Water for exclusively bf'ed infants?

[Marylizah]

It's hot here these days, very hot (low 90's) and we live in a place where AC is uncommon. We don't have any at home and most places we go don't have it.

My almost-5-month old is exclusively breast-fed and I'm wondering about water-- should I also be offering him water to drink? For the record, he's a super-chunk (almost 21lbs) so I have no worries about him not getting enough calories or anything like that.

Do you offer water to your exclusively bf'ed infants when it's very hot out?

[RomanGoddess]

From everything I have read, you should just keep offering him breastmilk. Your breastmilk dilutes according to your baby's needs. If he is just thirsty, he will only drink the foremilk, which is very watered down in hot weather.

Once you start offering water, your baby is no longer considered exclusively breastfed.

[Marsupialmom]

Just make sure your drinking enough.

[tracymom1]

I did not give my breastfed babies water until they were almost a year old - and only a few sips here and there. Just keep bf'ing him and he will be fine

If you notice signs of dehydration, increase your water intake.

[Baby_Cakes]

No need, just nurse often! And stay hydrated yourself!

[mom2happy]

I would say their water is in your foremilk.
I dont give mine water till much later.

[akind1]

I only give DS water once we do solids, and then only sips.

FWIW, I also have given him water in a sippy, to practice using a sippy cup; however as much as he likes to play with it, I don't think he's actually drunk anything yet.

[alegna]

No need. You drink the water and offer nursing as often as he's interested.

-Angela

[kismetbaby]

I know its not necessary, but we started giving our ds water to drink when he was about 5m. At first it was just b/c he was so interested in what we were eating and drinking, so I would let him have some water off a spoon. Then at 6m I would offer a sippy cup with water when he was having solids (although he still doesn't eat much besides BM at 9m!). Now I am glad he likes water out of his cup b/c it is hot here and he sweats quite a lot. He is quite chunky too and sometimes just isn't hungry, but will happily drink water. I've found that when its hot he gets constipated if I don't offer water. . .and he likes it. . .so I see no problem with offering water as long as I know he's getting enough BM too. For example yesterday we went on a hike/picnic and ds was too distracted to nurse (this happens when we are out and about), but it was hot, so I was very happy he drank about 5oz of water out of his Klean Kanteen sippy. And it wasn't a long enough time to worry that he hadn't nursed enough. . .of course he is 9m and your ds is 5m, so you certainly would want to make sure you were not missing/skipping any nursings.

Also my ds loves to have bits of ice. . .good for hydration and for teething

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by alegna

No need. You drink the water and offer nursing as often as he's interested.

-Angela

your breastmilk has more water in it when it is hot!

[liza-s]

I just started offering DD (she's 7 mo) cold water in a sippy. She's eating some solids and has really cut back on her milk intake while at daycare (cut-back was before she started eating solids at daycare) She loves drinking it - but only when it is very cold. More pours out of her mouth than goes down her throat so I think it is mostly about the sensation of cold than thirst. When she's thirsty she prefers to nurse.

[Marylizah]

Thanks, everyone. I couldn't remember what I did with DS1-- then a post made me remember that we didn't offer water until we started solids, to avoid constipation issues.

So I'll hold off on water until we start solids, sometime late this summer probably.

I'm trying to make sure to drink enough water myself.

[linchi]

Originally Posted by Marylizah

It's hot here these days, very hot (low 90's) and we live in a place where AC is uncommon. We don't have any at home and most places we go don't have it.

My almost-5-month old is exclusively breast-fed and I'm wondering about water-- should I also be offering him water to drink? For the record, he's a super-chunk (almost 21lbs) so I have no worries about him not getting enough calories or anything like that.

Do you offer water to your exclusively bf'ed infants when it's very hot out?

Hey, I wonder if this is a French thing. My Dr. just recommended that I give bottles of water to my EBF 4-month old at our well baby visit. After reading here I'll just continue to make sure he can feed whenever he wants and keep that as my secret. Oui, oui he is getting lots to drink !