The best water for our babies
Water is an important component of our body. All bodily functions depend on water. Drinking water is one of the basic and healthy steps to have a better life. Therefore, parents are hopeful that their babies can start early to learn the healthy habit of drinking water. But when can babies drink water? Here are some helpful tips to help you know when we can feed babies water.
When can babies drink water?
Experts believe that giving babies water is not a good idea before six months. Babies generally get enough hydration from breast milk or formula, even in hot weather. This is because too much water can fill the baby’s stomach, which is too weak to withstand too much pressure from outside, and too much water can reduce the desire to feed and interfere with the absorption of nutrients from the milk. Small sips of water may not harm the baby, but it is advisable to consult the doctor before giving a little water to the baby before six months of age. The timeline below will show you specifically when babies can drink water.
From birth – 3 months
Newborns should not be given water. Having a tiny tummy, a newborn baby should not be given a bottle of water, which would fill his tummy and replace milk. Also, too much water will disrupt the normal balance of electrolytes in your bodies and can affect brain and heart function.
4-6 months
Although giving a baby this age a little water is not dangerous, it is not necessary. Research shows that breastfed babies don’t need extra water, even in tropical locations when temperatures can rise above 100 ° F per day. Formula-fed babies can be given a little water (about an ounce or even two) during hot weather, but it’s best to ask your pediatrician for advice. Water should never replace breast milk and formula should not be diluted with additional water.
About 5-7 months
Babies this age can hold objects and can learn to drink liquids from a cup. Give your baby a sippy cup that does not have a valve so they can suck easily. Choose one that can hold 4-6 ounces of fluid and fill it to the top so your baby doesn’t have to tilt his head up when drinking. A large cup full of water may be too heavy for a small baby to use.
Sometimes you may be advised to use clean tap water, but boil it first. If that’s the case, make sure the water is boiling and keep it there for at least a minute. This will destroy any pathogens in the water that could harm your baby. However, do not boil the water for a long time and do not boil it more than once, as that can concentrate impurities and make things worse for your baby.
Some companies make water that is designed to be used with baby formula. This water follows much stricter guidelines than other water sources and is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Water to avoid
There are definitely some sources of water that you should always avoid when preparing your baby’s formula.
1 well water
2.Water containing high levels of fluoride
Leave a Reply