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As per the habit of many new mothers, it's common to offer water to babies after feeding to rinse any milk residue in their mouth. However, whether this practice is right or wrong is a question for many first-time breastfeeding mothers.
Should newborns drinking formula be supplemented with water?
As you may know, to prepare formula milk for babies, we need to mix powdered formula with a sufficient amount of warm water for the baby to drink. So, since formula milk already contains water, do newborns drinking formula need to drink additional water?
According to pediatricians' recommendations, infants under 6 months of age should exclusively breastfeed and should not be given plain water. During the 0-6 month period, babies only need breast milk as their sole source of nutrition, as breast milk contains up to 88% water, which is sufficient to meet the baby's body needs. Drinking water is unnecessary and can even be harmful to the baby's body.
Why shouldn't infants under 6 months drink water?
The reason is that breast milk has low mineral salt content, making it mild and suitable for the delicate kidneys and liver of newborns, so they don't feel thirsty when breastfeeding. On the other hand, formula milk or cow's milk processed to suit infants does not have the same composition as breast milk. Formula milk has higher mineral salt and protein content, making it saltier than breast milk. This is why formula-fed infants need to supplement with water. Drinking water helps to reduce the mineral salt content, preventing any adverse effects on the newborn's kidney function.
Even in extremely hot weather, mothers do not need to give exclusively breastfed infants additional water. When the baby's body senses dehydration, they will demand more breastfeeding.
Why shouldn't infants under 6 months drink water?
Perhaps many mothers would be surprised to learn that infants under 6 months should not drink water. The reason is that when infants drink plain water, they may experience the following issues:
Increased risk of infection for infants
Impact on Breast Milk Absorption
For infants under 6 months old, breast milk is the primary source of nutrition containing all the nutrients that the baby needs. Therefore, drinking additional water can interfere with the absorption of nutrients in breast milk. Additionally, the baby's stomach is still very small, so drinking water can fill up the stomach, making the baby feel full and unable to breastfeed. If the baby drinks water for a long time, they will not receive enough nutrition, affecting their development.
Causing Water Intoxication
Although rare, if the baby drinks too much water, it can dilute the sodium concentration in the body. This sodium will be excreted along with the water because the baby's kidneys are not fully developed yet. Infants with low sodium levels are at risk of various dangers such as seizures, convulsions, etc.
Impact on Mother's Health
In addition to being harmful to the child, mothers also experience many consequences from this practice. If the baby does not breastfeed, the milk is not extracted, causing pain and swelling in the breast area, or affecting milk production.
Is it advisable to give infants other types of water?
While many people know that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, some may want to supplement their baby's diet with fruit juice or sweetened water. Mothers may think these beverages have a sweeter taste and higher levels of nutrients and vitamins compared to regular water, making them suitable for babies to drink. However, this practice should be strictly avoided because excessive supplementation can affect the frequency of breastfeeding. Additionally, babies may be at risk of increased bilirubin levels, weight loss, and potential water intoxication.
Whether infants drinking formula milk need to drink water is something mothers should carefully consider to ensure the safety of their child. Wishing all mothers good health and well-being in caring for their children!
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