Water?

I am b/f but I was sure you had to offer water if they are fully f/f as forumla doesn't quench thirst like breast milk does??

I would start offering it anyway, plunket recommends you offer it in a tippy cup at 4 months anyway!

You can offer it in a bottle in the meantime!

Yeah keep in mind if you do give her water make sure you aren't giving it to her to substitute a normal formula feed, water tends to full them up.

There is nothing wrong with giving it too her though if thats what you want to do. Personally I'd wait a couple of months.

I was told that FF babies need at least 20-30ml of water each day. The amount of water needed increases as they get older. Joy drinks around 100-125ml of water each day (she's 100% FF).

Anyways, it can't hurt them much (as long as they are not drinking more water than formula), I reckon the sooner they start liking water the better. I hate water as an adult and that is not a good thing.

it is weird isnt it..i was told under no circumstances to add water to bottles... why dont they just have one rule! Ethan has been FF for 8 weeks and has no constipation and is fine.. ? its supposed to be cooled boiled water till 6 months i guess?

yeah cooled boiled but depends on where you read about it as some books say city tap water is fine after 3 months and others say 6

The general consensus is that FF babies should have around 50mls of water a day. This shouldn't be added to bottles as formula is suppose to made as per directions, although I know lots do water it down.

As someone above said just becareful not to give it too near a feed as this will mean they don't drink as much formula.

Janey77, in terms of your wee one being sick. They recommed small amounts of milk and often - My wee one was sick a couple of weeks ago so I flagged my usual routine and started feeding him 50 - 70mls every 1hr and a half thru the day (roughly - obviously) and this seemd to work well. After 3 days just went back to his usual routine with no probs.

So basically if you want to give her water then do it as it doesnt really seam to matter either way

The day they bring out diagnostic computers to plug into babies will be the BESTEST day every!!!

even if not an instruction manual one concrete set of advice that is the same for everyone.

I get so sick of being told one way trying it then being told by someone else you definately cant do that i mean come on an opinion is one thing but telling people something as if there is only one way drives me mental!! Sorry dont mean about people on here. I am happy to listen to differing advice and pick and chose what works for me but dont tell me there is only one way things HAVE to be done or im harming my child.

Ok really didnt mean to threadjack and have a rant just remember a convo i had.

Bobbie wrote: haha too true Terri. I'm STILL waiting on my instruction manual.

Was that meant to come with the bounty pack? I'm missing mine too

I have been offering Chloe milk constantly while she has been sick, but she just won't take it much. Although after I gave her pamol tonight, and started her on gaviscon in her milk, she drank ~150mL which is almost a normal feed for her The Dr thought that her reflux was making her sore throat worse and putting her off her feeds... looks like she might have been right.

I find it funny when people say "you are not allowed to do that" about something that you know many parents do... like it's almost ABUSE to do something that isn't recommended, like giving your baby a spoonful of baby rice before they reach 6 months even though the situation is different for every baby.

When Chloe's feeding is back to normal I might just start offering her 30-50mL water and see if she takes it, in between feeds. Sounds like that's probably the general consensus. I like the idea of her getting used to water early, and as long as it's not interfering with her feeds then it can't hurt.

Edited by Janey77