DS is 6 months old and has only ever had breast milk and formula for fluids. We've been giving him solids and then he usually takes in a little more formula after his "meal". Should I be giving him plain water? I always thought the formula was mixed in enough water to meet his requirements, but now I'm thinking maybe at 6 months he needs more?
When did you start giving LO water?
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
We started giving him water when we started solids at 5.5 months. He never had too much of it, it was more to ease constipation, which I had read somewhere and to practice using a straw cup! Even at 15 months, DS' fluid intake is 90% almond milk/10% water in a given day.
nectarine / 2631 posts
When we started solids (6 months) I would just give him water in a sippy cup.
kiwi / 597 posts
@cheert16: Is there a reason behind giving them water at this age or did you use it as more of a means to practicing using a sippy cup?
pear / 1812 posts
He doesn't NEED it, but you won't hurt him to give him a little, as long as it's not interfering with his formula intake.
pomegranate / 3872 posts
I started giving her a straw cup with an ounce or two of water when we started solids. I really just wanted her to practice with a straw as I didn't think she was getting enough solids in to worry about constipation. She took to it right away and loved drinking from a cup so i was careful to limit it so she didn't get too much and not want to nurse. I think it's mainly important for learning and then once they are eating larger amounts.
pomelo / 5524 posts
We started giving LO water in a sippy cup when we started solids. One reason was to start getting him used to a sippy and the other reason was constipation. By 6 months, he was on all formula, and he was going 4 or 5 days without a BM. The water helps with that...and when it was particularly bad, that's the only time he got an ounce of fruit juice mixed with an ounce of water to help get things moving.
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
We started at 5.5 months when we started solids. 1) So she would practice with a sippy cup 2) It helps with constipation. We never had issues with that but we still kept offering it. She would maybe drink 1oz a meal.
grapefruit / 4663 posts
@skipper2010: our doc just told us to start a cup with water but no more than 4 ounces per day. J is 5 months
pomegranate / 3053 posts
I introduced water when I started solids around 6 months, but both of my boys didn't drink much right away which was expected. I didn't give throughout the day. Just during meals to start until they were off BM.
grapefruit / 4400 posts
Ditto to the PPs... water in a straw cup when we started solids at 6 months. My mom actually was pestering me for MONTHS beforehand because LO would hiccup and was "thirsty" (nevermind that she was a nursing maniac).
pomegranate / 3398 posts
We just started giving her small amounts of water at 10months because she was becoming constipated with all the new solid foods.
pomelo / 5469 posts
I asked about this today and our health visitor said to offer with meals from 6mths just to get her used to drinking from a cup at mealtimes...it doesn't really matter if they drink any because they are still getting all the fluids they need from the milk.
pineapple / 12053 posts
when we started solids like PPs. just to practice... which she didn't understand for a long time! but really only a couple of ounces, especially at a young age. you want them filling up on milk, then trying solids and then a little water.
pomelo / 5628 posts
If poops are not hard and peeing is normal, then no. There is plenty of water in most foods (and milk and formula). We still rarely give water at 13 months. He drinks milk from a sippy with meals.
pineapple / 12802 posts
We give him a sippy cup just to play with and get used to, but it doesn't seem necessary right now. He had great poops and gets lots of fluid from my breastmilk. I just want him to get used to the sippy cup!
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