 4-6 months, the main food and drink for the baby is mother's milk, which ideally satisfies all his needs.
It is very important to properly organize feeding in the first weeks of life, because milk, rich in nutrients and calories, can fully provide the baby’s body with everything necessary, maintain the balance of microflora, and build immunity.
Since the majority of breast milk is water, a healthy baby who drinks it receives all the liquid it needs in full. In addition, there is no need to dilute the already quite liquid basic nutrition. Therefore, pediatricians do not recommend giving a child water until the age of 4 months, until the stomach is sufficiently strong.
The digestive tract, which is overflowing with fluid and has not yet fully formed, will find it difficult to cope with the increased load. Excess water will not bring any benefit to the body and may have undesirable consequences for the child’s health:
- filling the space intended for milk, and therefore lacking the necessary calories and nutrients;
- difficulty in the functioning of the baby’s immature kidneys and the removal of useful substances from mother’s milk;
- an increase in bilirubin in the blood, leading to infant jaundice;
- risk of dysbacteriosis and water intoxication.
If you offer your baby water instead of the breast, as many do, for example, at night, then the mother’s lactation may be disrupted and, to avoid this, she will have to spend a lot of time and extra effort expressing milk, when there is no need for this.
In addition, a child who is accustomed to taking liquid from the nipple can relax and eventually refuse the breast: after all, such sucking does not require much effort.
Some parents are misled by the greed with which the baby clings to the offered bottle and drinks all the liquid. This behavior is not explained by thirst, but by the developed sucking reflex, which all infants are distinguished by, especially if they are hungry.
On the other hand, a lack of water is no less dangerous for a baby than its excess: increased metabolism and increased physical activity require regular fluid replenishment. That is why only a pediatrician can answer whether it is possible to give water to a newborn and how to maintain normal water balance.
How to tell if your baby is getting enough water
If the following signs of dehydration occur, your child needs additional fluids:
- rare urination;
- general lethargy or, conversely, increased anxiety;
- dry and pale skin;
- dry tongue and mucous membranes;
- loss of appetite;
- rich color and pungent odor of urine;
- constipation;
- the greed with which the baby grabs the breast, bottle or cup.
You can determine whether your baby has enough fluid or not using the “wet diaper” method. A healthy baby urinates 20-25 times a day. During the day we counted 12 or more wet diapers - that means everything is fine. Less - you need to add more. The color of your urine can also indicate dehydration. If it’s darker than usual, give it a drink immediately.
When should you give water to a newborn?
Is it possible to give water to a baby under certain circumstances? There are situations in which it is necessary to supplement your child's drinking. The pediatrician prescribes supplementation for a breastfeeding child with any illness or in the case of unfavorable external conditions, which include extreme heat and dry air, that is, in situations where the baby experiences increased sweating, causing dehydration.
Experts have different opinions about at what age you can start supplementing infants in conditions of ill health or heat. Many experts, including Dr. Komarovsky, believe that in such situations the child should receive water already in the first month of life, and according to WHO, before complementary feeding is introduced, children should not be given water even under unfavorable circumstances.
An alternative to supplementary feeding may be more frequent breastfeeding (at least 1 time per hour during the day and 3 times at night): a large percentage of water in the “fore milk”, which is not saturated with proteins, helps satisfy thirst and maintain the water balance in the body at the desired level.
You can also dissolve medications prescribed by your doctor in milk. In addition, bathe, shower and wipe your baby with water more often. Such measures perfectly help cope with both thirst and overheating. And only if all this is not enough, you should offer the baby some water, but only after consulting a doctor.
To prevent dehydration, it is necessary to create a favorable microclimate in the baby’s room: temperature is about 20℃, and humidity is from 50 to 70%. In hot weather, it is advisable to remove excess clothing and diapers from the child. If the air is excessively dry, you must use humidifiers.
When else should you give water to a newborn while breastfeeding? A child needs supplementation if he/she has:
- Digestive disorders: increased gas formation, constipation and other gastrointestinal disorders.
- Heat. In such a situation, water will help restore normal fluid balance in the body.
- Hiccups are contractions of the muscles of the larynx or diaphragm. A small amount of water will help cope with this condition.
Is it possible to give water to a newborn with diarrhea? It is necessary to replenish not only fluid losses, but also salt losses, so a special rehydration solution should be given. You can prepare it yourself by adding a small amount of salt, soda and sugar to boiled water.
Is it possible to give water for stomach colic? It is better to use dill water (infusion of dill seeds). It eliminates gas formation.
Should a newborn be given water if he has jaundice? If symptoms of jaundice persist for more than 3 weeks, the child needs, in addition to breast milk, to drink at least 100 ml of water per day.
How to properly give water to a newborn
Now about how to supplement your baby with water. Offer your baby additional drinks between main feedings, but not before them, otherwise he will not eat well and will not gain weight. If a child refuses water, do not insist or force it. If he wants to drink, he will definitely drink. The baby should not be limited in drinking or overloaded with it.
There is an opinion that the baby is capricious and does not want to drink regular water because it is tasteless and, therefore, needs to be sweetened. Pediatricians do not approve of this. Firstly, sweet water can make a child's tummy swell. And secondly, from sweets, caries, diabetes and obesity may develop in the future. But if you really want to make your drink more attractive, it is better to use fructose rather than sugar, and in a minimal amount - no more than a teaspoon per 200 ml.
There are several ways to give water to a baby. You can drink from a bottle with an anatomical nipple, from a coffee or teaspoon. Sometimes a syringe or pipette is used. When your baby gets a little older, you can begin to accustom him to a cup.
How to feed children after adding complementary foods
At what age should more liquid be introduced into a child’s diet? The need for water arises when the baby begins to eat solid food, at approximately 4-6 months.
With new food, the body receives more calories, which increases the need for additional fluid. Water greatly facilitates the process of digesting the resulting food and prevents constipation.
You should start accustoming your child to water with a small amount, about half a teaspoon, gradually increasing it. You should not give your baby water before eating: this can lead to poor appetite.
The temperature of the liquid is no less important. Too cold water causes the risk of hypothermia in a fragile body, and hot water can lead to a burn of the gastric mucosa. 20℃ is the optimal water temperature.
Allowable amount of water
The normal functioning of the body depends on the amount of additional fluid, so it is important to correctly determine how much water to give the baby. If the baby is dehydrated due to any disease, the amount of water is determined by the pediatrician depending on the condition and weight of the baby.
If there is a shortage of water due to heat or dry air, you can supplement the child’s water based on his needs.
Babies aged 4-6 months should be offered 30-60 ml during the day, since milk already contains the required amount of water, and a child receiving artificial or mixed nutrition should drink approximately 100-200 ml per day. However, such a calculation must be individual and adjusted by a doctor.
If a healthy baby does not want water, there is no need to force or persuade him. Never sweeten water: such liquid does not quench your thirst and is not beneficial.
What water is suitable for infants
The digestive system of a newborn baby is highly sensitive to any change in diet, including the introduction of water. Everything that enters the baby’s body must be of high quality and be absolutely safe. Therefore, it is necessary to determine what kind of water should be given to the newborn. This is how many useful elements water that meets all standards should include in an amount of 1 liter:
- microelements - from 200 mg;
- calcium - up to 60 mg;
- magnesium - from 10 to 35 mg;
- sodium - up to 20 mg;
- potassium - 5-20 mg.
Ordinary boiled tap water does not meet these requirements: it is too hard, contains a certain amount of harmful foreign impurities, and also loses all its beneficial properties during the boiling process.
It can only be used with a child filter made of environmentally friendly plastic. Purified water should be stored in a glass container or plastic bottle marked “7”.
Neither mineral nor carbonated water is suitable for infants to drink. Distilled and deionized water can be given to a child no earlier than 3 years old.
The best option is specially prepared bottled water for babies, which contains everything necessary in the right proportions, is clean and does not require boiling, is soft and pleasant to the taste. You can buy it in pharmacies, and after opening the bottle it should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than a day.
How to give water to a baby with artificial and mixed feeding
Additional fluid becomes necessary for the baby when he begins to consume infant formula, which contains more caloric substances than milk. He especially needs water during hot weather or illness. In such a situation, you should start giving water regardless of age. You need to supplement your baby's food in between feedings. In this case, it is better to use not a bottle with a nipple, but a spoon or sippy cup.
It can be very difficult to guess the needs of a newborn baby. Sometimes his body requires additional water and a special drinking regimen.
Drinking should, first of all, be beneficial to the child and not harm the health, so before introducing a new liquid to the menu, you should definitely consult a pediatrician, who will determine how much water to give to the newborn, based on the age and general condition of the baby.
Video on the topic
The health of the baby is the main concern of every parent. When caring for an infant, parents have a lot of questions. Most questions are completely insignificant, but parents should be sure that their actions are correct. One of these questions is “can a newborn be given water.”
Today we will talk about this, which will help you in the future when caring for your baby. Considering the recommendations below, you will be able to correctly diagnose the period when you can give water to your baby.
Is it possible to give water to a newborn?
It is worth understanding that a lot depends on the type of feeding your baby, that is, on how you feed your baby:
- Breast-feeding;
- Artificial feeding;
- Mixed feeding.
Now we will look at each type of feeding step by step.
1. When breastfeeding A child up to six months old drinks only milk. Pediatricians recommend a six-month threshold, after which the baby begins to feed the baby and, accordingly, the child drinks plenty of fluids. Up to six months, the baby does not require additional complementary feeding, including additional drinking of water. This is due to the fact that milk contains everything necessary for a small growing organism.
Let's look at an example: in nature, all mammals feed their babies up to a certain age only with breast milk, without any additional complementary foods or water. And only after a certain period the babies begin to be fed and given additional water. Nature created the mammalian body, including the human body, so that during the period of breastfeeding the child receives everything he needs, because breast milk contains the required set of elements for the baby’s nutrition.
Breast milk is a two-phase liquid. The first phase is the foremilk, with the maximum amount of water. During this phase, the baby does not get full, but it quenches his thirst perfectly. The first phase is a white watery liquid, slightly bluish in color.
The second phase is very nutritious and high-calorie for the baby. It's called hindmilk. It is during this phase that the baby eats up and receives maximum nutrients. The second phase is thicker in consistency and has a yellowish tint.
A woman's milk is 85% water. However, its content varies within 10% of the norm depending on the individual characteristics of the nursing mother’s body.
So, if your newborn is breastfed, you do not need to give him additional water until 6 months. After six months, when you introduce complementary foods, water is not only possible, but even necessary, since the food is mostly dry.
However, there are exceptions to this rule when the baby can be given water to drink during breastfeeding. Such exceptions include:
- Hot and dry climate. In order to prevent dehydration of the baby's body, you can give him water to drink, or very often put him to the breast. Signs of dehydration include dry mouth, sunken fontanel, and infrequent urination. With these signs, parents must take measures to prevent the baby from becoming dehydrated, otherwise this is fraught with negative consequences for the baby;
- During periods of illness and high fever. In this situation, the baby can also be given water to drink, or be provided with frequent breastfeeding. During, for example, an enterovirus infection, drinking water is mandatory, but the disease must be under the supervision of a doctor;
- During colic and bloating Children can be given dill water or fennel water.
As you can see, these exceptions suggest the possibility of giving the child additional water.
2. During artificial and mixed feeding The child must be given water to drink. The food entering the body has maximum nutritional properties, but does not quench the thirst for drinking, so additional water consumption is required for the normal development of the baby.
Important! Don’t follow the lead of your grandparents; before, children’s diet was completely different. However, if the baby’s extra drinking is the reason for family well-being, then the choice is up to you.
Sometimes during colic the baby is given extra water to relieve pain. The water that the baby drinks before suckling fills the stomach, so the baby sucks less and, therefore, does not overeat. However, if you give your baby water to drink, then the remaining milk from the breast must be expressed, otherwise it will decrease. That is, for the formation of breast milk, additional intake of water by the baby has a negative effect, so mothers should take this fact into account.
Please note that if you start giving your baby extra water, you should do it from a spoon. This will help your baby quickly learn to feed himself. Feeding a baby from a bottle with a pacifier is dangerous because the baby may refuse to breastfeed. The fact is that breastfeeding is a lot of work for a baby, but sucking from a bottle is very easy, so your baby may make a choice that is not in your favor.
Is it possible to give water to a newborn when he has hiccups?
Hiccups are a condition when air accumulates in the ventricle for one reason or another, which is released as a result of contraction of the stomach walls. Causes of hiccups can be:
- Child hypothermia;
- Overeating of the baby;
- Incorrect grasp of the chest, in which a lot of air enters the ventricle;
- Fright;
- Gas in the tummy;
- Nervous overexcitability;
- Thirst.
To eliminate such an unpleasant phenomenon, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of its occurrence, that is, to warm the baby, help him breastfeed correctly, eliminate colic and gas in the tummy, and so on.
During hiccups, you can give your baby a little water. Water will calm the diaphragm and stabilize the stomach walls. However, it is necessary to drink the baby in moderation.
What is the best water to give your child to drink?
Many parents have a question: Is it possible to give boiled water to a newborn?. Let us note that boiled water does not have any benefits; it does not contain minerals and trace elements that are beneficial for the baby’s health. However, its use is not prohibited.
It is best to give your baby water specially purchased for children. This water has a high degree of purification, is not dead, and contains the necessary microelements for the growth and development of the baby. You can buy water in pharmacies or stores. However, there is a danger of falling for an unscrupulous supplier who does not carry out a high degree of water purification. Today, drinking water is a global business, so it is best to buy bottled water for infants from trusted suppliers.
Today we looked at whether it is possible to give water to a newborn. As you can see, this process is very individual and depends on the characteristics of the child and the environment. In any case, water will not harm your baby’s health; the main thing is to choose a quality product. Considering the recommendations discussed above, you can easily start giving water to your baby correctly and profitably. Be healthy and may your children always make you happy!
As soon as a newborn baby appears in the house, many questions arise related to caring for him. Especially if this child is the first-born, and grandmothers and other experienced relatives are far away. What diapers to choose, how to bathe, what to feed, how much water to give to a bottle-fed newborn - all these problems have yet to be solved by mom and dad. Therefore, let's help novice parents a little and talk about water in this article: should you supplement it or not, when and how much, how to choose water and what can replace it with?
When it comes to breast-fed infants, fewer and fewer questions arise about supplementary feeding these days: most pediatricians share the point of view (and can convey it to young parents) that absolutely everything - water, nutrition - is already available. breast milk, so there is no need to correct nature, she has thought of everything. Natural feeding has an important advantage: the composition of women's breast milk is such that first the baby sucks out the first portions of the so-called “front” milk, which acts as a drink, and then comes the turn of the “hind” milk - thicker, more concentrated and nutritious - this is actually food . Nature is wise, it adjusts the composition of mother’s milk to the season and climatic conditions: in the summer, in the heat, milk becomes more liquid and allows you to satisfy the child’s drinking needs; in winter, it is thicker and higher in calories. Therefore, a breastfed baby does not need to be supplemented with water - there is absolutely no need for this until complementary foods are introduced: even when the baby is sick, mother's milk will cope with relieving the condition better than any other liquid.
The situation is completely different with a bottle-fed newborn. When and why do they finish feeding the artificial baby?
- He needs water because formula feeding gives him more protein than breast milk, and more liquid is needed to break it down. Therefore, a bottle-fed newborn should receive additional water constantly, from the very first day, in the intervals between formula feedings.
- Supplementation not only facilitates the absorption of the formula, but also prevents constipation - a traditional problem for artificial newborns: if there is not enough fluid in the body, the feces become dry and dense, making it more difficult for the body to remove them.
- Water also helps with hiccups - an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm and larynx; water will relieve spasms and eliminate the cause of the condition. And so that it does not recur, the baby needs to be provided with comfortable conditions: warmed up (if he is cold), held in an upright position (if the newborn was in a hurry and swallowed a lot of air during feeding) and calmed down (if hiccups are a reaction to stress or overexcitement).
- If the baby’s temperature has risen, supplementation is mandatory - this will make it easier for the body to cope with thermoregulation, and it will also have the opportunity to remove all that is unnecessary.
- In conditions that lead to rapid and sharp loss of fluid from the body (vomiting and diarrhea), the newborn needs to compensate for lost moisture, so they are offered to drink often and as much as the child wants.
- There is also a popular claim that drinking water helps with newborn jaundice. But in fact, this is a controversial point: jaundice is a consequence of increased levels of the pigment bilirubin in the blood - a substance insoluble in water, which means that additional water is unlikely to help eliminate it.
The temperature of the water should be comfortable, ideally at first it should be equal to body temperature - 36 degrees, this is how it is best absorbed (like breast milk - the most natural liquid for a baby), gradually the temperature can be reduced to room temperature - 20 degrees (after 2-3 months ).
The best time to offer your baby something to drink is about an hour after feeding, because baby formula is diluted with water, which means the baby won’t feel thirsty.
What to give your baby: what kind of supplementary water is needed?
- Naturally, tap water is not suitable for feeding newborns - unfortunately, the state of tap water in our country does not allow risking the health of the child.
- Special bottled water for babies is excellent (it is sold in all pharmacies): the age for which it is intended and the mineral composition are always indicated on the label. In addition, special children's water is sometimes enriched with vitamins and microelements that are beneficial for babies, and it is bottled in high-security plastic bottles.
- An excellent option is artesian or spring water from a clean, proven source.
- If special baby water is not available, still water or even regular soda will do, which you can shake, open, and let stand in this form for several hours so that all the gases come out. It is important to know that highly mineralized water is not suitable for babies, it should be as neutral as possible, so carefully read what is written on the label.
- Water from a filter can also be used - this is the best option if you do not forget to change it on time to ensure normal water quality.
- A not very suitable (but acceptable) option is boiled water, which was always recommended by old-school pediatricians - after all, boiling kills microorganisms. In fact, boiled water is not harmful, but there is not much benefit from it either, since boiling in it kills everything - both necessary and unnecessary: beneficial salts dissolved in water precipitate and also do not enter the body.
- But herbal decoctions can sometimes replace water, but not just any, but only specifically intended for newborns: dill or fennel water for colic, chamomile and mint for overexcitement, linden for colds. There are ready-made granulated teas for infants; they are very convenient to use and safe, as they undergo careful control by the manufacturer.
- What you definitely shouldn’t do is sweeten the water so that the newborn drinks it more willingly. Sugar only provokes thirst, and the baby does not get drunk with such water, although he drinks more of it. In addition, sugar is difficult for the body to digest and overloads it. Therefore, if the baby does not want to drink, it means that he does not need it now. And you shouldn’t cheat with sugar - it’s better to wait until he really needs additional liquid - then he’ll drink with pleasure as much as he needs.
How much water to give to a bottle-fed newborn?
The mother offers the baby something to drink, and if at the moment he has such a need, he will take the opportunity to quench his thirst by drinking exactly as much as required, so you cannot force the baby to drink (as well as feed!).In hot weather or in a stuffy room, you can offer to drink more often - every 20-30 minutes. But if the ambient temperature is cool (less than 20°C), the child is unlikely to want to drink - the liquid he receives with the mixture will be enough for him. In a room where the so-called “comfort temperature” is set (+24°C), the need for additional drinking will be approximately 60-100 ml per day, although different experts give very different recommendations for newborns up to six months - from 50 to 200 ml. In fact, there is no clear norm regarding additional water, and much will depend on the child himself, on the climate, time of year, and even on the thickness of the mixture he eats.
However, everything here is individual, because there are always kids who like to drink water more or less than others. In any case, take into account the fact that the volume of a newborn’s stomach is very small, only about 250 ml, therefore, the more water gets into it, the less space will be left for the healthy mixture, so it is better not to offer a lot of water shortly before feeding.
So listen sensitively to your baby's needs, and then it will be easy for you to take care of him. Good luck!