Water?
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17179
Printed Date: 13 September 2025 at 4:18pm
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Topic: Water?
Posted By: LittleBug
Subject: Water?
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 3:30pm
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Ok, so I have no idea if I am meant to be giving Chloe any water at her age. She is fully formula fed, on Heinz Nuture (the first stage one) and she is just over 3 months old.
When did you guys start feeding your baby's water? ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Replies:
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 3:40pm
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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! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 3:48pm
A tippy cup? That makes me feel like she's getting old  lol. I don't even have a tippy cup! Sounds like I should be offering her some water...------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 4:19pm
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You can offer it in a bottle in the meantime! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lucky3rdtime
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 4:35pm
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You don't necessarily have to offer water if babies (o-4mths)are formula fed, my midwife said only if they are getting constipated. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 4:40pm
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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. ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 4:43pm
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Hmmm maybe now isn't a good time to start offering it to her then, since she has tonsilitis and isn't drinking very much milk atm anyway. If she fills up on water she probably won't get much milk ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 4:43pm
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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. ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 4:48pm
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Haha funny how everyone is told something different i was told to offer babies (FF or BF) boiled water if they seam thirsty but aren't due for a feed. I use to give Josh water in summer but now not so much just extra 20ml in each bottle of formula. -------------   
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 4:53pm
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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? ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 5:05pm
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No, I don't think you are supposed to add water to bottles either.
We just give water separate. ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 5:05pm
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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 -------------
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 5:09pm
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yeah im not risking it till after 6 months.. if i do give water it will be cooled boiled but so far hes fine without it and doc said not too but I'm going to check again with my reg doc on thursday ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 5:36pm
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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. -------------  
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 6:09pm
| I've been told by various docs Daniel has seen that they need to get 30-50ml of water a day if fully formula fed. |
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 6:15pm
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!!! -------------
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Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 6:19pm
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haha too true Terri. I'm STILL waiting on my instruction manual. -------------  
 
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Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 6:44pm
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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. -------------
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Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 6:58pm
hehe, wrxchick, I had a similar conversation to this the other day. I run on the theory do whatever you are comfortable with cos you can guarentee that you will find research somewhere to back you up or someone!
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 7:20pm
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. ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Bobbie wrote:Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 8:04pm
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hmmmm.. i will ask him again.. but have been told not to by everyone so far(and none of my friends did either):( sigh wrx you are right be nice to be able to just plug them in! as you say Peanut though its about what's best for your baby.. :) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 8:41pm
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oh I wasn't having a dig at anyone, foxxy_one... for all I know, either one could be right (water or no water)... that's why I'm trying to get some general opinions. Hope I didn't offend anyone ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 8:45pm
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Yep Im confuddled too Janey (as are most new mummies) .. I havent given Issy any water, she still gets at least two breast feeds a day though and she doesnt have constipation, so Im hoping that no water right now is working. ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 8:48pm
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I don't think Chloe has been constipated, she only goes once a day now though instead of about 8 times a day when she was BF... that's ok though right? ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 8:50pm
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Yep sounds normal although apparently there are vast differences in babies and they are all normal.
Issy seem to have gone from number twos being a daily event to a weekly one! ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 8:58pm
Just have to say... you'll know if she's constipated!! Harry got that way cos of the gaviscon. Poor lil guy, it took alot of effort every time he had a poop and he went bright bright red! And after about literally 5 mins of this, he'd only produced one little marble sized poo that was like playdough... ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 9:01pm
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Oh ok, so I should be careful now that Chloe has started gaviscon?
What do you do about constipation? ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 9:13pm
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If the constipation gets really bad and just giving the water doens't help then you can get lactulose from the pharmacy, its an insoluble sugar so it just sits in the gut and holds water so helps things through. Spencer was prescribed it when he got really bad and then was on it as a preventative until we got his formula sorted (he has allergies).
With the water Spencer will drink some if its really hot but the rest of the time still refuses and I have been offering since 4 months, he takes one taste and when he realises it isn't milk he stops. When Spencer had a stomach bug recently my gp said I could use twice as much water when making his bottles to rehydrate him but I suppose that is a bit different to doing it at every feed. The thing with making up the formulas though is more that you don't use less water/more formula in an attempt to fatten your baby up that can be quite dangerous. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 9:16pm
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Yep, how long has Chloe been on the gaviscon for? Harry's poo gradually changed... first it got really sticky and kinda like peanut butter, then gradually changed to the playdough type. It sorted itself out in the end, though for a few days I did just give him one sachet per feed instead of two. I have heard of the prune juice thing, don't know if that's appropriate for this age bubbas? ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 9:26pm
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I'd say 50ml for FF babies too, Peanut helped me a lot with all that stuff when I switched.
And btw Peanut, that convo wasn't with me was it?! lol
I know that if they have diarrhoea you need to offer water after every runny poo if FF (and thats in wellchild book) Threadjack: what time should you offer the water? I've been so confused about this all the time so have just added water to formula as it was easier for me lol. He takes water, but just wanted to know when I should give it to him? And does it have to be heated anymore or just room temp? TIA! |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 9:33pm
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I wouldnt get too stressed now we are heading into winter. In the heat of summer it is more important if they are FF but in winter prob not too bad. Maybe have it on offer at dinner times and offer a sip...but dont be suprised if it gets rejected. Tom has only JUST started drinking it in the last 2-3 weeks. I tried everything, sippercups, cups, teaspoons...he would drink milk...just not water. Then one day I bought a new sippercup and he's been away..he now likes to hold it himself and help himself through dinner.
I only worried about it when his solids got more solid. Before that if you are worried you could water down the formula occasionally if you REALLY need to get the water in....or when on solids, add more water etc. If she gets sick then it might be more important for dehydration but if she is ok....dont stress! Plenty of other things to worry about.
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Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 9:51pm
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We offer water after FF.
Joy really resisted water at first so we offered it before FF first thing in the morning only and kept checking the amount to make sure she didn't drink too much. Now she loves water and after she has finished her FF (definitely not wanting more milk) she will be looking for water and open her mouth and pant for it just like at the beginning of FF. ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 10:05pm
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I add extra water to josh's formula cos he was getting constipated and in summer if he was drinking a lot of formula but seaming really full and still trying to drink i offered water cos he was thirsty not hungry. Now i only offer water if he is really unsettled between feeds and nothing else works. He holds his bottle in his own mouth well tries to only sometimes succeeding so might offer water in a sipper cup/bottle since he so keen to hold it himself -------------
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Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 8:20am
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Emz, it was with you
I just have 50mls of water in a avent bottle with the sipper tip on it and handles. I just give it to Mac when he is up and playing. He usually has about 40mls in a day - although in very small sips. -------------
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 8:56am
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so though he is not constipated i should still do it anyway....i just don't get why my doc and everyone says no if you are supposed to do it:( ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 9:53am
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KA I wouldn't worry about it unless he looks thirsty/dehydrated. Like nzpiper said we are coming into winter and they probably don't need it. And if even if he does its only a tiny amount. I think it is more important once on solids or in the summer because breastmilk changes in water content to suit the environment but formula doesn't.
I'm quite surprised a doc would say not to offer any water its hardly gonna do any harm. Perhaps they just meant that its not entirely necessary rather than not to give it. -------------
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Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 9:56am
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foxxy_one, do whatever you want to do!
Dr's aren't always right either and all have different theories on things depending on when they trained, what research they have seen etc - as you can see from this thread as lots have said there dr said to or said not to. Honestly, I don't think it really matters either way. -------------
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 9:59am
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but i never did it during height of summer too but i did ask about dehydration to everyone who was here and they said he was fine:( i just hate to think I've deprived him of something but he looked fine..:(
cuppatea-no i specifically asked if i am supopsed to give him water and he said no he doesnt need it.. and same with a couple of other health people i asked.. i forgot to ask nurse yesterday but she never mentioned it last time when she knew i was FF... peanut-yeah as above though just hate to think i havent done something i should.. noone else i know does it either but I'm not saying they are right either:)! ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 10:12am
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You were breastfeeding during the height of summer so don't worry about that and you would soon have been able to tell if he was dehydrated. Like I said Spencer still doesn't drink water now and he is ff and on solids but he doesn't get dehydrated and in summer I just gave him ice cubes to suck on or he would drink a little and i'm talking maybe 20mls.
And like peanut says just do whatever you think is right, no right or wrong answers with this baby business. -------------
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 12:00pm
Thanks Peanut!  Makes sense! Off to buy a sippy top for the bottle...
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 12:53pm
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U can buy sippy tops for the avent bottles? Cool. Might have to look for them too. Chloe was having a go at holding her own bottle this morning, it was so funny, when she finally got it in her mouth she would keep putting it so far back that it made her gag. But she got the hang of it (ish), I will try post a vid of it sometime! KA, I wouldn't stress about it. As someone else mentioned, even Dr's have differing opinions on a lot of things, and Ethan is thriving so I don't think you have anything to worry about. He certainly doesn't look like you have deprived him of a thing ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 12:58pm
Janey - you can buy EVERYTHING for Avent bottles  They're fab!
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