Infants are such fragile little beings and there are specifics regarding their upbringing you need to follow. As a parent, it is your responsibility to give your best when it comes to providing for your child and helping it grow into a sound, happy and healthy individual.
Even though most parents will use a grown up relation on water consumption, you should know that’s not the right way to go. Yes, our bodies are made up of almost 70% water, and all the water that is lost through sweat, urine and breathing needs to be replaced. This is especially important in hot weather. But, when it comes to babies, their bodies aren’t developed enough so they don’t function like people.
Since babies drink a lot of milk, this milk provides just enough water for the early stage of development.
Babies get enough water in their milk, but once they are on a mixed diet it is good to offer water as well. This goes for formula too. Still, if your baby seems to be thirsty between feedings, you can give her some water but it’s often recommended to give the baby distilled water, just to make sure. We would surely advise consulting with your baby’s pediatrician as the amount of water a baby can/should take pretty much depends on the baby’s age and overall health.
For toddlers, the best drink for thirst is definitely water, but you shouldn’t stop giving them milk, as milk continues to be a good source of calcium which helps bone strengthening and development.
For older children and adults tap water or bottled water is the best drink (provided your tap water is healthy).
When Can My Baby Start Drinking Water?
Doctors usually recommend not giving your baby water before she is about 6 months old. Even during hot weather the baby will get all the hydration she needs through formula and breast milk.
As mentioned in the introduction of this blog, your personal to give baby water during hot days should be supervised by the pediatrician. Even with the doctor’s approval, remember that too much water in early stages of baby’s development may interfere with baby’s body ability to absorb the nutrients in breast milk or formula.
Further, with a lot of water intake the baby will feel full which will curb her desire to feed. Small sips of water probably won’t hurt your bundle of joy, but we can’t stress enough the importance of consulting with the baby’s pediatrician beforehand.
Water Intoxication
Water intoxication is a condition known for the babies to develop in cases of too much water consumption. This condition can cause seizures and even a coma. When too much water dilutes the concentration of sodium in the body, water intoxication is known to develop further upsetting the electrolyte balance and causing tissues to swell.
With adding too much water to your baby’s formula, the baby is not only taking in fewer nutrients than she needs but risking water intoxication, as well. This is why you need to be extra careful when following the package directions for mixing powdered or concentrated formula. Don’t try to stretch formula by using more than the recommended amount of water.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is not uncommon to develop in babies in some instances. To help prevent dehydration, the doctor will advise you to give your baby an electrolyte drink like Pedialyte or Infalyte.
Kidney Problems
The reason pediatricians are so cautious about water consumption for babies is because too much water too fast can cause the baby’s kidneys to flush out sodium and electrolytes, leaving her salt-depleted which, in serious cases, can trigger seizures.
Constipation
Some babies may experience constipation problems which is when the doctor will suggest giving her 2 ounces of water a day to get her back on track. You will most likely be advised for the water to be pure, which is when you rely on water filter systems.
Once your baby is 6 months old, it’ll become okay for the baby to start sipping water although overusing water is still not recommended. However, once your baby starts eating solids, you can let her drink as much water as she likes.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Did you know that giving your baby too much water could be harmful?
If you find this article helpful and useful, please share it with your family and friends. Sharing helps Uplifting Families grow. Thank you for visiting.
