So my new-daddy friend went to Vegas with his wife and their three-month-old. They want to teach the little fella to play blackjack before he’s two. Just kidding. Anyway, new daddy said the baby was nursing extra often because the heat was making him thirsty. So I asked if it’s healthy to give the child plain water when he’s still “hungry” (thirsty) after’s he’s full. He said he’d never heard of such a thing, but thought it sounded reasonable.
So what’s the Dope? How old does a young’n’ have to be before you can start treating hunger and thirst as separate issues? How would you serve water to an infant? In a baby bottle, sure, but coddled? Cold? Lukewarm? Plain or with a little something added? Apple juice?
The problem is, with a nursing baby they tend to be pretty attached to the fleshy nipple. It can be very difficult to get a breast fed baby to take a bottle because the latex nipple feels and tastes weird.
Further, breast milk is very sweet. To get a nursing baby to take plain water from a bottle doubles the challenge.
I distinctly remember reading about 5 or 10 years ago that giving plain water to newborns was dangerous, because it can disrupt the electrolyte balance. I don’t remember where I read it though.
It is quite reasonable for baby to be more thirsty/hungry when he’s overheated. Remember that your baby is tiny. They will overheat just as fast as they will get cold, so you don’t want to dress them for winter when it’s 90 F out.
If you are breastfeeding, you never really need to give the baby water (not for the first few months at least). Breast milk is 80% water, and if you’ve ever tasted it, it tastes like honeyed water with a bit of fat mixed in. They will feed more often in heat, but don’t worry - that’s normal.
If the baby is on formula, you may want to give them some water, or, if they are 3 months or so, maybe some heavily watered apple juice (we’re talking an ounce of juice to 6 or more ounces of clear water). But keep in mind that, as stated above, some babies get nipple confusion when you give them bottles. They may have trouble with the rubber nipple, and they may also have trouble breastfeeding afterward. It’s usually suggested that, if you want to continue breastfeeding, you use a cup or spoon. Yes, babies can drink from a cup, as long as you are careful. I’ve done it.
One note: do not sweeten your baby’s drinks with honey. It may taste more like breastmilk, but honey has some bacteria in it that baby’s stomach can’t handle. Adults won’t be harmed by it, but babies could get sick. After the first year or so it’s ok, but not before.
Also, if the mother is also getting hot, her breastmilk tends to become more watery- apparently this is to help give the baby some extra fluid, eliminating the need for extra water. If the mother gets cold, the milk thickens up some (with extra fat).
For more info, check out page 152 of The Breastfeeding Sourcebook, ISBN 1-56565-478-1, by M. Sara Rosenthal.
Used to feed my nephew a form of infant PediaLyte with Karo syrup in it to help keep him hydrated; also, the Karo was supposed to make him, er, dirty a diaper more often, something his mom was very concerned about (he wasn’t going much).
Honey is a definite no-no. The problem is botulism spores, which adult stomachs can handle, but babies can’t. Botulism spores can survive the heat of boiling and even baking. No honey, never never, under any circumstances, when they’re under 1 year. I’d be wary until the kid turned 2, myself.
I talked to them about what their solution was, and they said they tried to give him some water, and he spat it up even quicker than he spits up mother’s milk. He eats a lot, and spits up a lot. Not enough to get concerned about, I guess.
Anyway, thanks for mentioning the honey-botulism thing. I remembered hearing something about that, but I couldn’t remember if it was botulism or what.