Breastfeeding babies: When do you need to give your baby more water?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor I Dang Thi Ngoc Chuong - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatal Department, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

1. Good time to give water to children

In general, your baby shouldn't be given water until about 6 months old. By then, babies are getting all the water they need from breast milk or formula, even in hot weather.
By the time the baby is 6 months old, you can give him sips of water when he is thirsty. However, do not overdo it, otherwise you may make your child too full and thus affect his or her meal.
After the first birthday, when the child starts to eat complementary foods and drink whole milk. ice cream, you can give the child how much water to drink depending on the child's preference. From this point on, you can give your child water to drink every day.
If your baby is just starting to eat solid foods, start with a few sips of water from a cup while he is eating. This is to help children learn to drink from a cup, and water can also help prevent constipation due to increased stool volume. The purpose of this activity is to get them used to drinking from a cup as this will be their main way of drinking from 12 months onwards.

2. Why is it not safe to give water to babies 6 months and younger?

At this age, breast milk or formula is both food and drink for your baby. It's all they need, even in hot weather. Giving water to your baby can make your baby drink less breast milk or formula.
Giving babies under 6 months of age too much water can interfere with your baby's ability to absorb the nutrients in breast milk or formula. It can also make your baby's stomach feel full, limiting his or her desire to suckle. So, a nursing baby doesn't need to drink extra water.
In rare cases, a baby who drinks too much water can develop a condition known as water sickness. When this happens, the condition can cause convulsions and even coma. Water intoxication occurs when too much water dilutes sodium levels in the body, upsets the electrolyte balance and causes tissues to swell.
Some signs and symptoms of water intoxication in infants:
Vomiting Drowsiness and lethargy Excessive sweating Low body temperature (<36.1°C) Frequent urination (6-8 wet diapers) per day) Seizures (facial twitching, lip flapping, eyes rolling, arm and leg movements) If you notice any of these symptoms, seek medical help for your child right away.

3. Can formula be diluted with water?

Do not try to dilute formula by diluting it with water. Follow the instructions for preparing the formula carefully and use the recommended amount of water. Because, adding too much water to your baby's formula not only risks water-sickness, but it also means that the baby is absorbing less nutrients than necessary.

4. What to do if your baby is dehydrated?

In some cases, for example, if your child has the stomach flu (gastroenteritis), your doctor may recommend giving your child an electrolyte drink such as Pedialyte or Infalyte to help prevent dehydration.

5. Children's drinking water

From about 6 months of age, you can give your baby a small amount of cooled boiled tap water, but it should not be a substitute for breast milk or infant formula.

6. When the weather is hot, should children drink water?

In hot weather, it's important to breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby more often. Water is not usually needed for babies under 6 months unless recommended by a doctor.
Your baby may want to feed more than usual in hot weather, but the feeding time may be shorter. If you're breastfeeding, you should also make sure you're drinking enough water.
To make you and your baby more comfortable in hot weather:
Place towels, sheets or pillowcases between you and your baby Lie down and breastfeed to reduce skin contact Your baby is well hydrated (enough) liquid) if your baby has 6 to 8 light-colored wet diapers in 24 hours.

7. If the child has a fever, what should be done?

If your baby has a fever, is younger than 6 months, and is breastfeeding, you may need to give your baby extra feed. If your baby is under 6 months old and is formula-fed, you can give him a small amount of formula more often. Do not give water unless advised by your doctor.
If your baby is older than 6 months, continue to breastfeed or bottle-feed. You can give water between feedings. The most important thing to check is that your child is drinking enough water.

8. Should children use drinks other than water?

You may have been advised by the elders in your home to give your new baby sugar water. However, this practice is not encouraged by professional health authorities. The American Academy of Breastfeeding and Lactation, says: “Adding sugar water in the first few days can affect how often a baby breastfeeds. If more water or sugar is given, infants are at risk for increased bilirubin, weight loss, possibly even longer hospital stays, and potential water intoxication.
In fact, some doctors also often give infants small amounts of sugar water as a pain reliever, especially when they have to undergo short, but painful procedures, such as heel pricks. foot or vaccination. However, according to a study published in the Lancet, experts recommend that the sucrose in sugar water is not an effective pain reliever. Fruit juices, soft drinks and alcohol are not suitable for infants under 12 months of age. As for drinks that contain caffeine like tea, coffee and energy drinks - and of course, alcohol - are not suitable for children of all ages.

Children in the period from 6 months to 3 years old are very susceptible to respiratory problems, respiratory infections, skin diseases and gastrointestinal infections... parents need special attention attention to the care and provision of adequate nutrition for children.
Parents should supplement their children with supportive products containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to help fully meet their child's nutritional needs. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
Parents can learn more:
Signs of zinc deficiency in children
Micronutrient deficiency and failure to gain weight in children
Please regularly visit Vinmec.com website and update useful information to take care of your child. Take care of the baby and the whole family.

References: babycenter.com, pregnancybirthbaby.org.au